For 2 ½ seasons, D.J. Lane was mostly just a face on Warren Central’s sideline.

The backup running back had a total of 11 carries and five receptions in 2013 and 2014, and didn’t score a touchdown. Even with an expanded role early this year, he still didn’t have a game with more than 84 total yards.

That changed two weeks ago.

When leading rusher D.J. Knight went down with an injury, Lane was more than ready to step in. The senior has posted back-to-back 100-yard rushing games against Murrah and Clinton and scored four touchdowns. It’s a surge that’s kept the Vikings rolling to wins Nos. 7 and 8 during an eight-game winning streak, and kept them on course to play for the Region 2-6A championship Friday night at home against Starkville.

“That’s what it’s mostly been, is seizing my opportunity and just coming in and doing what I can to help my team win,” Lane said.

Knight was averaging 6.5 yards per carry and scored nine touchdowns in Warren Central’s first seven games. He was hurt in the first half of a 35-6 win over Murrah on Oct. 16, however, and Lane immediately stepped in to fill the void.

Lane rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns in that game, despite not having a carry in the first quarter. His 55-yard run in the third quarter surpassed his yardage total from his entire junior season.

Lane followed up that performance by rushing for 140 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries in last week’s 28-26 win over Clinton. He had 102 yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone.

“He practiced extremely well. He’s earned his playing time, and the coaches trust him. He’s been a huge asset for us,” Warren Central coach Josh Morgan said. “He’s a great teammate. He waited patiently for his turn, practiced hard and got better every day. He’s been getting more and more carries as the year progressed, and the coaches and other players were comfortable with him in a huge, huge game.”

Lane’s success is emblematic of the Vikings’ running game as a whole this season. The team has rushed for 1,935 yards and 27 touchdowns, but no player has more than 600 yards. Knight leads the team with 594.

Knight, Lane, Demarcus Jones and quarterback Jesse Wilson all have at least 279 yards and multiple touchdowns this season. All except Jones have had at least one 100-yard rushing game. Jones’ season-high is 81 yards and a touchdown against Murrah.

Lane said that team-oriented approach to the backfield got him ready for when he was asked to play a bigger role.

“It got me very ready for the situation I was put in. I got thrown into the fire against a top-ranked team in our division, and I just did what I had to do,” Lane said.

A team approach has also helped the Vikings succeed, Lane added. No one is clamoring for more carries or getting upset when another player gets more work.

Lane knows that’s a rare trait for any team and is appreciative of it. He said it’s simply a bond built through years of hard work, camaraderie and shared sweat among teammates

“When times get tough, we don’t just hang each other and point the finger and say ‘this is your fault,’ and all that. We stick together as a team and we just pull through to do what we’ve got to do to win,” Lane said. “It comes from the hard workouts during the summer. Pushing it with each other, and building a great chemistry with each other. It’s just the relationship we’ve built over the years.”

Starkville at Warren Central

Friday, 7 p.m.

Radio: 105.5 FM

Online: For live scoring updates on Friday night, visit Facebook.com/thevicksburgpost or Twitter.com/vicksburgpost