Morehouse celebrated homecoming by extending its winning streak to three with a 31-7 dismantling of winless Lane College on Saturday afternoon.
Everything tastes better after a homecoming win. The parties are more festive. Morehouse gave the thousands of fans in the stands and easily five times that amount in the all-new expanded tailgate something to cheer about. This year, people attending the tailgate were able to socialize, smoke a stogie, enjoy the luxurious accommodations of the sponsored tents, and watch the game at the same time.
They were treated to an exciting game despite what the score may indicate. Lane showed glimpses of what kind of team they could be. The Dragons capitalized on only one of the four offensive drives that went deep into Morehouse territory. Running back Peyton Nero rushed for a game-high 137 yards and out-gained the entire Maroon Tigers running back room (130 yards).
Passing was on the anemic side. Starting quarterback Nick Billoups was 4 of 17 with an interception. As a team, the Dragons had six receptions for 56 yards and 2 interceptions. Only two pass plays went over 10 yards. That statistic explains why the Dragons were unable to convert any of their 10 third downs.
Morehouse broke the scoring silence on their second offensive possession. The offense got it going after a couple of early penalties stalled the drive and forced a punt. Sounds weird, right? How did the Maroon Tigers score if the drive stalled? It all started with Junior punter Seve Spruill. Spruill mishandled the snap but had the presence of mind to pick up the ball. He started running to his right, where there was plenty of daylight and a few blockers. Before he was tackled, the engineering student had covered 30 yards, three more than the 27 he needed for a first down.
It was on and crackin’ after that. Quarterback Miles Scott found his groove and Eric Stephens at the Lane 12-yard line. Another pass to Kamrin Brunson, and the M-Tigers were knocking at the door. Nicholas Woodford punched it in from a yard out on the very next snap.
Lane capitalized on an excellent play by their special teams unit. Arthur Moreira Rocha’s punt was touched down at the one by his gunner to force Morehouse to start their series from the end zone. A quick three-and-out and the Dragons had the ball back. There were no heroics from Spruill this go-round. Markerious Johnson returned Spruill’s 36-yard punt to the 25.
Lane College Head Coach Stanley Conner didn’t disguise any of what he wanted to do. He gave the ball to Peyton Nero three times for gains of 6, 3, and 6 yards. Conner went back to the well on the fourth snap, and Nero proved him right. The redshirt sophomore jumped over a fallen defender and sprinted to the end zone to tie the game at 7-7.
Unlike the team that started the season, this version of the Maroon Tigers answered back with a 60-yard scoring drive. Scott completed five passes covering all but one of the yards on the drive. He hit a streaking Eric Stephens for a touchdown and the lead.
The one interception Billoups threw set up the M-Tigers’ third touchdown. Linebacker Sean Johnson was in the right place at the right time to catch the ball as it was knocked away from a Lane receiver by safety Tyrese Stanley.
Scott understood the assignment and completed it with one run and two passes. Azari Brown caught both of the passes, including a 20-yarder as he was falling backwards in the end zone.
Morehouse kept the pressure on out of the half. Scott’s hot hand did not cool off one bit. His first pass of the half went for 18 yards. His second went for a first down, and his third to his tight end Maurice Veney. The 270-pounder flipped one defender off his back and sprinted down the sideline towards the end zone. Brunson cleared the way, blocking Dragon’s free safety Jeremiah Malbroue into the end zone.
The game was pretty much over at that point. Lane’s offense averaged less than two minutes on the field, and it showed each time the defense took the field.
Next up
Morehouse at Savannah State. The Orange Tigers need a win to improve to .500 on the season. They dropped a one-touchdown defensive struggle to Fort Valley State in the Good Trouble Heritage Football Classic in Augusta.
Lane returns to Georgia to face those same Wildcats that gave Savannah State the blues and the yellows.