Lakeland University meets one of its primary challengers for Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference supremacy when it hosts Benedictine University Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at John Taylor Memorial Field.
The programs responsible for the NACC's last three NCAA Division III Playoff appearances will add another chapter to their long series on Saturday in front of the alumni for Lakeland's Homecoming game. The Muskies and Eagles also are two of the three teams without a loss early in the conference loop.
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Lakeland (3-2 overall, 1-0 NACC)Â outlasted Adrian (Mich.) 47-40 last week in a wild non-conference game.
Michael Whitley threw a school- and NACC-record seven touchdown passes, including an 11-yard hook-up with
Dezmon Eddie with 1:05 left in the game to put Lakeland back ahead.
Oman Smothers then clinched the win with an interception in the back of the end zone with 10 seconds left, after the Bulldogs had driven inside the Muskies' 20-yard line.
Benedictine (3-2 overall) improved to 2-0 in the NACC with a 40-14 win over Concordia Wisconsin last Saturday. The Eagles scored 18 points in the second quarter to break open a close game and take a 33-14 halftime lead. Ryan Sample completed 30 of 37 passes for 413 yards and five touchdowns, including three touchdown passes to Brandon Moore. The Eagles defense also limited the Falcons to 20 yards rushing in 34 attempts-an average of 0.6 yards per carry-and just 214 yards of total offense.
This is the 50th meeting all-time between Lakeland and Benedictine, the most-played series in Muskies' history and one that dates back to when Lakeland was known as Mission House College and Benedictine was named St. Procopius College. The Muskies hold a 29-20 lead all-time and have two straight over the Eagles, including a 32-29 win last year on Oct. 15, 2016 in Lisle, Ill.
Eldrada Meeks broke free for a 54-yard touchdown run with 4:58 for the go-ahead score, and
Marcus Williams had a big sack after Benedictine had moved deep into Muskies territory in late, leading to the hosts eventually missing a tying 41-yard field goal attempt with :35 left.
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The Muskies also will put their stellar all-time record for Homecoming on the line, as Lakeland has a 56-21-3 all-time record in Homecoming games. Last year the Muskies defeated Concordia Wisconsin 16-7 on a muddy field on Oct. 1, 2016 for their ninth Homecoming win in the last 10 years. This is just the third time Lakeland has hosted Benedictine on Homecoming, though, and the first time since 1970.
Lakeland will provide live stats and live video for the game at
http://www.lakelandmuskies.com/muskieslive. Lakeland students Nathan Golownia and Austin Hansen will call all the action. WSCS TV in Sheboygan also will be on hand covering the game live on Sheboygan cable and with video online at
http://www.wscssheboygan.com/programming/live-tv/.
For the rest of this week's game notes please click
here.
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