RIVER FOREST, Ill. – Lakeland University scored 35 points in the second quarter and received three touchdowns from its defense in the game, getting back on the winning track with a 63-7 win over Concordia University Chicago Saturday afternoon.

The Muskies built a 42-0 lead by halftime and piled up a season high for points in improving to 5-1 overall on the season. Lakeland also moved to 3-1 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, bouncing back after its first loss of the season a week earlier at Benedictine University.

After struggling the previous week against Benedictine, the Muskies' defense returned to its turnover-producing ways, forcing six turnovers by Concordia Chicago (2-5 overall, 0-5 NACC). Three of those turnovers were returned for touchdowns, including Shazon Crutcher (Sr.-Lansing, Mich.) intercepting a pass and returning it 25 yards for a score in the second quarter and a 28-0 lead.

Crutcher's return was part of an eruption for 28 points in just over five minutes early in the second quarter, including three touchdowns in a span of 1 minute, 21 seconds. A 7-0 lead after one quarter ballooned to 35-0 by midway through the second quarter as Lakeland warmed up on offense and also took full advantage of a pair of CUC turnovers.

After taking a quick 7-0 lead on the opening drive of the game after an eight-yard run by Charl'Tez Nunnery (Sr.-Liberty, Miss.), the Muskies doubled their margin early in the second quarter, with Nunnery hitting Larry Rivers (Sr.-Dearborn Heights, Mich.) out of the backfield for a 32-yard touchdown pass to cap a 10-play, 71-yard drive. Lakeland's defense then forced a three-and-out, and the offense took over deep in Concordia territory after a short punt.

Rivers scored five plays later from three yards out to make it 21-0, and the Muskies extended the margin on the Cougars' first play of their next drive with Crutcher dropping into coverage, picking off Troy Pratley's pass and quickly bringing it back for his first collegiate touchdown. CUC would fumble again two plays later with D'Jimon Stuckey (So.-Cypress, Texas) forcing a fumble, recovering and returning it 11 yards, and two plays later Nunnery after hit Kolby Cohen (Fr.-Missouri City, Texas) for a 25-yard touchdown with 8:48 left in the second quarter.

Lakeland added another score just before halftime off another Concordia turnover. Rayshion Brumfield (Sr.-Ponchatoula, La.) returned an interception 56 yards for a touchdown with eight seconds left in the half, the senior cornerback's third interception of the season and second career pick-six.

The Muskies also scored on their first drive of the second half, churning out an 11-play, 83-yard march capped by Rivers scoring from 21 yards out for his third touchdown of the game. Lakeland substituted freely the rest of the way and added one more offensive score midway through the fourth quarter when Lane Sobieski (Jr.-Berlin, Wis.) connected with Devin Martin (Fr.-Conyers, Ga.) for a 32-yard touchdown.

The Muskies also tacked on another defensive touchdown shortly after when Romeo Vang (Fr.-Stevens Point, Wis.) forced a fumble that was picked off the ground by fellow freshman Matt Glogowski (San Diego, Calif.), who raced 48 yards escorted by a convoy of teammates for the touchdown.

Pending finalization of statistics, Lakeland unofficially outgained Concordia Chicago 445-268 for the game and posted a big 27-12 edge in first downs. Rivers rushed 19 times for 130 yards, his sixth straight 100-yard game, and Nunnery gained 35 yards on the ground and also completed 16 of 22 passes for 119 yards. Sobieski also completed 7 of 16 passes for 82 yards and rushed for 31 yards, and 11 different players caught a pass and nine different players rushed at least once.

Crutcher, Karlis Ozols (So.-Fond du Lac, Wis.) and Leondre Townsend (So.-Menomonee Falls, Wis.) all paced the defense with five tackles. Jayden Tarver (Fr.-Phenix City, Ala.) also recorded his first collegiate interception and Jack Shewmake (Fr.-Stevens Point, Wis.) added a sack.

DeAndre Daniels rushed for 118 yards and scored Concordia's lone touchdown with a 60-yard run for a score in the third quarter. The Cougars gained just 73 yards through the air, with CUC quarterbacks completing just 6 of 19 passes for 73 yards.

Lakeland is back home next week and will host rival Concordia University Wisconsin for the annual Cheese Bowl game. Game time at Taylor Field will be 6 p.m.