PAINESVILLE, Ohio – Ohio Dominican's football team raced out to a 28-0 first quarter lead en route to a 45-7 victory at Lake Erie in GLIAC play Saturday night.

The Panthers had a 505-260 edge in total yardage, including a 379-60 advantage in the first half.

Ohio Dominican (3-3, 3-3 GLIAC) passed for 271 yards and rushed for 234 yards, its highest rushing output of the season and 505 total yards marks the most for a game in 2016. The Panther defense recorded five sacks on the night, its most in a game since a 34-23 victory against Colorado Mines on November 22, 2014 in the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs.

Demetrius Farmer (Dover, Ohio) finished with a nine tackles on the night, including three for loss and 1.5 sacks, both of which were career bests. Camren Moore (New Carlisle, Ohio) set a career high with eight tackles and had a sack, while Paul Wesselhoeft (Logan, Ohio) and Nick Isaacs (Cincinnati, Ohio) each had sacks.

In limited action, Grant Russell (Newark, Ohio) completed 10-of-11 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown while also running for 77 yards and two scores on just nine carries. Austin Ernst (Cincinnati, Ohio) threw for 98 yards and two touchdowns.

Cory Contini (Dover, Ohio) had two catches for 82 yards and EJ Colson (Middletown, Ohio) ran for 56 yards as well.

On ODU's first possession, Russell found Contini for a 67 yard catch and run, and two plays later Russell faked a pitch and kept it himself on an option for a five yard score.

Lake Erie's opening drive was halted after Tyler Makuch (Baltimore, Ohio) picked off a deflected pass and returned it to the Panther 47. Russell hooked up with Dar Stanford (Zanesville, Ohio) on a 32 yard completion, and Justin Davis (Detroit, Mich.) powered in a run from three yards out to make it 14-0 just over five minutes in to the game.

Russell then had a 30 yard run to set up ODU's next scoring drive, which ended when Russell called his own number from the four to give ODU a 21-0 lead with 4:16 to play in the first.

O'Sha Jackson (Warren, Ohio) intercepted an LEC (0-6, 0-6 GLIAC) pass on its next drive and returned it 40 yards to the Storm 15. On ODU's first play, Ernst threw a pass high in the end zone that Contini reached up and snared with one hand to extend the lead to 28-0.

Ernst then connected with Aaron Stephens (Ironton, Ohio) in the back of the end zone on ODU's next drive for a 13 yard touchdown pass, making it 35-0 just over three minutes into the second quarter.

Russell closed the first half scoring with a 15 yard toss to Jacob Mercier (Blacklick, Ohio) with 5:34 left in the quarter, giving ODU a 42-0 cushion at the break.

Lake Erie scored its lone points early in the fourth quarter, and Justin Bonchek (Mayfield, Ohio) capped the scoring with a 21 yard field goal.

Ohio Dominican returns home to host Northwood at noon on Saturday at Panther Stadium.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu