Wheeling, W.Va. - Following a lengthy weather delay to the start of the game, the Lake Erie College football team rushed for 203 yards en route to a 23-7 road win at Wheeling University on Saturday evening.
Redshirt sophomore
Julian Means-Flewellen gashed the Cardinals for 122 yards on 23 carries, while
Hakeem Quran registered 74 yards and a touchdown on 13 rushes.
With the ground game carrying the load, quarterback
Hunter Newell didn't have to do much, finishing 9-of-13 passing for 67 yards and a touchdown.
Devin Morgan was his top target, catching four passes for 33 yards.
The Cardinals got on the board first, cashing in on the opening drive of the game for seven points, but it ultimately was their lone score of the game. Landon Lutz, who threw for 213 yards, connected with Jordan Kaiser from 23 yards out to cap a six-play, 65-yard drive that took just under three minutes.
Lake Erie wasted no time responding, answering right back on the ensuing drive. The Storm chewed up 7:21 off the clock before Newell found
Tyleik Maxwell for an 8-yard scoring strike to finish off a 12-play, 60-yard march down the field.
The Storm carried a 10-7 lead into the intermission on the strength of a 45-yard
Josh Valero field goal, but the real fireworks came on the opening kickoff of the second half as
Curtis Thomas corralled the ball at the goal line and took it 100 yards the other way to the house, making it 16-7.
The stingy Storm defense, which has allowed just 14 points through eight quarters, continued to stymie the Cardinals throughout the second half.
Quran ultimately completed the game's scoring with 6:13 left in the third quarter as he barreled his way into the end zone from a yard away to finish off a 12-play, 72-yard drive that took 6:34.
Jason Hewlett tied for the team lead with seven tackles, while
Quinterrius Jemison also had seven tackles, including four tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.
Anthony Anderson also had an interception in the victory.
Lake Erie is 2-0 for the first time since 2021, while Wheeling dropped to 1-2.
The Storm open G-MAC play next Saturday night at Walsh University, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
