PAINESVILLE, Ohio – Urbana University put its speed on display in a 37-10 rout over winless Lake Erie on Saturday to remain undefeated in non-conference games under head coach Tyler Haines. UU averaged over six yards per play on offense and recorded a pair of special teams touchdowns and a safety to overpower The Storm at Jack Britt Memorial Stadium.
Senior wideout Trevon Saunders caught a one-yard touchdown pass on UU’s opening drive, which was set up by a 51-yard catch and run by fellow receiver Philip Dozier, and the rout was on. Saunders finished with a team-high five receptions for 38 yards and has now caught a touchdown in 18 of his previous 25 games. He also posted his first career punt-return touchdown on an 87-yard gallop and nearly housed another return but got pushed out at the LEC five.
Sophomore wideout Rodell Rahmaan registered a career-high 80 yards on four receptions and scored for the second straight outing. Just three plays, Saunders (34-yard reception), Rahmaan (48-yard TD) and Dozier (51-yard reception), accounted for 133 of quarterback Tajuan Green’s 183 passing yards. Green finished 11 of 19 through the air with two touchdowns.
After blocking a school-record three punts the week before, UU got another one as Chris Richardson broke free and recovered the football in the end zone for a second-quarter touchdown. That put the Blue Knights ahead 21-3 at halftime.
UU’s rushing attack got going with four backs combining for 154 yards on 27 attempts. Redshirt freshman Ja’Vahri Portis plunged five yards for a score early in the third quarter to make it 28-3.
The next nine points came on Saunders’ punt return TD and then a safety in the fourth quarter. UU tackled a Storm runner in the end zone right after LEC prevented UU from scoring at the one-yard line.
Defensively, the Blue Knights recorded five sacks and 14 tackles for loss. Linebackers Duray Hall (11 tackles, 2.5 TFL, sack) and Josh Dillard (8 tackles, 3 TFL, sack, forced fumble) led the way while corner Richie Carpenter Jr. (4 tackles) grabbed the first UU interception of the season. Freshman defensive lineman Marcus Omosule got in the action with his first career sack, as well.
UU (1-2) plays at West Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday.
