Sophomore running back Shelton Hamilton stepped in for an injured David Carter and rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn't enough to secure the season home opener, as Morehouse lost to the Lane College Dragons, 37-34, in overtime.
After Morehouse failed to score in overtime, Lane placekicker David Castillo kicked a 22-yard field goal and helped the Dragons break a five-game losing streak against the Maroon Tigers.
The chip shot field goal was set up by two Morehouse penalties totaling 20 yards that put the ball on the five yard line. The Maroon Tigers were assessed 150 penalty yards, many on crucial plays, which put them out of scoring range or helped sustain Dragon drives.
In a mistake-filled game, the biggest gaff was an interception of quarterback Donnay Ragland, which was returned 85 yards for a touchdown.
With the score tied, 28-all, midway through the fourth quarter, the Tigers were driving and seemed poised to break the game open. But Ragland's errant pass was picked off by Jack Howard, who raced untouched for a 34-28 Lane lead. The Maroon Tigers blocked the extra point attempt, setting up a chance to score with their own touchdown and extra point.
Raglan rebounded from the interception and orchestrated a seven-play, 50-yard drive, which ended with him scampering seven yards for the tying touchdown. But the Dragons returned the favor and blocked a Dorian Greene extra-point attempt.
Score at the end of regulation -- 34-34.
Carter, the SIAC's leading rusher, left the game in the first quarter, when he appeared to tweak a hamstring, during a 35-yard break away run. He finished with 36 yard and is listed as day-to-day.
Ragland rushed for 80 yards, to go with 8-of-18 passing and 104 yards. He was sacked three times and had to repeatedly scramble.
In the backup role, Hamilton ran the ball 32 times, for a 5.2 yards-per-carry average. He has emerged as a premier rusher and was listed at #5 in the SIAC, after Week 3. His stock should only rise after this performance.
Running back Samuel Gilmore had an excellent day returning kickoffs. The senior from Houston, TX returned five kickoffs from for 166 yards.
Gilmore leads the SIAC in kickoff returns, with an average of 27.5 yards per attempt.
In his best game as a Maroon Tiger, Lance White stepped up big, on defense. The sophomore from Fayetteville, GA, recorded 13 tackles to lead Morehouse.
Latavius Watts had eight tackles and Clarence Christian added seven. Elijah Anderson and Brandon Houston chipped in six tackles each.
Morehouse fell to 1-3 on the season. Lane improved to 2-2.
The last time Morehouse lost to Lane was in 2006, when the Dragons won 48-31. Coincidentally that was also the last time Morehouse started the season at 1-3.
Morehouse will walk down the street and play the Clark Atlanta, at Panthers Stadium, Saturday, at 6 p.m.
