COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Lane Dragons rushed for 242 yards and three touchdowns and scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in the second half to rally over the Benedict College Tigers and take a 32-27 victory Saturday evening in Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.
 
Benedict falls to 0-2 on the season, and now 0-1 in the SIAC. Benedict drops its first two games of the season for the first time since 2019. Lane improves to 1-1 overall and 1-0 in the SIAC.
 
The Dragons took the second-half opening kickoff and drove 75 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. The drive was kept alive when the Dragons converted on fourth-and-one with a four-yard run. Lane followed that with a 20-yard run, a 20-yard pass play and a 26-yard touchdown run to take a 25-21 lead.
 
In the fourth quarter, Benedict came up short on a fourth-and-two, giving the Dragons the ball at their own 10-yard line. Lane drove 90 yards, getting big runs of 16 yards, 20 yards, and 33 yards before scoring on a four-yard touchdown run for a 32-21 lead with 3:38 left in the game.
 
The Tigers drove 75 yards on just eight plays, converting on a fourth-and-two when quarterback Charles "Tre" Simmons ran for six yards. The Tigers then scored when Simmons passed to Malaqhi Jones for a 31-yard touchdown reception. A two-point conversion attempt failed, as Benedict cut the lead to 32-27 with 46 seconds left in the game.
 
Benedict attempted an on-side kick, but failed to recover the ball and Lane ran out the clock to secure the win.
 
After Lane scored first, but failed on the PAT kick, the Tigers took a 7-6 lead when Simmons threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Troy Hillman.
 
Lane made it 12-7 when the Dragons scored on an 82-yard punt return. The Tigers answered quickly with a 73-yard touchdown run by Simmons, to give Benedict a 14-12 lead. Simmons connected with Hillman again for a 47-yard touchdown pass for a 21-12 lead. Lane scored with 19 seconds left in the half on a 25-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 21-19.
 
Simmons, who entered the game for the Tigers in the first quarter when starter Jackson Jensen was injured, finished the game completing 10-of-18 passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns. Simmons also rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
 
Ty'Metrius Patterson led the defense with 12 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Israel Nwokocha had 10 tackles, including four tackles for loss and a sack.
 
Benedict has a quick turnaround, hosting Edward Waters on Thursday night in a nationally-televised game. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.