MILWAUKEE – Charl'Tez Nunnery (So.-Liberty, Miss.), Larry Rivers (So.-Dearborn Heights, Mich.) and Dezmon Eddie (Jr.-Alexandria, La.) all rushed for over 100 yards and Lakeland University bounced back in a big way from two tough weeks to roll past Wisconsin Lutheran College 38-12 Saturday afternoon at Raabe Stadium.

A fast start, an effective running game and a stifling defensive effort were just what the doctor ordered as the Muskies won for the second time in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play. Lakeland responded after consecutive conference losses for the first time since 2012 and moved to 2-5 overall and 2-2 in conference.

The Muskies jumped all over the Warriors (1-6 overall, 1-3 NACC) early, building a 24-0 lead in the first quarter. Lakeland scored touchdowns on its first three possessions and tacked on two-point conversions on all three scores in building a big lead quickly.

Rivers accounted for 67 yards rushing and receiving and scored twice from a yard out as the Muskies took advantage of short fields on their first two drives that traveled 40 and 33 yards. Nunnery also completed two-point conversion passes to Rivers and Eddie, and Lakeland led 16-0 with six minutes left in the first quarter.

The defense then set the table for a third score, holding after WLC returned a kickoff deep into Muskies territory and then getting the ball back as Johnathan Hagerty (So.-Brookville, Ind.) intercepted Pat Mathieson at the Warriors' 7-yard line on 4th and long. Lakeland drove 93 yards in 10 plays, with Nunnery's 46-yard scamper the big play before Eddie finished with a three-yard touchdown run followed by Nunnery's two-point conversion run to make it 24-0 with 1:36 left in the quarter.

The Muskies would spend the rest of the game pounding away on offense and punishing WLC on defense. Late in the second quarter, Ezekiel Combs (So.-East Point, Ga.) intercepted Warriors backup quarterback Jake Anderson and returned it 55 yards, and on the next play Rivers took it 20 yards for a touchdown and a 30-0 lead.

Lutheran got on the board on its next drive, with Tyree Gamble's 55-yard run leading to Joshua Cason scoring from a yard out. Lakeland answered on its second drive of the second half, though, again with the help of a turnover. Tim Jarrad (Fr.-Nine Mile Falls, Wash.) forced a fumble recovered by Sam Bartlett (Jr.-Racine, Wis.), and the Muskies needed to go just 33 yards to score again with Eddie's four-yard score and ensuing two-point run making it 38-6.

The Warriors would score again when Anderson found Brandon Livingston for a 12-yard touchdown just before the end of the third quarter, but would get no closer. Lakeland held the ball for all but 2:19 of the fourth quarter, keeping the ball on the ground almost exclusively for several time-consuming drives.

Rivers, Nunnery and then Eddie all topped 100 yards, with Nunnery rushing for 26 times for 129 yards, Rivers carrying 31 times for 118 and Eddie adding 16 carries for 105 yards. The Muskies ran the ball a total of 81 times for 349 yards in the game and threw 14 passes, including just three in the second half.

Lakeland's defense also held Wisconsin Lutheran to just 198 yards of offense and a total of eight first downs and forced a total of five turnovers. Warriors quarterbacks completed just 12 of 31 passes with three interceptions, and the hosts also gained just 46 yards on 28 rushing attempts.

Jerry Stokes (So.-Missouri City, Texas) finished with six tackles on defense, with three for loss including a pair of sacks. Albert Journet (Fr.-Breaux Bridge, La.) also recovered a fumble and Paul Saucedo (Fr.-Georgetown, Texas) intercepted his third pass of the season.

Lakeland returns home next week when it welcomes Benedictine University for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Taylor Field.

Muskies by the numbers:
3 - 100-yard rushers for Lakeland. Three also is the number of passes attempted by the Muskies in the second half, with one completed for three yards.
4 - Number of successful two-point conversion attempts for the Muskies
5 - Turnovers forced by Lakeland
22 - Muskies points off turnovers
38:59 - Lakeland's time of possession Saturday, nearly 18 full minutes more than WLC's
50 - Yards for Paul Saucedo's one punt on Saturday
59 - Offensive plays run by Wisconsin Lutheran
95 - Offensive plays run by Lakeland
198 - Yards of total offense for Wisconsin Lutheran
437 - Yards of total offense for Lakeland