PAINESVILLE, Ohio - The Gannon football team held off a motivated Lake Erie team and posted a 24-22 victory Thursday night in the season opener for both squads. A crowd of 2,057 witnessed the first-ever varsity game for the Lake Erie Storm, which is a Provisional NCAA Division II program and is expected to be a full-fledged Division II program next year.

Lake Erie wasted little time introducing its new program to Gannon, scoring on its first offensive possession. The Storm marched 69 yards on eight plays, ending with Tony Howard's two-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead.

Gannon responded with three consecutive touchdowns and went to halftime with a 21-7 advantage. Jon Richardson (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding) found the endzone on the next two drives, scoring from 37 and 30 yards out.

Zach Boedicker (Northfield, Ohio/Nordonia) then found Jacobe Smith (Maple Heights, Ohio/Maple Heights) on the next possession for the 14-yard touchdown strike. 

Everything seemed to be going in Gannon's favor. The Golden Knights held large halftime advantages in total yards (388-111), first downs (18-7), and rushing yards (252-55).

However, the second half didn't pan out the same way. Lake Erie battled back and controlled the second half. The Storm reversed the totals and held second-half advantages in total yards (294-52) and first downs (21-3). The home squad out-gained Gannon 147-2 in the fourth quarter and produced 11 first downs compared to GU's one.

The Gannon lead was cut to 24-16 when Chris Cook (Cleveland, Ohio/Shaw) intercepted a pass at the eight-yard line and his momentum took him into the endzone. The freshman tried to return the ball, but was tackled in the endzone for a safety.

Demetrius Gray's 12-yard rushing touchdown with 1:26 to play brought Lake Erie within 24-22. The Storm then tried a tailback option to tie the score on a two-point conversion, but Tom Johnson (Plymouth, Mich./Detroit Central Catholic) and Chris Murphy (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) drilled Steve Bensinger as he let go of the ball, causing it to fall incomplete.

Lake Erie got the ball back one last time at its own 24-yard line with 30 seconds left. But two Hail Mary passes fell incomplete as Gannon held on for a two-point victory.

Richardson was the offensive story, rushing for 145 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. The redshirt junior fell two yards shy of his career-high.

Boedicker and Bob Bartley (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) split time at quarterback. Boedicker went 5-of-11 for 64 yards and one touchdown through the air while rushing for 57 yards on five carries. Bartley was 10-of-18 for 110 yards via the passing the game.

Sylvester Burel (Redlands, Calif./Redlands East Valley) led the receivers with 75 yards on six receptions. Smith added 50 yards on four catches.

Kevin Minor (South Euclid, Ohio/Shaw) and Matthew Neal-Mink (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) led the defensive unit with nine tackles each. Parris Williams (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) and Matt Ward (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport) added eight stops each.

Gannon moved to 1-0 with the victory. Lake Erie dropped to 0-1. The Golden Knights return to action Saturday, September 6 at East Stroudsburg. The Warriors defeated 25th-ranked Virginia Union Thursday night. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m.

A complete box score from Thursday's Gannon-Lake Erie football game can be found at http://www.gannon.edu/sports/men/football/STATS.HTM/GAME01.HTM.