Diante Moses (Jr.-Houston, Texas) led a stat sheet-stuffing effort by the Lakeland University defense, and the Muskies got impact plays in all areas of the game in a convincing 57-21 win over Benedictine University Saturday afternoon on Homecoming at John Taylor Memorial Field.

The Muskies refused to let rainy, damp conditions be a factor and vanquished one of their top challengers in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference with a complete team effort. Lakeland improved to 4-2 overall and at 2-0 in conference is now one of just two teams undefeated in the NACC after handing the Eagles (3-3 overall, 2-1 NACC) their first league loss.

The defense disrupted NCAA Division III's fifth-ranked passing game, sacking Benedictine quarterback Ryan Sample seven times and forcing him into two turnovers and the Eagles as a team into four miscues. Sample completed 17 of 39 passes for 228 yards and including sacks finished with 23 rushing attempts for a net of minus-three yards, with his 225 yards of total offense more than 125 below his season average.

Moses was everywhere on defense and special teams, setting the tone from the start with the game's first score. Sam Anderson (So.-Plainfield, Ill.) blocked an Eagles punt four plays into the game, and Moses recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead just 1 minute, 52 seconds in.

Moses also intercepted a pass early in the second quarter and returned it 34 yards to the Benedictine 2-yard line, leading to a short Michael Whitley (Sr.-Vidalia, La.) touchdown run and a 29-8 lead just over a quarter into the game. The 5-foot-6, 155-pound defensive back added nine tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and two quarterback hurries in a dominant individual performance, and one of a number of standout performances.

McNemon Vincent (Fr.-Vernon Hills, Ill.) finished with three sacks and a forced fumble, Mario Rafe (Jr.-Bourbonnais, Ill.) added 1.5 sacks among his 3.5 tackles for loss, and Oman Smothers (Fr.-Gadsden, Ala.) broke up four passes. Mason Ross (Sr.-Pulaski, Wis.) also added two fumble recoveries, including a huge one late in the first half. Down 29-14, the Eagles were threatening when Sample hit Matt Fleming for a pass over the middle near the goal line. Ross stripped Fleming at the Lakeland 2-yard line, though, and then recovered the bouncing ball to keep the Eagles from closing within a touchdown just before halftime.

Offensively, the Muskies displayed their versatility with passing a challenge in a steady rain particularly in the first half. Eldrada Meeks (Jr.-Southfield, Mich.) rushed for 131 yards on just 11 carries, Dezmon Eddie (So.-Alexandria, La.) added 50 yards on seven rushes, and both scored touchdowns as Lakeland rushed for 231 yards, scored on the ground four times and averaged 6.6 yards per attempt. It was Eddie's 12-yard scamper with 4:53 left in the first quarter that answered a Benedictine touchdown and gave Lakeland a 15-8 lead it would never relinquish.

Whitley managed the elements, throwing a number of short, quick passes and completing 29 of 44 for 323 yards and three touchdowns. Allante Gardner (Jr.-Detroit, Mich.) caught 10 passes for 101 yards and a score, Dezmen Morse (Sr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) hauled in eight catches for 91 yards, and Jody Harrison (Sr.-Pontiac, Mich.) added seven receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown on a 33-yard catch-and-run early in the second quarter for a 21-8 lead.

The Muskies finished with 554 yards of total offense, and also went at least 78 yards on four of their touchdown drives. In contrast, Benedictine was held to 316 yards, and the Eagles had just two drives longer than 44 yards and six drives ending in three-and-out or in a turnover.

Grant Jochums led Benedictine's rushing attack with 59 yards, while Fleming caught six passes for 104 yards and a touchdown. Brandon Moore came into the game leading the NACC in receiving yards and touchdowns, but he was limited to just three catches for 58 yards and a score.

Lakeland continued its tradition of playing well on Homecoming, improving to 57-21-3 overall in Homecoming games, including wins in 10 of their last 11.

The Muskies now go on the road for their next two conference games, starting with a trip to face Wisconsin Lutheran College next Saturday at 1 p.m. in Milwaukee.

Muskies by the Numbers:
-3 - Yards rushing for Benedictine quarterback Ryan Sample, who gained 51 yards but lost 54 on running plays, including being sacked seven times
4 - Touchdown drives of at least 78 yards for the Muskies, including drives of 78, 79, 80 and 92 yards. Four also is the number of turnovers Lakeland's defense forced Benedictine into.
5 - Third down conversions in 18 attempts for Benedictine
8 - Total sacks by the Lakeland defense, with McNemon Vincent (3), Mario Rafe (1.5), Diante Moses, Chandler Watson and Marcus Williams (1) and Ivan Martinez (0.5) all getting into the act
9 - Number of 300-yard passing games for Whitley in his last 10 games
11.9 - Yards per carry for Eldrada Meeks, who gained 131 yards on just 11 carries for his third 100-yard rushing game of the season
554 - Yards total offense for Lakeland, even as rainy conditions made it hard to throw deep
8,291 - Career passing yards for Whitley, who became just the second Muskie in school history to go over the 8,000-yard mark