IUP Falls Short in NCAA D-II Quarterfinals

By: Bruce Markey
Saturday, December 1, 2012 | 11:12 PM

Ricky Rozier scored from one yard out with 3:51 remaining to play to give the Winston Salem State Rams a berth in the NCAA Division II semfinals with a 21-17 victory over IUP on Saturday in North Carolina.

The number 2 ranked Rams entered the playoffs as the number one seed in Super Region One, Winston Salem is now 13-0 overall.
 

IUP had the first opportunity to score, Brett Ullman had a 48 yard field goal blocked by Malcolm Rowe. The Crimson Hawks drove into Rams territory again, but Mike Box was picked off by Carlos Fields at the 34, leaving the game scoreless after one period but with Winston Salem driving after a 62 yard screen pass from Anthony Carrothers to Jameze Massey for 62 yards. Carrothers got the start for the second straight game after starter Kameron Smith went down with an injury in the CIAA championship game.
 

The Rams captalized on the first play of the second quarter, Rozier scored on a 1 yard run to put Winston Salem up 7-0. Box was picked for a second time, this one going to Justin Wilkinson at the 38 yard line. That set up a 22 yard field goal attempt by Landon Thayer that was blocked by Mario Sanders.
 

It was 7-0 going into the final minute of the half. IUP took over at midfield with 48 seconds to play. Box completed two passes, then hit Terrill Barnes for a 36 yard game-tying touchdown with 17 seconds remaining. The game turned in those final seconds of the half, Carrothers threw up a Hail Mary pass that was tipped twice and ended up in Kenny Patterson's hands in the end zone for a 55 yard touchdown on the final play of the half.
 

Winston Salem took the second half kickoff and tried to add to the lead, but after a 12 play drive, Thayer missed wide right from 40 yards out. IUP got a field goal off a turnover, Johnny Franco picked off Carrothers, Ullman hit from 29 out with 4:40 left in the third. Franco forced a fumble off the kickoff return by Massey, IUP recovered and De'Antwan Williams scored from 1 yard out to go up 17-10 after three.
 

IUP drove to start the fourth quarter, but turned the ball over on downs at the Rams 36 with 10:50 remaining. Both teams exchanged punt before Winston Salem took over with 7:39 remaining. Smith entered the game on the drive and led the team down the field, connected with Rozier for the 1 yard touchdown to put the Rams up.
 

IUP took over at thier own 25 following the kickoff, Box hit Barnes on a 4th and 5 to keep the drive alive, Box hit Barnes again for a first and goal at the 10 yard line. But IUP could not score, Box threw 3 straight incompletions to end the game and IUP's national championship hopes.
Rozier had one run for a touchdown and one catch in the game.

Carrothers was 10-25 for 259 yards. Smith was 5-9 for 32 yards. Jahuann Butler had 4 catches for 123 yards, Massey had 5 catches for 104 yards. Winston Salem moves on next week to meet West Texas A&M, who defeated number one Colorado State-Pueblo 34-13 in the Super Regonal 4 final.
 

For 11th ranked IUP, Williams finished with 26 carries for 110 yards. Box was 16-36 for 236 yards. Barnes had 9 catches for 160 yards. IUP ends 12-2.