Fort Valley State mounts huge comeback
FORT VALLEY -- The Fort Valley State Wildcats overcame a 25-point third-quarter deficit to defeat Lane 50-38 on Saturday.
Quarterback Otis Brown threw for one score and ran for two more, and Peach County product Travis Richmond ran for a touchdown and threw for the game-winner to overcome 435 yards rushing by Lane.
“Right now, it’s just a great feeling being back on the field,” Richmond said. “I‘ve been away for two years, but it seems like a lot longer than that. And when I came back, I wanted to make sure I could contribute.
“It’s almost overwhelming for me, but it really has been a great night.”
The great night almost single-handily was ruined by Lane quarterback Marcus Reynolds, who rushed for 261 yards and three touchdowns, while throwing for another. After Richmond broke loose on a 58-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter, Reynolds dominated and led the Dragons to a 24-7 halftime lead.
Reynolds took off for a 42-yard run early in the third quarter, and the two-point conversion made it 32-7, but Brown and Drelon Freeman gave their team a spark.
Brown led his team on a six-play, 69-yard drive and capped it with a 25-yard run, and after the Wildcats’ defense finally forced a punt, Freeman broke loose for a 75-yard punt return to make it a 32-22 game.
Meanwhile, the Fort Valley State defense was finally having some luck slowing down Reynolds. It forced yet another punt, and Brown connected with Jalen White on a screen pass for a 55-yard touchdown. Minutes later, the Wildcats blocked a field goal attempt and Stefon Harper picked it up and took it 60 yards for yet another score which gave them a 36-32 lead.
“At this time, we were all pretty gassed, and their quarterback was so hard to catch that I think all of us were tired of chasing him,” said strong safety Patric Edwards, who had six tackles in the game. “But once we got the lead back, we knew we had to finish it. It was an exciting game, for sure.”
Reynold was not through and once again led his team down the field, going 87 yards in 12 plays to give Lane the lead back at 38-36. Brown answered with a drive capped by a Richmond 12-yard touchdown pass to Jevon Bell.
Freeman put the game away with a 68-yard punt return down to the three, and two plays later, Brown scored from 6 yards out to put the game out of reach.
“Just a hard-fought game in the Valley,” said Wildcats head coach Donald Pittman, whose team improved to 1-1. “We showed what kind of football team we have coming back at the end, and I am proud of the continued effort we gave. It was a great win for us.”
This story was originally published September 12, 2015 at 10:44 PM with the headline "Fort Valley State mounts huge comeback ."