Lane football has come close multiple times, but on Saturday, the Dragons finally did it.
Lane recorded its first victory of the season, 34-24 at Clark-Atlanta.
“It’s a big win for our guys, and I’m proud of them for the way they went about their business, kept pushing and pressing and things finally went their way,” said Lane head coach Vyron Brown.
The Dragons scored first and stayed ahead of the Panthers in the first half and then scored two times in a row early in the third quarter to go up three scores – 34-17 – on the home team.
Clark Atlanta was able to score a touchdown late in the third quarter to cut the lead to 10, but the Dragon defense held the Panthers scoreless in the fourth to give Lane the win before making the six-hour bus ride home.
“Those bus rides definitely seem shorter after a win,” Brown said with a smile.
Kylan Duhe led the Dragons in rushing with 115 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.
After Jerick Gaston started the game at quarterback and completed six of eight passes for 71 yards, Polo Solomon returned to the lineup after missing the game the week before at Tuskegee because of a concussion he suffered against Benedict the week before. Solomon finished the game by going 13-for-25 for 134 yards and a touchdown pass.
Ryheem Quinney was the Dragon who caught a touchdown pass. He had two catches for 15 yards. Jacquez Jones, Duhe and Virgil Young each had four catches. Jones finished with 64 yards, Duhe with 58 and Young with 46.
Jones and Solomon each had a rushing touchdown as well.
Asmar Hasan led the Dragons defensively with 16 total tackles. Jeremiah Brown had an interception, and Jawanuntee Hooks had a fumble recovery.
The Dragons have one more game on the road before homecoming on Oct. 14.
This week, they travel to Florida to take on Edward Waters in Jacksonville.
Lane has played Edward Waters three times with the Dragons winning all three.
“This will be a tough matchup because they’ve got some good players, and their coaches do a great job,” Brown said. “They’ve got a back that’s fast and hard to bring down and a couple of receivers that are good at bringing the ball down.
“We’ve got to be ready defensively for anything they throw at us.”
Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news
