In what can only be defined as a program-defining win, the Lane College Dragons defeated the Tennessee State Tigers in overtime on Saturday in the 23rd annual John Merritt Classic.
It was the 10th all-time meeting with TSU and the first win for Lane in the series.
Jeffrey Johnson opened the scoring in the first quarter after linebacker Tyshun Gaiter stripped a Tigers ball carrier and Johnson scooped the fumble and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown.
The hosts then put together two scoring drives capped by a 31-yard touchdown run from quarterback Chayil Garnett and then a 35-yard field goal to go up 10-6.
TSU was driving for a potential third score as the first half was winding down when Nijul Canada undercut an out route and picked off Garnett and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown and a halftime lead for the Dragons.
The Tigers then took the opening drive of the second half 66 yards in seven plays for a touchdown to regain the lead.
After the teams swapped punts, Lane quarterback Tarik McKinzie led the Dragons offense on a scoring drive that covered 75 yards in just six plays capped off by a 13-yard touchdown pass to running back Ike Brown. The drive was highlighted by a 3rd and 12 play deep in the Lane side of the field when McKinzie dropped back and hit Brown on a 52-yard dart to pick up the first down and move the Dragons offense into TSU territory.
The score remained 20-17 until the Tigers took over for their final drive of the game with 1:58 left to go. TSU took advantage of good field position, moving the ball just 25 yards before facing a 4th down from the Lane 34-yard line. Kicker Kaleb Mosley drilled a game-tying field goal from 51 yards out to send the game to overtime.
TSU won the toss and elected to go on offense to begin overtime. The Tigers scored on a 2-yard run from Edwin Rhodes and the extra point made it 27-20.
Facing 3rd and 4 in their turn with the ball, McKinzie found Jacquez Jones on the left side who took it eight yards for a first down. Brown rushed left on the next play and went 11 yards for a touchdown to make the game 27-26.
Head Coach Vyron Brown then decided the game would be won or lost on the following play, electing to go for two. The decision paid off as Brown powered behind his offensive line into the end zone to give Lane a 28-27 victory.
Brown finished with 137 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns.
Johnson led the defense with 10 tackles and 1.0 tackles for loss. Mackenzie Howard added nine tackles and Canada had six tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss.
Original source can be found here
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