Vernon Cole already was handling a variety of roles for Lane, but he asked to take on one more this week. The senior starts at running back and defensive back for the Champions. That\u2019s unusual for schools in the state\u2019s largest class, which mostly play two-platoon football. But Cole is too good not to be on the field most of the time, and on Friday night he found another way to contribute.<\/p>\n
Lining up as a Wildcat quarterback after halftime, Cole jump started the Champions offense. He scored his second and third touchdowns of the night after halftime to help Lane pull away for a 30-0 home win over Lincoln Park before a crowd of more than 2,000. Cole finished with 16 carries for 152 yards and also had an interception in the third quarter that set up his second TD.<\/p>\n
He said the Wildcat wrinkle was his idea after seeing how TF South defended Lane\u2019s run game in the Champions\u2019 35-0 win last week. \u201cI texted my coach, I was like, \u2018The holes are big,\u2019\u201d Cole said. \u201c\u2018If we can get that [look again], I can really make some moves.\u2019 So we worked on that in practice and that\u2019s what happened.\u201d Cole had just five carries for 40 yards and a TD in the first half, which ended with Lane (3-0, 1-0 Public League Metro) up 7-0.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be honest, our game plan was to probably throw it a little bit more in the first half,\u201d Lane coach Deshon Conley said. \u201cThat\u2019s why he didn\u2019t get as many touches. But once we started [seeing] our run game was working, we decided to go ahead and let Vernon loose.\u201d Conley isn\u2019t surprised to see a breakout season from Cole, who\u2019s also the defending Public League wrestling champ at 165 pounds. \u201cThere\u2019s a reason he\u2019s a captain,\u201d Conley said. \u201cHe\u2019s stepped up a lot, he\u2019s matured. He\u2019s become a really, really, really good football player. And we definitely lean on him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lincoln Park\u2019s Roidell Sanders (8) is tackled by Lane\u2019s defense.
\nKirsten Stickney\/For the Sun-Times<\/p>\n
Ditto for a defensive line that returns three experienced players in Iowa State commit Daniel Howard, Greg Howard and Kanye Williams. Lincoln Park (2-1, 0-1) didn\u2019t get into the red zone all night and the Lions were held to 12 rushing yards. Senior quarterback Roidell Sanders had some success early, completing five of his first six passes for 51 yards. But he left the game with an injury and Lincoln Park finished with 79 passing yards.<\/p>\n
Getting the shutout was a goal, according to Williams, especially after Lincoln Park won last year\u2019s meeting 3-0. \u201cIt just shows that we\u2019re getting better,\u201d he said. \u201cLast year, [going] 3-6 really got us motivated.\u201d Playing alongside a Power Four recruit in Howard opens up opportunities for Williams to make plays. "[Opponents] usually watch film and think, \u2018Oh, [Howard] is the only one who can play,\u2019\u201d Williams said. \u201cBut the whole team can ball out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Q: Who is Vernon Cole and what roles does he play for Lane?
\nA: Vernon Cole is a senior who starts at running back and defensive back for Lane, and he also lined up as a Wildcat quarterback after halftime.
\nQ: What was the final score of the game between Lane and Lincoln Park?
\nA: The final score was 30-0 in favor of Lane.
\nQ: What was the significance of the shutout for Lane’s defensive line?
\nA: The shutout was a goal for Lane’s defensive line, especially after Lincoln Park won last year’s meeting 3-0.
\nQ: How did Lane’s coach Deshon Conley describe Vernon Cole’s performance?
\nA: Conley described Cole as a really, really, really good football player who has stepped up a lot and matured, and said that the team definitely leans on him.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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