ERIE, Pa. -- Led by 117 rushing yards from Garrett Owens, the Mercyhurst football team topped Lake Erie 21-16 in the season opener for both teams under the lights at Saxon Stadium. 

The Lakers got out of the gate quick forcing a Storm punt on the game's opening possession before marching 66 yards on 11 plays capped by a 17-yard scamper by Owens. 

After a Lake Erie field goal at the 4:02 mark of the first quarter trimmed the lead to 7-3, the Lakers answered with Owens second score of the game this time from 12 yards out. Mercyhurst struck once more before the half when Austin Hence recovered a fumble in the back of the end zone to push the advantage to 21-3 at the break. 

The Storm pushed back with a touchdown just before the end of the third quarter on a 36-yard run by Erick Zokouri to cut the lead to 21-10. Lake Erie scored once more with 2:34 to play getting as close as 21-16, but the Laker ground game and defense closed out the victory. 

In addition to his contributions on the ground, Owens caught a pair of passes for 19 yards. Doug Altavilla passed for 129 yards and a touchdown. Austin Hence led the receiving corps with four catches for 61 yards and a score. 

Joe Scro led the Laker defense with 11 tackles, four solo as well as a sack and a pair of stops for loss. Bradley Burrows and Jake Tarasovitch each notched seven stops. The Laker defense forced three Storm turnovers. 

The Lakers return to action next Saturday when they host Shepherd at 3 p.m. at Saxon Stadium.