Late Field Goal lifts Lane over Miles

JACKSON, Tennessee -- Most times in life, you don't get a second chance to be great.

Sometimes, you don't even get that first time. But if you do, you have to make the most of it, for those moments are fleeting. They're there in a moment. And then, they're gone. Senior kicker Vicente Pena had that chance with his team trailing Miles College, 14-12, late in the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon on senior day at Lane Field.

But his chance to be great was for not, as his 45-yard, go-ahead field goal attempt sailed wide left with 3:35 left in the ballgame. Fortunately for Pena, Lane College is all about second chances.

Just like so many times this year, the Dragons defense stepped up, forcing a three-and-out, giving Lane the ball back with 1:27 left on the Dragon 27-yard line. Facing a 3-and-6 on the Lane 31, senior quarterback Marcus Reynolds connected with freshman wide receiver O'Joshua Bunton on a 13-yard strike to give the Dragons a big first down. Two plays later, Reynolds then hit freshman Anthony Eveyln for 25 yards to the Miles 31 yard line with just 23 seconds remaining. After a Lane timeout, Reynolds then used his legs, scrambling on a busted play for 13 yards down to the Miles 18 yard line. Using the next play to set up a favorable spot, Reynolds picked up a yard fighting to get to the left hash. Then, with just 10 seconds remaining, it again, was all up to Pena.

This time, the 35-yard attempt was perfect, splitting the uprights to give Lane College a 15-14 lead over the Golden Bears with just six seconds left.



BOX SCORE

Pena's kickoff was a sqibb that bounced a couple of times before being picked up by a Golden Bear special teams man, and before the Miles player had a chance to go down to give his offense an opportunity at a Hail Mary, the Lane special teams swarmed, keeping the Miles player upright until the final whistle blew.

Reynolds finished his final game at Lane Field going 12-for-20 for 160 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions including a 54-yard bomb to Quantvious Wilson for the team's only touchdown with six second left in the first half. He also finished with 132 yards on the ground.

Pena finished 3-for-4 on field goals including made from 40, 37 and 35, respectively.

Lane heads on the road for the following two games of the regular season, starting this Saturday in Hopkinsville, Ky. against Kentucky State University. Kick off is set for 2 p.m.



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