RINDGE, N.H. (September 11, 2021) -- Once things got underway on Saturday afternoon at Sodexo Field, they got going in a hurry. The Franklin Pierce University football team and Lake Erie traded three touchdowns in the opening five minutes, in a game which was delayed three hours at the start. Junior EJ Burgess (Pearland, Texas) rushed for 180-plus yards, including a 71-yard touchdown rush, but Devin Brown answered with a two-touchdown day of his own, as Lake Erie spoiled Franklin Pierce's home opener, 31-20.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 0-2 on the young season, while Lake Erie improves to 2-0.

Things started with a bang, to say the least. It took just one scrimmage play for Franklin Pierce to get on the board after receiving the opening kickoff, as Burgess took off on a 71-yard jaunt to the end zone to open the proceedings, though a botched snap on the point-after left the Ravens with just six points to show for it. Not to be outdone, Lake Erie took the ball to the house on its first play from scrimmage as well, as junior Gerald Gardner found Nate Dantley on the right side on a play-action pass and the two connected on a 47-yard touchdown strike. Just 36 seconds into the game, there were already 13 points on the board and Lake Erie held a 7-6 lead.

In all, the jam-packed first quarter would feature three touchdowns and a field goal, accounting for 23 of the game's 51 points. Still in the first five minutes of the afternoon, Franklin Pierce put together a five-play, 80-yard drive, which sophomore Drew Campanale (Shrewsbury, Mass.) capped with a 16-yard touchdown scamper to put the Ravens back out front. Lake Erie closed out the quarter with a 27-yard field goal from Justin Smith to cut the gap to 13-10.

Lake Erie seized control of the game with a pair of second-quarter scores, as Brown found the end zone twice. First, he got home on a 29-yard touchdown rush which put the Storm ahead to stay with 9:12 remaining in the first half. Later, a 10-play, 89-yard drive allowed Lake Erie to extend the lead to 24-13 before halftime, on a six-yard touchdown plunge from Brown.

The two sides traded touchdowns in the third, which created the 31-20 final, after the fourth quarter went scoreless. Franklin Pierce put together a 12-play, 59-yard drive, which junior K.O. Gaskin (Lynn, Mass.) finished off by dragging the defensive line into the end zone with him on a one-yard touchdown rush. The lengthy drive looked to get the Ravens back in the game, but then the special teams unit was carved up and surrendered a 90-yard touchdown return to junior Peyton Brown on the ensuing kickoff, and Lake Erie effectively put the game on ice.

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, Sept. 18, for their lone night game of the season. Franklin Pierce will host American International, in the Northeast-10 Conference opener for both squads, at 6 p.m. at Sodexo Field.