PAINESVILLE, Ohio – The Lake Erie College Storm football team looked to get back on track Saturday, October 8, 2022, home against the Ohio Dominican Panthers of Columbus. Lake Erie showed poise throughout the whole game, eventually falling 38-7 to the Panthers. 

The game did not start off in Lake Erie's favor with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Ohio Dominican's Darryl Sinclair. This would then lead to a quick Lake Erie three-and-out giving the ball back to the Panthers. 

Ohio Dominican would go on a lengthy drive of 15 plays for 62 yards, having around eight minutes elapsed off of the game clock. The Panthers would finish off the drive with Kaiden Koch making a 23-yard field goal, puting the Panthers up 10-0 at the end of the first quarter. 

The Storm would strike back quickly in the second quarter. Lake Erie went on a 12 play 63 yard drive with a touchdown to cap it off. Gardner completed an 8 yard pass down the middle to Peyton Brown to bring the Storm within three, 10-7 with 10 minutes to go in the first half. 

The Storm defense looked to bounce back in a serious way. Ohio Dominican ended up striking quickly with a 6 play, 75 yard drive. Capping off the drive, Jake Byrd connected on a deep pass with Austin Davis, resulting in a 56 yard catch and grab for a touchdown. This would put the Panthers up 17-7 with seven minutes left in the first half. 

After two unsuccessful drives by each the Panthers and Storm, the Lake Erie defense would end the first half by making a huge stand, with Jake Byrd being picked off by Cameren Grodhaus. At the end of one half the Panthers led 17-7. 

Neither the Storm or Panthers could gain any sort of progress for the start of the second half, , resulting in a lackluster third quarter with each team being shut out.  

The Storm defense held their own throughout the third quarter. Bad luck struck for Lake Erie early in the second half when a Harris Nichols punt was muffed by Mike Goolsby at Lake Erie's own 9-yard line, recovered by Kaden Watts. The Panthers would then get five yards closer on an unnecessary roughness penalty against the Storm starting at Lake Erie's 4-yard line. The special teams mishap would be taken advantage of by the Panthers in just four seconds on the very next play. Travis Whittaker would run up the middle for a four yard rushing touchdown, gIving the Panthers the lead 24-7 with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter. 

On 3rd and 16, Jake Byrd would find Drysten Crallie for the 16-yard touchdown giving ODU the 31-7 lead with four minutes left in the game.

After a valiant effort on 4th and 12, Gardner and the Storm offense turned the ball over on downs giving the Panthers the ball back one last time. Leo Nixon would take off for the Panthers resulting in a 35-yard gain. After a penalty, Nixon on the very next play would run the ball in from the goalline giving the Panthers a 38-7 lead over the Storm. 

 The Storm's offense would ultimately be shut out for the remainder of the fourth quarter. Gardner would finish the game going 17-for-36 for 132 yards and one touchdown onthe day. Defensively Jayme Vicente-Colon led the way for the Storm with 10 solo and 15 total tackles on the day. 

The loss takes the Storm overall record to 1-5 on the year and 1-3 in conference play. Lake Erie will be back in action Saturday, October 15 on the road against Walsh University at 12:00 P.M.