October 25, 2003 - John David Washington scored four touchdowns and rushed for 127 yards, as the Maroon Tigers spoiled the Lane College Homecoming with a 35-8 victory, in Jackson, TN, Saturday.

“Winning sure makes the ride home a lot more fun,” said a jubilant Will Scissum, after the game.

Working behind an inspired offensive line, quarterback Duwuan Burton had his best passing game of the season, connecting on 12 of 18 passes for 223 yards and no interceptions, despite being sacked three times. The previous best for the sophomore signal caller was 197 yards against Tuskegee the preceding week.

On the other side of the ball, an equally inspired Maroon Tigers defense limited two Lane quarterbacks to 173 yards passing on eight of 21 attempts. The Maroon Tigers defense kept quarterbacks Kenneth Ladson and Kenneth Irby on the run most of the afternoon, sacking them three times and intercepting five passes.

The only Lane threat came late in the second quarter when the Dragons trailed 1-0. With 3:04 left on the clock, 220-pound running back Corey Franklin plowed into the end zone from the two yard line to give Lane its first and only touchdown. A two-point conversion made the score 21-8. On the ensuing kickoff, wide receiver Corey Russ fielded the ball on the Morehouse 14 yard and returned it 26 yards before fumbling the pigskin that was recovered by Lane at the Morehouse 45. After moving the ball to the Morehouse two-yard line, the Lane drive was halted by an interception by Keon Mainor in the end zone.

In the second half, the Maroon and White finished the rout, holding the Blue and White scoreless and tacking on touchdowns of their own in the third and fourth quarters. Midway through the third period, Washington burst through a porous Lane defense for a 27-yard rush, his longest run of the day and his fourth touchdown. With 4:26 left in the game, junior wide receiver Raymond Johnson sprinted past the Lane defender on the right side and Burton hit him in stride for a 55-yard touchdown.

Morehouse defensive back Robert Harris had a big game in his home state. The 5’-10” freshman, who hails from Murfreesboro, TN, forced a fumble, recovered another fumble and had an interception. He also matched teammate Andre Warren for a team high 10 tackles.

With receptions totaling 223 yards, the Morehouse receiving corps had their best game of the season. Jeremiah Thompson hauled in three passes for 71 yards and Johnson pulled down two passes for 69 yards. His 55-yard touchdown catch was his longest of the year.

Starting fullback Aaron Epps got in on the reception party with six catches for 79 yards, which went along with 27 yards rushing on 6 carries.

All was not rosey for the visiting Maroon and White, which was again plagued by a season long problem ­ fumbles and sacks. Five different Morehouse players coughed up the ball that was recovered by the opposition and the offensive line allowed three quarterback sacks for a loss of 20 yards.

Winners of three of their last four games, the Maroon Tigers boosted their record to 3-5 (2-3 SIAC) and will be at home to face Clark Atlanta University on November 1 in a cross-campus Homecoming game that will be televised nationally by the MBC Network. Lane, which drops to 2-6 (1-4 SIAC), will face Tuskegee at home.