Lakeland/Benedictine Game Notes   PDF

Two teams trying to keep slim Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference football title hopes alive will meet when Lakeland University travels to face Benedictine University Saturday afternoon at noon in Lisle, Ill.

The Muskies and Eagles both need to win their final two games and will need help to catch conference leader Aurora University in the standings. Both still have an outside shot at the title and the NACC's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III playoffs, though, making their 52nd meeting all-time an important one.

Lakeland (4-4 overall, 3-2 NACC) saw its championship hopes take a big hit last week with a 50-49 loss to Eureka on the road. Dezmon Eddie rushed for 218 yards but the Muskies fell behind 30-27 midway through the second quarter and could never catch the Red Devils again as they lost on the road in Illinois for the second time in conference play.

Benedictine (5-3 overall, 4-1 NACC) took its first conference loss of the season, falling at Aurora 27-25 in a battle of NACC unbeatens. The Eagles nearly rallied from a 15-point deficit in the final two minutes, scoring two touchdowns in the final 1:11, including a one-yard run by Tyler Jernagin with five seconds left in the game to draw within two. The Eagles' two-point conversion attempt to tie was intercepted, though, putting the Spartans alone in first in the conference.

Lakeland leads the all-time series 31-20, and the series with Benedictine is the most-played series in Muskies' history, one that dates back to when Lakeland was known as Mission House College and Benedictine was named St. Procopius College. The Muskies have won the last four against the Eagles, including a high-scoring 52-42 victory last year at Taylor Field when Larry Rivers (162 yards), Charl'Tez Nunnery (145) and Michael Moreau (106) all rushed for over 100 yards and Lakeland rolled up 495 yards on the ground.

Benedictine University will provide live video of the game at https://benueagles.com/sports/2019/8/16/watch.aspx. Live statistics also will be available to follow at https://benueagles.com/sidearmstats/football/summary.