Lake Erie sports locals

The Lake Erie College football team has a distinct Youngstown-area flavor this season in only its third year of intercollegiate football.

The Storm roster lists 14 area players, including five starters who have played important roles in the team’s 3-2 record entering Saturday’s home game against Ohio Dominican.

The homecoming contest will begin at 1 p.m. at Jack Britt Memorial Stadium in Painesville.

Lake Erie, whose football program was launched in 2007 with a club team under Coach Mark McNellie, will be seeking a school-record third straight victory in its first meeting with Ohio Dominican (2-2).

After going 3-8 last season, the Storm also will be looking for their most wins as a two-year varsity program in NCAA Division II.

Lake Erie and Ohio Dominican are coming off narrow victories last week. The Storm rallied from a 21-0 deficit for a 29-28 overtime victory at Adrian College while the Panthers held off a late push from Wisconsin-Oshkosh to win, 31-29.

One of the Lake Erie area players, Steve Bensinger, is a sophomore punt return man and safety from South Range. Bensinger already has made school history.

He returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown in Lake Erie’s 62-28 loss at St. Joseph’s (Ind.) on Sept. 19 — the longest punt return in school history and the first for a touchdown.

Bensinger, who started the season as a backup defensive back, earned his first start at safety for the Adrian game and responded with 14 tackles, including eight solo stops, and one tackle for an 8-yard loss.

In punt returns, Bensinger ranks No. 18 nationally in NCAA Division II with a 15.9-yard average.

Two other Storm defensive standouts have been junior linebacker Garrett McMullin (Brookfield), a transfer from Clarion, and David Heck, a starting redshirt sophomore outside linebacker from South Range.

McMullin, who has three starts, ranks No. 2 on the team in tackles with 30, including 16 solo stops. He is No. 1 in tackles for losses with 3.5. He had 11 tackles in a 27-24 overtime win at home over Fairmont State in the second game of the season.

Heck has been a key contributor for the second straight year. He ranks No. 3 in tackles with 27 (17 solo stops) and is tied for the lead in sacks with one.

Heck came through with nine tackles against Fairmont State. Last year, he had 27 tackles in 10 games.

Also contributing are redshirt sophomore defensive back Jon Zyznar (Cardinal Mooney) and freshman defensive back Desmond Reed (Warren Harding).

Zyznar has started three games at safety, missing the West Liberty game with an injury, and has nine tackles, including seven solo stops.

Last year, he made 17 tackles (12 solo stops) in nine games.

Reed has played in all five games primarily as a nickel back, but also on special teams, and started at safety at Saint Joseph’s. He has 10 tackles and also a 16-yard kickoff return.

On offense, redshirt freshman Matt Krumpak of McDonald is the No. 2 quarterback behind Sean Bedevelsky. Krumpak played against West Liberty and completed two of eight passes for 25 yards.

Also in the area contingent are six freshmen: defensive back Joey Zigler (Newton Falls), offensive lineman De’Ante Starks (Warren Harding), wide receiver Jimmy Phillis (United), defensive linemen Russell Paugh (Beaver Local) and Carlen Sims (Youngstown Christian), and running back Mike Thomas (McDonald). Also on the Storm are redshirt sophomore defensive lineman TJ Cage (Champion) and sophomore linebacker Devon Ludwig (Beaver Local).

Zigler played in the last three games as a backup defensive back and on special teams, and has two solo tackles.

Cage has been hampered by injuries each of the past two years and has not played.

XJohn Kovach covers college athletics for The Vindicator. E-mail him at kovach@vindy.com.