The Lakeland College football team will attempt to extend its winning streak to four games and stay unbeaten in conference play when it travels to take on Aurora (Ill.) University Saturday at 1 p.m. at Aurora's Vago Field.
The Muskies (4-2 overall, 2-0 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference) are coming off a 61-35 defeat ofÂ
Trine (Ind.) last week in a non-conference game. Michael Whitley (So.-Vidalia, La.) passed for 438 yards, the fifth-highest single-game total in school history, and tied a school record with six touchdown passes while accounting for eight touchdowns total. Michael Esiobu (Sr.-Chicago, Ill.) also had career highs with 10 recpetions for 179 yards. The Lakeland defense also was outstanding, taking advantage of five turnovers, including a 71-yard fumble return for a score by Landon Derginer (Sr.-Marinette, Wis.), and the result was a 48-14 lead at halftime and a 61-14 margin after three quarters before the Thunder scored three rushing touchdowns in the final quarter. Lakeland now has scored 89 points in the first half over its last two games.Â
The Spartans (3-3 overall, 2-1 NACC) are much improved and hammered Concordia Chicago 58-7 last week. Aurora scored 23 points in the second quarter for a 37-7 halftime lead and never looked back. Geron Rogers threw four touchdown passes, Brandon Evans rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns and the Spartans defense also recovered eight turnovers, including five fumble recoveries and three interceptions.
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Aurora is the longest-running opponent in Lakeland history, as the series between these two schools dates back to the Muskies' first year playing football in 1934. This is the 32nd meeting all-time, with the Spartans holding a slim 16-15 edge. Lakeland has won the last two meetings, including a 14-0 shutout victory at home last year. Whitley came off the bench to spark the offense with 117 yards rushing and 46 yards passing, including a 12-yard touchdown pass to
Josh Hardy (
Sr.-Logansport, Ind.), while the Muskies defense delivered a dominant performance allowing just 171 yards and holding Spartans to 7-for-24 passing for 99 yards.
Live video and live statistics from the game will be available from Aurora atÂ
http://athletics.aurora.edu/sports/2014/12/4/GameViewer.aspx.
For the rest of Saturday's game notes please click
here.
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