Football 10/7/2026 12:24:00 PM Chris Myers

Lane Comes to Georgia for ASU ‘Homecoming Weekend’

ALBANY, Ga. – After a week off, the Golden Rams are set to return to the Coliseum blue turf Saturday afternoon. Albany State aims to return to its winning ways on the gridiron when Lane College comes to southwest Georgia for 'Homecoming Weekend.'
     ASU faces an improving-by-the-week Lane College program. The Rams and Dragons kick off the festive campus action at 2 p.m. It can be seen on SIAC Network and heard on the ASU Radio Network on WZBN 105.5 FM.

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Lane College at Albany State

Game Information
Saturday, Oct. 10
2 p.m. - ASU Coliseum
Tickets
Live Stats
SIAC Network
Live Radio
Game Program

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SIAC Season Week #6
Lane College (0-6/0-4 SIAC) vs. ASU (2-3/2-1 SIAC)
  It will be a test of two teams battling to get into the win column as the second half of the schedule and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference docket.
The Dragons come off its best showing of the fall last Saturday in Fairfield, Ala. Lane scored a third-quarter touchdown and pulled within a point of Miles College, but fell in a close finish, 9-6. Lane started the season with defeats to Bethel (Tenn.) and Alabama State by finals of 16-3 and 34-0. In SIAC play, Lane fell short to Allen (43-7), Morehouse College (44-0) and Central State (38-6).
     The Golden Rams look to get back in the thick of the race for one of the two spots in the SIAC Championship game. ASU returns to the title tilt begins Saturday after its off week. ASU saw its home opener end in disappointment when Kentucky State edged out the 24-16 matchup. The Golden Ram loss snapped a two-game win streak with victories over both Savannah State (49-17) and Allen (32-28) after a rocky start to the year in losses to FCS Florida A&M (20-7) and defending CIAA champion Johnson C. Smith (27-7).

    Teams Both Seek Needed SIAC Wins
     ASU and Lane College both seek needed SIAC wins in the weekend matchup. The two foes have lost the last 14 games against league teams, which is a misleading statement.
     The Golden Rams saw its 11-game SIAC game win streak (not counting wins over Benedict College in last season's SIAC Championship and NCAA DII playoffs) snapped with the close (24-16) loss to the Thorobreds of Kentucky State two weeks ago. It was the Golden Rams' first Conference loss since November 2 of 2024 in a 28-26 final at Savannah State.
     The Dragons bring with them the longest current losing streak across the league. Lane College has not prevailed against a fellow SIAC opponent since a one-point, 28-27, decision at Savannah State on October 26 of 2024. It fell in the 2024 final game, came up short in all eight 2025 contests and the first four of this season. In fact, Lane looks for its first win overall since the 2024 season finale at Lincoln University (MO) by a 41-28 score and it has lost the last 16 games.

Bowser Aims for First Win in ASU Coliseum
     After his team posted a 'W' in each of the last two weeks, ASU Head Coach David Bowser aims for his first victory leading the Golden Rams on the Coliseum's blue carpet.

Davis & Watts Among DII Leaders
     Halfway through the season, ASU has both quarterback Jeffery Davis and kick returner Cameron Watts among the NCAA DII leaders. Davis ranks second in pass completion percentage at .745 (79 of 106) and leads the SIAC in the category. He also is third in pass efficiency (170.7) and eighth in total offense (186.4 yds/game) in the SIAC.
     Watts stands 14^th in the nation in combined kick return yards at 320 yards (9 kick returns for 169 yards and 7 punt returns for 151 yards). He is first in the SIAC at 21.6 yards per punt return.

19th Meeting between Rams & Dragons
     For the second year in a row, ASU and Lane College meet during the regular season after not meeting for the 6 prior campaigns. The Golden Rams holds a 15-2-1 series advantage and have claimed the last 4 meetings dating back to 2013.
     ASU won last Oct. 4 in Jackson, Tenn., by a 47-6 margin over Lane College. In fact, ASU took both the meetings in 2019 (33-13) and 2018 (14-7) along with the 2014 final of 33-0.
     Lane College split the 4-game set of contests from 2011-14.
Before the 2014 final, the Dragons took a 37-31 win in 2013, lost in 2012 (36-14) and won the 2011 contest (26-24).
     ASU went 10-0-1 in the first 11 games of the series starting back in 1965.

ASU Last Game: Rams Late Comeback Falls Short, Thorobreds Hold On
     ALBANY, Ga. – On a beautiful southwest Georgia Saturday afternoon, the Rams ending couldn't quite match the weather at the final ticks came off the clock. With 1:51 left in the game, Albany State drove 65 yards only to see the final pass into the endzone get batted down and allow Kentucky State to hold on for a 24-16 football win.
After holding the visiting Thorobreds to -2 yards on three plays, the Golden Rams' quarterback Jeffery Davis scrambled for 24 yards and threw to Jaquan Graham for another 29 yards to the visitor 25-yard line with under 30 seconds left. A short pass of 4 yards and incompletion set up ASU for 4^th down and the final play of the game. Davis lofted the ball 21 yards to the end zone, but Kentucky State's defenders batted it down ending the game.
  "It was a great match up between two of the better teams in the SIAC," stated ASU Head Coach David Bowser. "Kentucky State University did a good job of capitalizing on our mishaps and they converted 3rd downs."
  With the defeat, ASU (2-3/2-1 SIAC) sees its 11-game Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win streak snapped. Kentucky State (4-1/3-0 SIAC) moves into the SIAC lead and improved its win league win streak to nine games, its last loss came last September 6 at home to ASU (49-21). It also was the Thorobreds first win over the Rams since 2003 spanning over 12 games since then.
  In a rare occurrence, ASU was outgained in a game. KSU produced 406 yards of total offense, 303 in the air, to the home team's 246 yards, only 81 rushing.
  "We definitely are a better football team when we can run the football," noted Bowser.
  From his QB position, Davis led the Rams with 31 rushing yards on 12 carries. He completed 15 of 21 pass attempts for 165 yards and one touchdown.
  Jaylen Threatts ran 10 times for 25 yards and Bryce Council three carries for 17 yards. Graham grabbed five passed for 67 yards. Cardrece Mobley pulled in the lone scoring pass for his only reception of 13 yards. Roderick McCrary also had a 26-yard catch and ran for 11 yards.
  Defensively, linebacker Jimmy Dawson posted his first double-digit tackle game with 10 to go with one for a loss and forced a fumble. Cameron Watts and Rontavion Scott both added seven stops. Derrick Drayton had a sack, two tackles for loss and six tackles. Kyle Williams chipped in a sack.
  Following an opening Kentucky State punt, ASU took the early momentum. Davis hit Omarion Dupree for 16 yards on the first play as part of a 60-yard drive. Only four plays later, Davis found Mobley from 13 yards for a 7-0 lead 4:21 into the contest.
  The Thorobreds rebounded with a quick-strike 60-yard drive of its own on the ensuing drive and added a second with 1:36 in the first frame for a 14-7 lead.
  The Rams logged what would be their longest-play drive of the day of 12 down to the KSU 15-yard line before they were stopped. Jonathan Rodriguez chipped the ball through for a 31-yard field goal at 3:43 in the second in what would be the halftime tally.
  An ASU fumble on the third play of the third quarter gave KSU prime field on the home 44-yard line. The Thorobreds used a 38-yard pass and eventual 5-yard scoring plunge for a 21-10 lead only 3:16 into the second half.
  Starting the fourth, Threatts capped a 65-yard, 11-play drive with a burst over the right side from three yards. The two-point wide receiver sweep was stopped, and the score went to 21-16 with 12:38 to play.
  Kentucky State again had the answer with a 15-play possession where Leland Gantz booted a 33-yard field goal for what would be the 24-16 at 4:29.

Lane Last Game: Dragons Late Rally Falls Short in Defensive Battle with Golden Bears
(courtesy of Lane Athletic Comms)

FAIRFIELD, AL — The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup featured a strong defensive performance from Lane, which forced four turnovers and held Miles to one offensive touchdown.
     Miles opened the scoring with a seven-yard touchdown run by Andre Gianopoulos with 6:40 remaining in the first quarter. That would be the only touchdown Lane's defense allowed all afternoon.
     The Dragons created their first takeaway on Miles' opening possession when Timothy Carter intercepted a pass at the Lane 1-yard line and returned it to the 4. Lane delivered another red-zone stop during the second quarter when Tyrell McKnight recovered a fumble at the Lane 11.
     Victor Georges added Lane's third takeaway of the first half by intercepting a pass in the end zone on the final play before halftime, keeping the Dragons within one possession at 7–0.
     Lane broke through offensively late in the third quarter following a missed Miles field-goal attempt. Freshman quarterback Crishon Overton connected with John Christian III for a 56-yard gain that moved the Dragons from their own 34-yard line to the Miles 10.
Three plays later, Overton found Rkisch Hyppolyte for a 10-yard touchdown pass, trimming the deficit to 7–6 with 2:02 remaining in the third quarter. The two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
     Lane's defense produced another red-zone stop early in the fourth quarter when Frederick Lewis Jr. intercepted a Miles pass in the end zone for a touchback. Miles later extended its advantage to 9–6 when a blocked punt resulted in a safety with 10:32 remaining.
     The Dragons received one final opportunity from their own 10-yard line with 3:26 left in the game.
Overton completed a 37-yard pass to Samuel Kelly on third-and-12 before connecting with Antonio Welch for 14 yards and Hyppolyte for 16. Another completion to Welch moved Lane to the Miles 11-yard line with less than a minute remaining.
     The Dragons were unable to complete the comeback, however, as the possession ended on fourth down at the Miles 16 with 15 seconds remaining.
     Overton completed nine of 17 passes for 138 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Cameron Shepherd completed eight passes for 61 yards as the Dragons finished with 199 passing yards.
     Hyppolyte led Lane with four receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown. Welch added four catches for 32 yards, while Kelly recorded two receptions for 47 yards. Christian finished with two receptions for 61 yards, including Lane's longest offensive play of the afternoon.
     Defensively, Jaquez Poole led the Dragons with eight tackles. Cadarius Newcomb added seven tackles and one tackle for loss, while Devonte Huff and Carter recorded six tackles each.
     Charles Ingram V finished with four tackles, a seven-yard sack and a quarterback hurry. Carter, Lewis and Georges each recorded an interception as Lane limited Miles to 84 passing yards and kept the Golden Bears scoreless through the second and third quarters.
     Lane finished with 221 yards of total offense, while Miles recorded 286. The Dragons committed two turnovers while forcing four from the Golden Bears.
The result gives Miles a 13–2 advantage in the all-time series, which dates back to 2011. Lane's two victories came in 2018 and 2022, including a 35–32 win at Miles in 2022.

Rams Face Golden Tigers Next Weekend
            The Golden Rams return to the road next Saturday, Oct. 17, against the Golden Tigers of Tuskegee University. The two long-time foes with start the action at 2 p.m. CST/3 p.m. EST.

-GoldenRams-

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Players Mentioned

#91 Derrick Drayton: DE; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior

#6 Cameron Watts: CB; 5' 8"; Senior

#0 Jimmy Dawson: LB; 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore

#1 Kyle Williams: DL; 6' 3"; Graduate Student

#5 Rontavion Scott: S; 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior

#46 Jonathan Rodriguez: K/P; 5' 9"; Redshirt Freshman

#0 Roderick McCrary: RB; 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore

#5 Omarion "OJ" Dupree: TE; 6' 2"; Senior

#18 Jaquan Graham: WR; 5' 8"; Junior

#2 Bryce Council: RB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

#91 Derrick Drayton
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior
: DE

#6 Cameron Watts
: 5' 8"; Senior
: CB

#0 Jimmy Dawson
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore
: LB

#1 Kyle Williams
: 6' 3"; Graduate Student
: DL

#5 Rontavion Scott
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior
: S

#46 Jonathan Rodriguez
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Freshman
: K/P

#0 Roderick McCrary
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore
: RB

#5 Omarion "OJ" Dupree
: 6' 2"; Senior
: TE

#18 Jaquan Graham
: 5' 8"; Junior
: WR

#2 Bryce Council
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior
: RB