PAINESVILLE, Ohio – The Lake Erie College Storm football team hosted the #!3 ranked Ashland Eagles Saturday, November 5. The Storm gave them a scare but the Eagles were able to escape with the victory, 31-23.

Having lost their perfect season last week after losing to Hillsdale, 36-20. Many expected the Eagles to roar back and prove that they are still a top-25 team. After a short first offensive drive, the Storm would be forced to punt the ball away. The Eagles would then convert their first 3rd down of the game but the next play would be intercepted by Cameren Grodhaus which would set Lake Erie up on their own 25-yard line.

The drive would end with a Storm touchdown when Gerald Gardner would find Koraun Perdue for a seven-yard score, giving Lake Erie a 7-0 lead after the extra point.

Ashland would get three on the board on their next drive but the Lake Erie offense would continue to roll, putting up a field goal of their own by Nathan Tager. 

The Eagles would respond with a solid next drive and tie things up with seven minutes remaining in the half and would take their first lead of the game during their next offensive drive, giving them a  17-10 lead with 1:21 left on the clock.

During Lake Erie's final offensive drive of the half, Gardner would find Peyton Brown for a huge 72-yard gain to take the Storm deep into Ashland territory. With this reception, Brown would surpass teammate Nate Dantley to set a Storm record for most receiving yards in a season. Lake Erie would finish off the drive with an 18-yard pass to Brown for a touchdown and tie the game up at 17-17 going into the second half.

With the Storm kicking off to being the second half, they would take advantage of the extremely high winds going against them. Justin Smith would intentionally kick the ball short and high causing the ball to be taken by the wind and drift backward where the Storm would recover the 11-yard kick.

The drive would end with a hard-fought 38-yard run by Altwjuan Beck-Lindsey, giving the Storm the lead again, 23-17.

Ashland would end up taking the lead later in the game 31-23 and with their final drive on 4th and 1 on their own 46, would take the gamble and convert, giving the Storm no time left to put together one final drive.

Brown would finish the day with six receptions for 124 yards and one touchdown. Dantley would also haul in six receptions for 97 yards and in the game would surpass Brandon James to become the Storm's all-time leader in receiving yards.

Cameron Grodaus would lead the team with 13 tackles in addition to the interception and also stat a pass breakup.

The loss takes the Storm's record to 3-7 on the season and a 3-5 conference record. Lake Erie will be back in action for their season finale at home on Saturday, November 12 at home to face Northern Michigan at 12:00 PM. During halftime, Lake Erie College Athletics will be recognizing the members of the 2007 football team who paved the way for Lake Erie College football and made the 2008 team happen in the 15th anniversary of Storm varsity football.