NORTH CANTON, Ohio -- The Lake Erie football team traveled to Walsh University today to face the Cavaliers for the annual Pride and Passion Trophy. The Storm fell early and finished with a 63-34 loss. They now sit at 1-4 on the year and 0-3 in G-MAC play.

Game Recap

It hasn't been an easy ride for Lake Erie football this season, and it didn't start off any better to begin their game against the Walsh Cavaliers in their annual battle for the Pride and Passion trophy.

On the Cavaliers very first offensive play of the game, Cameron Macon broke free for a 75-yard touchdown run up the middle and took a very early 7-0 lead.

After the Storm offense was unable to respond, Walsh got the ball back but promptly turned it over when Dae'Yuan Thompson-Green forced a fumble and Jack Bunn recovered it at the Walsh 34 yardline.

After a quick three-and-out, Jaffer Murphy would line up once again this season for a long field goal attempt. He converted the 55-yard try to break his own Lake Erie and G-MAC record for longest field goal which he previously set in week two against Post with a 53-yard make.

Each team scored once more in the quarter with the Cavaliers holding a 14-6 advantage.

In the second, Walsh started to separate themselves. They scored 28-unanswered points and took a 42-6 lead into the half. 

In the third quarter, quarterback Alex Lewis started to come alive. He helped the Storm outscore the Cavaliers 28-14 and trim their lead down to 56-34 while throwing four touchdowns in the quarter for 302 yards. Unfortunately, Lake Erie would not score again and they would fall 63-34.  

Today's game marked the first time they have given up more than 60 points in a game since November 2nd, 2019 when they fell 61-14 against Findlay.

On the day, Lewis threw 26-of-44 for 434 yards and four touchdowns. Three Lake Erie wide-outs would total over 100 yards each in the air; Tae'Shaun Johnson (7-137-2TD), Ali Lee Jr. (8-115-1TD), and Keyshawn Johnson (6-102-1TD).

Defensively, the Storm forced two fumbles and were led by Emarion Perkins who led the team with seven tackles, one sack, and one fumble recovery.

The Matchup

Coming into today's game, both teams sat dead even with a 5-5 matchup record all-time. Despite the loss, the Storm's 34 points is the most they have scored against the Cavaliers since 2015 when they won 34-33. With the loss, the Cavaliers have now won six of the last seven meetings and pull ahead to a 6-5 record over the Storm. 

Looking Ahead

Lake Erie will be back in action, Saturday, October 12th on the road against the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers at 5 p.m. ET. Both teams will be looking for their first G-MAC win of the season. The Storm currently hold the all-time advantage over the Panthers with a 6-3 record.