The series between the Muskies and Red Devils has a long history, one that was renewed several years ago after an 11-year absence and has since added three colorful chapters since Eureka joined the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference in 2018. Lakeland won last year's matchup 45-16 a year ago this weekend in Eureka, Ill., in a game where Charles Kobe tied an NCAA Division III record with three blocked punts in a single game. The prior two games were shootouts, including Nov. 2, 2019 when Eureka held off Lakeland 50-49 in Illinois to snap the Muskies' 13-game winning streak in the series. The year before Lakeland won a wild one, edging the Red Devils 56-55 at Taylor Field as Michael Moreau scored the go-ahead touchdown with 56 seconds left in the game. The score capped a rally from a 21-0 deficit just 3:44 into the contest and gave Lakeland its first lead of the game, and the Muskies held on after Eureka scored a touchdown with 18 seconds left but missed an ensuing two-point conversion attempt to take the lead.

The two teams met every year except for one from 1962-2007, missing only 1979, and the two were members together of the Illini-Badger Football Conference from 1976-2007 and also the Gateway Conference in the 1960s. Only Benedictine (54 meetings) and Concordia Chicago (53) have played Lakeland more than Eureka's 48 times.

Lakeland last time out: Lost at Concordia Wisconsin 30-20 last week
The 31st annual playing of the Cheese Bowl did not go the Muskies' way, as Concordia built an early 14-0 lead and never trailed in taking back the trophy for the first time since 2018. Lakeland again moved the ball well with 517 yards of offense and 28 first downs, but the Muskies committed two turnovers and also had four drives end on downs in CUW territory. Lane Sobieski started for the injured Robby Michael and completed 21 of 40 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns, twice connecting with Kolby Cohen for scores including a 70-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Devon Harris also rushed for 172 yards and caught nine passes for 79 yards. Justin McMahon paced the defense with nine tackles.

Eureka last time out: Lost to Wisconsin Lutheran 51-35 last week
A 14-0 lead after one quarter slipped away as the Warriors came roaring back, outscoring Eureka 42-7 over the next two quarters before the Red Devils scored twice in the fourth quarter to get closer at the end. Sebastian Hill caught three touchdown passes and Pierce Bradford caught a pair of TD passes as quarterbacks Lukas Tinkham and Noah Berlett combined for five touchdown tosses. Eureka held a nearly 11-minute advantage in time of possession but Lutheran repeatedly struck quickly, with all seven of its touchdown drives coming in six plays or less. Hill finished with six catches for 143 yards and Kavion Nichols intercepted two passes to lead the Red Devils on defense.

About the Red Devils: Eureka has a pair of wins in the NACC play, topping Rockford in September and Concordia Chicago on the road earlier this month. The Red Devils also lost to Concordia Wisconsin by just a field goal Oct. 8, but also have allowed 51 points or more in four of their six losses. The alma mater of former president Ronald Reagan, Eureka has a 13-10 record in conference since joining the NACC as an affiliate member for football in 2018, and won the league in its first year. Head coach Kurt Barth is the winningest coach in school history with 67 career wins at the Eureka, Ill., school.

Go for it: It can be said without question: no team in college football goes for it on fourth down more than Lakeland, and it's not even close. The Muskies have attempted to convert on fourth down 54 times this season, and have made it 24 times for a reasonable 44% conversion rate that ranks 136th of 240 NCAA Division III schools. The 24 fourth-down conversions are second in D-III and second in all of college football to Merchant Marine (26), and the 54 attempts are far and away the most, far ahead in D-III of second-place Wisconsin-River Falls with 34. In fact, Lakeland's 54 fourth-down tries are the most in the country among four-year schools; the nearest in second is NAIA member St. Andrews (N.C.) with 35, while NCAA D-II Adams State (Colo.) is tied with UW-River Falls for the third-most attempts (34).

Wide-ranging group: Kolby Cohen and Devon Harris led the Muskies in receiving against Concordia, becoming the latest in an increasingly deep group that have been primary pass-catchers in a game this season. Harris with nine catches and Cohen with five grabs against Concordia became the fourth and fifth players to catch at least five passes in a game this season, and Harris became the fifth Muskie to finish with at least 60 yards receiving in a game. Cohen joined Chris Crawford as Lakeland players to post over 100 yards and two touchdowns receiving in a game, while Harris and Caleb Besaw both have topped 75 yards receiving in a game.

More yards again: Last week made it six times in seven games that Lakeland has outgained its opponent. The Muskies rank second in the NACC in total offense (483.3 yards/game) and fourth in total defense (363.3), joining Aurora and Benedictine as the only other conference teams being in the top four in both categories.