Lane College snapped its winless start to the 2026 football season Saturday, earning a 16-6 road victory over Fort Valley State in a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) matchup.
The Dragons relied on timely offensive execution, a lengthy fourth-quarter scoring drive and a defense that recorded two interceptions to secure their first victory of the season. Despite being outgained by the Wildcats, Lane made the most of its opportunities and protected its lead down the stretch.
The victory improved Lane to 1-8 overall and 1-6 in SIAC play, while Fort Valley State fell to 2-5 overall and 1-4 in conference action.
Lane College Takes Early Lead
The Dragons struck first with 5:45 remaining in the opening quarter. Running back John Christian III scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to give Lane a 6-0 lead before Landon Wilson completed the two-point conversion pass to extend the advantage to 8-0.
Lane carried that lead into halftime, keeping Fort Valley State off the scoreboard through the first two quarters.
The Wildcats had opportunities to generate momentum but struggled to capitalize on their possessions. Lane’s defense helped maintain the advantage, setting the stage for a competitive second half.
Fort Valley State Responds in the Third Quarter
Fort Valley State finally broke through in the third quarter. Quarterback Don Hudson found the end zone on a 14-yard rushing touchdown with 9:58 remaining, cutting Lane’s lead to 8-6.
Hudson proved to be a dual-threat contributor for the Wildcats, finishing with 49 rushing yards and a touchdown while completing 16 of 26 passes for 132 yards.
However, Fort Valley State could not take the lead. The Wildcats’ inability to convert their offensive production into additional points ultimately proved costly.
Landon Wilson’s Fourth-Quarter Touchdown Seals the Win
Lane delivered the decisive blow with 7:25 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Tametrius Pogue connected with Wilson for an 8-yard touchdown pass, capping a 14-play, 72-yard drive that consumed more than nine minutes of game time.
Christian III then converted the two-point attempt on a rushing play, pushing the Dragons’ lead to 16-6.
The extended possession was critical, allowing Lane to add to its advantage while limiting Fort Valley State’s opportunities to mount another comeback. The Dragons’ defense held firm the rest of the way to secure the 10-point victory.
Lane College vs. Fort Valley State: Final Score
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
| Lane College | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 16 |
| Fort Valley State | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Lane College Individual Player Stats
Tametrius Pogue Leads the Passing Attack
Pogue completed 11 of 17 passes for 92 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His fourth-quarter scoring connection with Wilson proved to be the game’s decisive offensive play.
Pogue also contributed on the ground, rushing 10 times for 25 yards.
John Christian III Powers the Ground Game
Christian III led Lane’s rushing attack with 40 yards on 13 carries and scored the Dragons’ opening touchdown. He also caught one pass for six yards and successfully converted both of Lane’s two-point attempts.
His contributions were especially important in a game where scoring opportunities were limited.
Landon Wilson Delivers in Key Moments
Wilson recorded four receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown. He also caught the successful two-point conversion pass following Christian III’s first-quarter touchdown.
Wilson’s fourth-quarter touchdown reception gave Lane the cushion it needed to close out the contest.
Makhi Watson Adds to the Rushing Effort
Watson rushed nine times for 36 yards, averaging four yards per carry. His production helped Lane finish with 115 rushing yards on 38 attempts.
Kyan Parker-Crawford Leads the Defense
Parker-Crawford paced the Dragons with 10 total tackles, including seven solo stops and two tackles for loss totaling seven yards.
Maxwell Jean-Louis and Cadarius Newcomb added six tackles apiece. Newcomb also recorded a half-sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Victor Georges and Frederick Lewis Jr. each intercepted a pass. Georges returned his interception 27 yards, providing another key defensive play for Lane.
Fort Valley State Individual Player Stats
Don Hudson Provides a Dual-Threat Presence
Hudson was the Wildcats’ leading offensive contributor. He completed 16 of 26 passes for 132 yards and rushed eight times for 49 yards and a touchdown.
His third-quarter scoring run accounted for Fort Valley State’s only points.
Isaiah Nathaniel Splits Time at Quarterback
Nathaniel completed four of 12 passes for 37 yards and threw one interception. He also carried the ball once for 10 yards.
Fort Valley State finished with 169 passing yards, but neither quarterback threw a touchdown pass.
Donte Curry Leads the Receiving Corps
Curry caught five passes for 51 yards to lead the Wildcats in receiving. J.T. Pendleton also caught five passes, finishing with 31 yards.
Jamyez Thompson added two receptions for 30 yards, while Solomon Burney contributed three catches for 23 yards.
Despite those contributions, Fort Valley State could not find the end zone through the air.
DeZavion Holman Headlines the Defensive Effort
Holman led the Wildcats with seven total tackles, including half a sack. Ethan Mulbah recorded six tackles and half a sack, while Kion Threalkill finished with five tackles and an interception.
Tyson King also contributed five tackles and two tackles for loss.
Team Statistics: Lane College vs. Fort Valley State
| Category | Lane College | Fort Valley State |
| First Downs | 12 | 19 |
| Total Offensive Yards | 207 | 270 |
| Rushing Yards | 115 | 101 |
| Passing Yards | 92 | 169 |
| Total Plays | 55 | 66 |
| Rushing Attempts | 38 | 28 |
| Pass Completions | 11 | 20 |
| Pass Attempts | 17 | 38 |
| Interceptions Thrown | 1 | 2 |
| Fumbles Lost | 0 | 2 |
| Third-Down Conversions | 2-of-12 | 6-of-13 |
| Fourth-Down Conversions | 4-of-5 | 2-of-5 |
| Penalties-Yards | 5-44 | 6-53 |
| Time of Possession | 22:58 | 16:53 |
Turnovers and Fourth-Down Execution Make the Difference
Fort Valley State finished with more first downs (19-12) and total offense (270-207), but the Wildcats struggled with turnovers and failed to convert their yardage advantage into points.
Lane recorded two interceptions and recovered both of Fort Valley State’s lost fumbles. The Dragons did not lose a fumble of their own, giving them a significant advantage in ball security.
Lane also converted four of five fourth-down attempts, compared with two conversions in five tries for the Wildcats. That efficiency helped the Dragons sustain drives and control the game’s closing stages.
Although Fort Valley State held the edge in third-down conversions, Lane’s ability to execute in critical fourth-down situations and finish its fourth-quarter possession proved decisive.
What the Victory Means for Lane College
The 16-6 win gives Lane College a much-needed breakthrough after an 0-8 start to the season. The Dragons will look to build on the defensive performance and late-game execution as they continue their SIAC campaign next week against Tuskegee.
Fort Valley State, meanwhile, will need to address its turnover problems and improve its scoring efficiency after producing 270 yards of total offense but only six points.
For Lane, the formula was straightforward: protect the football, force turnovers and deliver when scoring opportunities arrived. The Dragons did enough in all three areas to leave Fort Valley State with their first victory of the 2026 campaign.
Final: Lane College 16, Fort Valley State 6
