Coming off an early-season week off, the Lakeland College football team will dive right back into tough competition when it travels to face Albion (Mich.) College Saturday afternoon at noon Central time at Albion's Sprinkle-Sprandel Stadium.
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The Muskies (1-0 overall) were idle last week but were victorious in their season opener two weeks ago, defeating Carroll 34-33 in overtime.
Michael Whitley (
So.-Vidalia, La.) scored from 16 yards out for the go-ahead touchdown in overtime, and the Lakeland defense stopped the Pioneers on a two-point conversion attempt after a touchdown to win their opener for the first time since 2005. Whitley rushed for 109 yards and also passed for 203 yards and two scores, including a 91-yard touchdown to
Kezlow Smith (
Sr.-Pontiac, Mich.).
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Albion enters with a 2-0 record after winning two shootouts to opens its season. The Britons defeated Augustana (Ill.) 60-49 on the road last week, as Dominic Bona passed for 370 yards and four touchdowns, Mike Czarnecki rushed for 181 yards, and Albion rolled up 363 yards rushing in gaining 733 yards of total offense and 33 first downs. The Britons and Vikings traded the lead 12 times in the game before Albion scored two touchdowns late. The Britons have been dynamite offensively in their first two games, also posting a
65-52 win over Wisconsin-Stevens Point in its opener. Albion is averaging 707.5 yards and 62.5 points over its first two games, ranking second nationally in total offense (first among teams who have played more than one game) and fourth in scoring.
This is the fifth meeting ever between the two schools, and the first since 1977. The Britons hold a 3-1 lead in the series and won that most recent meeting, posting a 24-6 win at home Nov. 5, 1977. The Muskies earned their only win in the series in the first meeting, defeating Albion 13-9 on Nov. 11, 1972 as Tom Bardwell scored two touchdowns, catching a 52-yard screen pass from Mike Rockford for a score and later plunging in from one yard out.
Saturday's game is also part of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Challenge. Lakeland is 1-2 in MIAA-NACC Challenge games over the past three years, while Albion is 2-1 in the event.
