To say Lake Erie’s 21-14 win at Tiffin on Halloween was special for Head Coach David Price might be the understatement of the year for the Storm.
Before arriving in Painesville three years ago, Price spent five seasons as an assistant at Tiffin, where the Dragons won the conference three times and advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs twice.
To say LEC’s win is one of its biggest since becoming a NCAA D-II member is also not an understatement.
The struggling football program has been looking for success and stability for nearly two decades, and a win such as the one at Tiffin (6-3, 5-2 GMAC) is definitely a builidng block. The Dragons were battling for a conference championship before the loss to LEC.
“The guys played inspired, and put it together,” said Price. “We’ve been banged up the past four weeks. We just found a way, and refused to allow any of those factors to play into that.
“It was a historic win for us. The guys who are seniors, they know the history of Lake Eire football. It was a type of validation, getting a monkey off our back, and knowing what we’re building here is working … To see the fruits of their labor, even so brief as one game, was great.”
The Storm trailed late in the second quarter, 7-0, before Anthony Cole Jr.’s 48-yard pick-six tied the game. In the third quarter, QB Hunter Newell and tight end end Devin Morgan connected for two TDs that built a 21-7 advantage.
LEC improved to 4-5 overall with two games to play. Next up is another tough game in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference on Nov. 7 at Findlay (8-1, 6-1 GMAC). In two weeks, it ends the season at home against Ashland.
The victory was the Storm’s second in conference play as they stand 2-5 in the league.
“We’re asking our team, ‘Let’s do it again,’ ” said Price of the Findlay game. “It starts with a good practice week.”
Newell battled injuries through the middle portion of LEC’s schedule, but he’s finally back guiding the offense. Against Tiffin, he threw for 183 yards and the two TD passes to Morgan, who’s had a breakout season.
Morgan has also battled injuries during his LEC career. The senior from Toledo has 38 catches for 373 yards and six TDs in eight games.
“He has a really good connection with Hunter going,” said Price.
Another factor helping the Storm down the stretch is a change of practice time. With other LEC teams done with their seasons, the football team no longer has to practice at the college’s on-campus turf field at 5:45 a.m. Practices now begin at 5 p.m.
“It’s been huge,” said Price. “Practicing that early takes a toll, especially mentally.”
• The LEC men’s basketball team returned home from their trip to Hawaii, where it went 2-1 to start the season at the Hoops in Hawaii Classic in Honolulu.
On Oct. 30, the Storm defeated Winona State, 73-72 in overtime behind Gio Moore’s 22 points and eight rebounds.
On Oct. 31, they lost, 107-93, to the University of Tampa. Moore was LEC’s leading scorer with 17 points. Caelum Ethridge and Riley Cervenka each added 15 points.
On Nov. 1, the Storm won their final game on the big island with a 90-84 victory over Hawaii Pacific. Moore led four players in double-figure scoring with 15 points while adding seven rebounds and three assists.
LEC’s home opener is Nov. 9 against Penn State Du Bois. The ball tips at 5 p.m.