RIVER FOREST, Ill. – An 18-point fourth quarter deficit proved too much to overcome for Lakeland University, whose late rally came up short in a 31-26 loss to Concordia University Chicago Saturday afternoon on the gridiron at Concordia Stadium.

Concordia scored 17 unanswered points in the second half and held on to defeat Lakeland for the first time since 2012. The Muskies opened Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play with a loss which ensured an uphill climb in their quest for a fifth conference title in the last six years.

The Cougars owned the third quarter, outscoring Lakeland 14-0 and controlling the ball for all but 2 minutes, 46 seconds in the 15-minute period. Concordia scored on drives of 75 and 73 yards, and added another 10-play, 40-yard drive that ended with an Andrew Lechuga 28-yard field goal in the opening minute of the fourth quarter to push the lead to 31-13.

The Muskies struggled to move the ball consistently most of the day but heated up in the fourth. Lakeland drove 59 yards in seven plays with Larry Rivers (Jr.-Dearborn Heights, Mich.) scoring on an eight-yard run to make the score 31-19, and after forcing a three-and-out Lakeland drove deep into CUC territory again.

Missed opportunities also hurt the Muskies in the fourth quarter, though, and a drive down to the Cougars' 5-yard line eventually ended on downs. Lakeland forced another punt and stayed alive with an incredible 4th-and-22 conversion when backup quarterback Logan O'Neill (Sr.-Spokane Valley, Wash.) came on after starter Charl'Tez Nunnery (Jr.-Liberty, Miss.) was shaken up on a third down play. O'Neill stepped up and completed a 38-yard pass to Mason Prunick (Jr.-Sheboygan, Wis.), but the drive ended one play later when O'Neill's next pass to the end zone was intercepted.

The Muskies still weren't done, getting the ball back with a short field after a Concordia punt, and Nunnery hit Dezmon Eddie (Sr.-Alexandria, La.) three plays later for a 22-yard touchdown with 1:06 left in the game. Lakeland then nearly got possession back one more time after an onside kick by Andrew Colley (So.-Gadsden, Ala.) rolled free for a long time before the Cougars' Jose Urrea came out of a scrum with the ball.

A game featuring two excellent running attacks lived up to billing, with Rivers rushing 29 times for 167 yards and two scores while Concordia's all-conference back Lance Moise also carried 32 times for 166 yards and two scores. The Cougars also were efficient through air, though, as Griffin Beaudette completed 16 of 22 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns.

Lakeland outgained Concordia 424-383 for the game and posted a 22-18 advantage in first downs, but the Muskies also were harmed by three turnovers, two coming inside CUC territory and all three ending what appeared to be promising drives. Nunnery also was sacked six times, two more times than Muskies quarterbacks were sacked in their first three games combined.

Nunnery completed 16 of 29 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns, while Eddie caught eight of his passes for 78 yards. Brice Kensey (Jr.-New Orleans, La.) also caught three passes for 68 yards and a score and Prunick added three catches for 58 yards.

Andrew Cardiel (So.-Needville, Texas) led the defense with a career-high 14 tackles. Austin Tanck (Sr.-Baileys Harbor, Wis.) added six tackles including three tackles for loss.

The Muskies next will face Concordia University Wisconsin in the annual Cheese Bowl game on what will also be Lakeland's Homecoming. Game time next Saturday at Taylor Field will be 1 p.m.