The Malone University football team opened up the 2018 Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) schedule with an impressive 42-12 win over Lake Erie College Saturday night in a steady rain under the lights of Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The win marked the 100th in the history of the Malone football program.
 
Recap
Malone, now 1-1 on the season, fell behind early on, allowing a safety on its second play from scrimmage after a bad snap, presumably affected by the wet turf, was recovered by Malone in its own endzone. The Pioneers fought through their unpromising start, however, and would score on its next three possessions.
 
A fumble by the Storm on their next drive was scooped by senior defensive tackle Albert Phillips and returned to the Lake Erie 14-yard line. One play later, quarterback Deandre Clayton found wide receiver Ashton Dulin in the endzone for the Pioneers' first touchdown.
 
Following a Lake Erie field goal, Malone started a second scoring drive at its own 18-yard line and proceeded to march 82 yards on 13 plays. A pair of 19-yard runs by Clayton and a 38-yard reception by Dulin helped set up the Pioneers with first-and-goal at the seven. Four plays later, the Pioneers rolled the dice on fourth down before tailback Keon Singleton powered in from two yards to put Malone ahead 14-5.
 
A sack by Phillips on Lake Erie's next drive forced the Storm into a punt and gave Malone favorable field position. Seven plays later, the Pioneers capped off a 40-yard scoring drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge by senior Matt Blasiole. The ensuing PAT was blocked, leaving Malone in front 20-5.
 
The next two possessions resulted in zero points for either team before Lake Erie scored its only touchdown of the game on a 6-yard touchdown pass which capped a 7-play, 67-yard drive. The PAT split the uprights to trim the score to 20-12 in favor of Malone. The scored remained that way going into the break as the Pioneers missed a 27-yard field goal attempt just before half.
 
Following a failed fourth-down conversion try on their first drive of the second half, the Pioneers collected field goals on each of their next three possessions as senior kicker Marcus Moeller tied a school record, one he had already tied two times previously, for makes in a single game. Moeller was good from 19, 20, and 26 yards. His third field goal put Malone ahead 29-12.
 
On their next possession, the Pioneers grabbed a 35-12 advantage with their fourth-straight scoring drive set up by a sack by Keith Williams on third-and-long, which forced the Storm into another punt deep in their own territory. Starting at the Lake Erie 47, Malone needed just two plays to hit paydirt. Clayton connected with Dulin in stride across the middle of the field before the All-Conference receiver broke a would-be tackle and raced to the goal line for a 43-yard score.
 
Malone tacked on one final touchdown midway through the final frame when backup quarterback Zane Bunnell hooked up with Markell Stephen-Peppers, who had beaten the Lake Erie secondary deep, for a 33-yard touchdown strike on fourth-and seven. Lake Erie made one more last-ditch effort, but a pass breakup in the endzone on the game's final play secured Malone's largest margin of victory since a 34-point win over Trinity International in 2010.
 
In addition to being Malone's 100th win in program history, Saturday's victory was the first home win since 2016, the first in the newly-renovated Tom Benson Stadium, the first win at Benson/Fawcett Stadium since 2014, and the first win in regulation in Benson Fawcett Stadium since 2013. The 42 points were the most in a game since a 42-35 overtime win against Northern Michigan and the most in regulation since scoring 59 in a road victory over Alderson Broaddus in 2013. The win was also the second straight against Lake Erie and the third in six all-time meetings.
 
Game Highlights
-Malone dominated in total yards, outgaining Lake Erie 467-224 while holding a commanding 24-10 edge in first downs.
-In the run game, the Pioneers totaled 223 yards compared to just 37 for the visitors. Lake Erie averaged just 1.4 yard per rush.
Through the air, Malone held a 244-187 advantage. The Malone defensive line generated four sacks, marking the most since tallying eight against Alderson Broaddus in 2013.
-Malone never punted in the game and finished 6-of-7 in redzone scoring chances and 3-for-4 on fourth down conversions.
-Lake Erie, meanwhile, totaled three turnovers, went 5-for-14 on third downs, 0-for-2 on fourth downs, and crossed into the Malone redzone just one time.
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Deandre Clayton got it done with his arm and his legs. Making just his second collegiate start, Clayton completed 11-of-20 passes for 211 yard and two scores and ran for 106 yards on 17 carries.
-Ashton Dulin totaled 99 yards receiving on four receptions and scored two touchdowns. He added 17 yards rushing and 62 yards on kickoff returns.
-Markell Stephens-Peppers caught four passes for 93 yards and a score.
-In just his second game back from injury, Matt Blasiole showed some of his old form en route to 73 yards rushing and the touchdown.
-Albert Phillips, Keith Williams, Arrington Dulin, and freshman defensive tackle Guillermo Chavarria each recorded sacks.
-Cornerback Kei Beckham intercepted his first pass as a Pioneer
-Freshmen defensive backs Charles Hall V and Lonnie Richardson-Parr each forced a fumble.
-Sophomore safety Jaylon Doss tied for the team lead with seven tackles, including a tackle for loss, and recovered a fumble.
 
Lake Erie Individual Highlights
-Elems Ulkwu totaled a game-high 13 tackles while Thomas Covington recorded nine tackles and intercepted a pass.
-Wide receiver Cameron Cobb caught a game-high seven passes for 75 yards and a touchdown.
-Quarterback Javarian Smith was 19-of-31 for 187 yards and a score.
 
Up Next
With a bye next week, Malone will have two weeks to celebrate their victory before trekking to Kentucky Wesleyan for G-MAC contest on Saturday September 22nd in Owensboro.