SMSU Athletics Hall of Honor
Carlton Lance (football, 1988-91/track, 1991) was a two-sport standout in football and track at SMSU and following his collegiate career played two seasons of professional football in both Canada and Europe.
A native of Ft. Myers, Fla., Lance played four seasons for the Mustang football team and was a key defensive member of one of the most dominant clubs in school history. He finished his SMSU career with 136 tackles, 28 pass break-ups and five interceptions, earned NAIA All-District honors and twice collected all-conference honorable mention accolades.
As a junior in 1990, he started at cornerback for SMSU’s only conference championship team and finished with 48 tackles and two interceptions. One of his interceptions was returned for-a-then school record 96-yard touchdown versus Minot State. The team also qualified for the NAIA national playoffs for just the second time in school history. In 1991, Lance led the team with nine pass break-ups and finished with two interceptions, despite missing two games with an injury, in helping the Mustangs set a school record with nine victories.
Following his collegiate career, Lance played one season for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League, where he was named to the CFL?All-Rookie team. He also played one season in the World League with the London Monarchs. Lance had National Football League opportunities, attending training camp with both the Houston Oilers and San Francisco 49ers.
Lance also ran track at SMSU and in 1991 was the leadoff leg of the conference championship 4x100-meter relay team which set a school and conference record of 42.7 seconds.
Carlton and wife, Angie, have two children and live in Marshall, Minn.
