PAINESVILLE, Ohio - The Davenport football team needed a last-second pass deflection at the goal line to preserve a 13-9 win at Lake Erie in the season opener. The game was a defensive-minded contest as each team could muster one touchdown. The Panthers scored on their first drive of the season, while the Storm punched it in during the fourth quarter.

After a three-and-out to start the game, Davenport marched 49 yards in nine plays. Nate Couturier set up the short field with a 26-yard punt return into Lake Erie territory. The Panthers converted a fourth-and-8 to the LEC 13 as Keion Powers caught a 17-yard pass from Deondre Ford. Creed Stegall-Monroe then carried to the one-yard line and two plays later it was Gabe Ford plunging up the middle for the one-yard score.

The Storm got on the board early in the second quarter as Justin Smith booted a 25-yard field goal capping off an 11-play, 45-yard drive at the 13:05 mark. The Panthers moved the ball on their next drive as Ford connected with Couturier for 49 yards to set up a 26-yard field goal by Chris Ahmed. DU took the 10-3 lead with 9:41 left in the second quarter.

Lake Erie drove deep into Davenport territory on their next drive and on the 13th play, Javarian Smith threw an interception at the eight-yard line and Powers returned it 10 yards to the DU 18. Smith was intercepted again by Powers with 23 seconds left until halftime and it led to Ahmed booting his second field goal of the half from 41 yards as time expired. DU took a 13-3 lead into the locker room.

Neither team scored in the third quarter as both teams combined for 38 yards. Lake Erie rushed for minus-19 yards on three carries. The Storm took over with 12:27 left in the game and used 5:18 before Smith found Josh Hufstetler on a seven-yard touchdown with 7:15 to go. Powers blocked the extra point which would prove huge later in the game and make it 13-9.

Davenport grinded down the clock with three first downs, but could not convert on fourth down at the Lake Erie 29. Ford fumbled and the Storm recovered at their own 38-yard line with no timeouts and 52 seconds to play. Smith led the team down to the DU 15-yard line and a false start moved them back five yards. It looked like the Storm would take the lead on third down but Joshua Collins could not hold onto the ball in the end zone. On fourth down, Smith looked to Collins again near the goal line but Brandon Mangram batted the ball away to send the team home happy.

NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Deion Powers became the second player at DU with multi-INT's in a game. Brian Williams holds the record with three at Northwood in 2017.
- Both teams finished with 18 first downs. 
- DU outgained Lake Erie 297-246 and rushed for 130 yards on 40 carries (3.2).
- DU went 3-of-13 on third down and 2-of-5 on fourth down.
- Michael Catching led the rushing attack with 67 yards on 15 carries.
- Deondre Ford went 14-of-27 through the air for 167 yards.
- Jaden Gardner led the defense with 10 tackles and had 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack.
- Abe Thompson in his first game with DU had six tackles and three tackles for loss. He and Robert Clanton each had 1.5 sacks and three QB hurries.

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story by Ryan Thompson