Defense steps up to hold off late surge from Thorobreds

10/29/2018 9:22:00 AM

Josh Lemons

It only took the Lane College offense one play to take the lead against Kentucky State thanks to a wide open pass from senior quarterback Marcus Reynolds to Quantavious Wilson who took the catch 82 yards down the field for a quick 7-0 lead, a lead they would hold for the majority of the ball game. But the Thorobreds would not fade quietly into the sunset.

Down 28-16 with just under five minutes to play, KSU would punch it in with 4:30 left to play to make it a one possession game, 28-23. After a bad offensive possession by the Dragons, senior kicker/punter Vicente Pena gave the ball back to Kentucky State on the Thorobred 43 yard line with 3:07 left to play. KSU quarterback Paul Campbell methodically marched his team down the field, eating up yards and clock simultaneously until his team stared down a 4th-and-goal on the Lane four yard line as the final seconds waned away. Looking for a receiver in the back corner of the end zone with no timeouts left, Dragon defensive back Randall Johnson read the quarterback the entire way, stepped in front of the pass and took the interception 100 yards all the way to the house with no time left on the clock to secure the team's third straight win. 34-23 in the inaugural F.E. Whitney Classic in Hopkinsville, Ky.

Reynolds finished the game 7-for-18 for 148 yards, a touchdown and, for the second straight week, no interceptions. He also added 48 yards on the ground. Running back Joshua Jeffery finished with 53 yards on 12 carries, averaging 4.3 yards per attempt. Senior wide receiver Omauri Hampton had five receptions for 54 yards and three of the team's four offensive touchdowns.

The Dragons look to continue the win streak when they head to Wilberforce, Ohio to take on SIAC foe Central State University. The Marauders are coming off a 40-36 win over defending SIAC champion Tuskegee University.

Kick off is set for 1 p.m.