Erie Opens Season with Loss to East Coast Prep

The Kats kicked off their season with a wild first half of football against the visiting Firebirds from East Coast Prep but unfortunately it was not enough to pull out a win as Erie dropped their season opener 56-25 at West Herr Stadium on Sunday. 

The first quarter saw back and forth action as the teams exchanged scores via a blocked punt returned for a touchdown by East Coast Prep and a 45 yard interception return by Erie's Donell Jackson Jr. to begin the game.  The Firebirds would take the lead back and Erie would respond with a blocked punt of their own by Mekhi Wilkins who would take it to the end zone. A two point conversion would have the Kats up by one.  East Coast Prep would find the end zone one more time before the end of the first quarter to take the lead back.  Erie's first drive of the second quarter would end with Marques Thompson scoring from ten yards out. After the extra point, the Kats had the lead back.  Two plays later, Erie intercepted the ball again and converted with a 34 yard field goal by Lincoln Eagen.  

After a sack and fumble recovery by the Kats defense, Erie would find themselves on the Firebirds two yard line but they were unable to punch it in.  That seemed to stall the Erie offense for the day as East Coast Prep would then go on to score 35 unanswered points.  

Erie will look to get in the win column next week when they travel to Thaddeus Stevens College for a 1:00 pm match-up.  

Photo Credit: N. Kemp