JACKSON, Tenn. —
Lane College produced several promising offensive drives and a number of strong defensive stands before falling 34-0 to NCAA Division I opponent Alabama State University in the Labor Day Classic on Saturday, Sept. 5.
The game was Lane's second contest of the 2026 season following its season opener against Bethel University. The Dragons traveled to Montgomery to face an Alabama State program that finished the 2025 season with a 10-2 record and entered the year as one of the SWAC's top teams.
Saturday's contest marked the 25th meeting between the two historically Black colleges and universities and their first matchup since 1975. Following Saturday's result, Alabama State leads the all-time series 16-8-1.
Lane received the opening kickoff and immediately put together a productive drive behind a combination of rushing gains and completed passes. The Dragons advanced to the Alabama State 30-yard line before a drive-ending sack on fourth down resulted in a turnover on downs.
Alabama State responded with a touchdown on its opening possession, using a strong rushing attack to take a 7-0 lead into the second quarter.
The Dragons again moved the ball effectively during the second period, advancing inside the Hornets' 20-yard line. A sack pushed Lane backward and forced a field-goal attempt, which struck the bottom of the goalpost and was unsuccessful.
Lane's defense answered by forcing Alabama State into a three-and-out on its next possession. However, the Hornets blocked a Lane punt on the ensuing drive and took possession at the Dragons' 10-yard line. Despite the unfavorable field position, Lane's defense prevented a touchdown and forced Alabama State to settle for a field goal.
The Hornets added to their lead before halftime and carried a 20-0 lead into the locker room.
Alabama State received the ball to begin the third quarter, but Lane's defense quickly created a turnover with an interception on the Hornets' opening possession. The Dragons capitalized on the momentum with a 29-yard completion to No. 19 Tametrius Pouge.
Lane drove to the Alabama State 9-yard line and elected to go for the first down on fourth-and-one. The Hornets stopped the Dragons just short of the line to gain, keeping Lane off the scoreboard. Neither team scored during the third quarter, and Alabama State maintained its 20-0 lead.
The Lane defense delivered another goal-line stand during the fourth quarter, stopping Alabama State on fourth-and-one at the Dragons' 5-yard line. The Hornets eventually added two late touchdowns to produce the 34-0 final.
Freshman quarterback
Crishon Overton showed promise while directing the Lane offense against the Division I opponent. Overton completed 60 percent of his passes, connected on a game-long 29-yard completion and added a 16-yard run with his legs.
Although the final score did not fully reflect the competitiveness of the game, Lane repeatedly moved the ball against Alabama State's Division I defense. The Dragons reached scoring territory multiple times but were unable to convert those opportunities into points.
Lane finished with more first downs than Alabama State, holding a 14-13 advantage, and controlled the ball for 36 minutes and 49 seconds. The Dragons also ran 60 offensive plays compared to 53 for the Hornets.
Defensively, Lane forced two fourth-down stops, recorded an interception and repeatedly held firm despite being placed in difficult field-position situations. The Hornets eventually pulled away as the game progressed.
INSIDE THE SERIES
- Meeting: 25th
- Series record: Alabama State leads 16-8-1
- Previous meeting: 1975
- Current streak: Alabama State, two victories
FINAL TEAM STATISTICS
|
Category
|
Lane College
|
Alabama State
|
|
First downs
|
14
|
13
|
|
Rushing yards
|
89
|
150
|
|
Passing yards
|
93
|
128
|
|
Total offense
|
182
|
278
|
|
Offensive plays
|
60
|
53
|
|
Turnovers
|
2
|
1
|
|
Penalties
|
6-40
|
4-45
|
|
Time of possession
|
36:49
|
23:11
|
|
Third-down conversions
|
5-of-14
|
5-of-11
|
Final Score: Alabama State 34, Lane College 0
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ABOUT THE SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SIAC)
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors nine men's and eight women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit www.thesiac.com.