SALISBURY, Md. (October 18, 2008) - Predictions made earlier in
the week by D2Football.com had Lake Erie College being defeated by
the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) No. 19 Salisbury
University by 25 points. It's not the first time this season the
first-year varsity program has been picked as the underdog.
Likewise, it's not the first-time the Storm has raised a few
eyebrows, this time, by not letting the hosts jump out to an easy
victory, while also forcing the nationally-recognized program into
five turnovers.
Lake Erie wasn't the first team to score Saturday afternoon at
Sea Gull Stadium, but it wasn't quiet for long after the hosts
scored the opening touchdown a little less than three minutes into
the game. The Storm put up its first numbers on a 23-yard field
goal by freshman Cameron Szatala (Lorain, Ohio/Admiral King) with
6:36 to go in the first quarter, making it 7-3. The Sea Gulls added
another TD in the first and put up one more in the second, before
Lake Erie found the end zone for the first time on a 43-yard Sean
Bedevelsky (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick) completion to receiver
Brandon James (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor). Szatala kicked the extra
point, putting Lake Erie within 12 at 21-9 with 5:23 remaining in
the half as neither team scored again before the break.
The second half got underway with the Storm controlling the
ball, however, after three plays the team was forced to punt. A Sea
Gull fumble on the punt was recovered by Lake Erie at its 38-yard
line where the team was unable to make enough progress for a score.
On Salisbury's possession, the Sea Gulls scored its fourth
touchdown of the day on a 30-yard run, then kicked the extra point
to go up 28-9.
Lake Erie answered in its next possession with a six-play drive
for 49 yards that finished with a Bedevelsky 41-yard rush into
the end zone. A blocked extra point made the score 28-15 with 7:29
to go in the third period. The TD would be the final score of the
day for the Storm as Salisbury would go on to score a field goal
and a touchdown to win the game, 39-15.
Lake Erie totaled 241 offensive yards - 55 rushing and 186
passing. Bedevelsky was 15-for-25 with no interceptions. The Storm
won the battle of turnovers for the second consecutive game,
totaling just one fumble compared to Salisbury's four fumbles and
one interception. James led Lake Erie with 76 receiving yards on
four catches. Tailback Tony Howard (Garfield Heights, Ohio/Garfield
Heights) had 29 rushing yards on nine carries. For the defense,
freshman Scott Given (Elyria, Ohio/Midview) recorded a program
record 18 tackles, which included 15 solo and three assisted
tackles. Bill Finucan (Rocky River, Ohio/Rocky River) who had seven
tackles on the day, had the team's only sack for a loss of six
yards. Freshman Aaron Gaines (Akron, Ohio/Buchtel) was credited
with the interception.
Lake Erie (2-6) travels to Charleston on Saturday for a 1 p.m.
kickoff. The game will be broadcast on a one-hour delay on WELW
1330 AM and welw.com.
