After a slow start to the season on the offensive side of the ball, Miles was able to find its mojo with an explosive first half that helped deliver a 42-32 win over Lane in the Prince Hall Americanism Classic on Saturday at Sloan-Alumni Stadium. The win was the first of the season for the Golden Bears (1-2, 1-0 SIAC) and moved their record to 3-1 in the Classic.

Having scored just 18 points in their first two games, the Golden Bears took over the game with a 28-point second quarter. Four different players scored touchdowns and two defensive player scored points. Two players had more than 100 yards receiving (Jaih Andrews, 106 and Jaquel Fells, 100) while Jonero Scott (101) had his own 100-yard day. It marked the first time in 26 games that Miles had a rusher and receiver cross the century mark in the same game (Kentucky State, 2021).

The contest was not without its flaws for the Golden Bears. The opening kickoff was fumbled. There was another missed extra point. Miles had 17 penalties for 183 yards and allowed the Dragons (1-2, 1-1) to amass 340 of their 471 yards in the second half. But the team never trailed and forced four turnovers - including two interceptions by Lashon Young - that propelled it to victory.

Javontae Leatherwood scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter, which was followed by a 2-point conversion run by defensive end JaMichael Rogers for an 8-0. But the second quarter saw Miles take control. Leatherwood got his second 1-yard scoring plunge on the first play of the period. Quarterback Kamren Ivory (18-of-28, 284 yards, 3 TD) got loose from there, tossing a 41-yard touchdown pass to Andrews, a 30-yard scoring strike to Travaunta Abner, then closing the period by hitting Andrews from 13 yards out with four second left in the half to give the Golden Bears a 36-12 lead at the break.

Lane did not go away. Two scoring drives - including one that was 96 yards - cut the Dragons' deficit to 36-26 with 3:29 left in the third quarter. But the defense stepped up big in the fourth quarter. With the Dragons looking to inch even closer, Young picked off Jerick Gaston at the Miles 5 to turn away a scoring threat. Then, Keith Green made the biggest play of his young career. The freshman defensive lineman snatched the ball away from Lane running back Ike Brown and ran it back 48 yards for a score that gave Miles a 42-26 advantage.

The Dragons would find the end zone again but their last-ditch effort at a comeback was squashed as Young's second pick happened in the end zone with 57 seconds remaining. Miles ran out the clock and closed out the win.

Matthew Yafondo had a game-high 10 tackles (seven solo) and a sack, Cedric Byrd had eight solo tackles, William Hardy had seven stops (five solo), Jeremiah Hudson-Davis had six tackles and an interception, and Rogers added four solo tackles, a sack, a pass break up and a quarterback hurry to go along with his 2-point conversion for Miles, which travels to face Allen on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.