Ram's Lane enjoying his time ‘under the Friday night lights’

Lane has made most of 1 season of varsity football, helping Ross to the playoffs.

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By Jay Morrison, Staff Writer 5:09 AM Thursday, November 5, 2009

ROSS TWP. — If it seems as though Ross senior Danny Lane’s high school football career is coming to a close just after it began, well, that’s because it is.

Frustrated by his lack of playing time and a self-admitted lack of talent, Lane gave up the sport in eighth grade.

“I wasn’t really any good when I was a kid,” he said. “I sat the bench the whole time. I liked playing football, but since I wasn’t any good I was just like, ‘Forget this. I’ll concentrate on basketball.’ ”

But at the urging of his brother, former football standout and 2008 Ross graduate David Lane, Danny, now a senior, decided to give it another go. And Rams fans certainly are glad he did after watching him lead the playoff-bound Rams in scoring, receiving touchdowns, kick return yardage and punt return yardage in his first — and only — full season of varsity action.

“Danny’s a lot like his brother in that he’s very shifty and he can separate himself,” said Ross coach Brian Butts, whose team will take on Winton Woods at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, in a Division II, Region 8 first-round playoff game.

“I think David was quicker, but Danny might be faster if they were to race over a long distance,” Butts continued. “They’re a lot alike in some ways, but they’re also two different birds.”

Danny wears the same number (11) as his older brother, and he said he hopes to follow in his footsteps as a collegiate athlete at the College of Mount St. Joseph. David plays basketball for the Lions. Danny said he’d like to play either sport.

“I quit football to concentrate on basketball, but now I love it,” Lane said. “I wish I would have played my freshman and sophomore years. I love basketball. Basketball is my favorite sport. But there’s no greater feeling than running out there under the Friday night lights.”

Lane has 19 catches for 280 yards and five touchdowns. He also has two carries for 24 yards and a touchdown and an impressive 21.9-yard average on kick returns.

“He’s been a big part of our success this year,” Butts said. “He does a little bit of everything, just like his brother did.”

Danny said David’s role in his success goes way beyond the encouragement to pick up the sport again.

“We’re best friends,” Danny said. “He’s helped me out with everything. He comes back from Mount St. Joe every single weekend to watch my games. We’re brothers, so obviously we’ve had our fights and our arguments, but he’s always looked out for me and helped me in so many ways.”

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