Live statistics: https://athletics.aurora.edu/sidearmstats/football/summary

Series: 39th meeting, Aurora leads 20-18
Aurora is the longest-running opponent in Lakeland football history, with the series between the two schools dating back to the Muskies' first season in 1934. The Spartans have won the last four meetings, including a 68-0 victory last season that was the most lopsided loss in Lakeland program history. The teams were much closer the year before, when Aurora earned a 38-20 victory at Lakeland. Before Aurora's current winning streak in the series, Lakeland had won the previous five meetings, with its last win a 47-38 victory at Aurora Oct. 28, 2017. Until COVID-19 affected the 2020-21 season, the teams had met for 22 consecutive years after a 47-year break in the series, a result of Aurora dropping football in 1952 and not reinstating the sport until 1986.

Lakeland last time out: Lost at Benedictine 31-6 Oct. 21
The Muskies were idle last week, and in their most recent game fell to the Eagles on the road in Illinois. Lakeland got off to a slow start and never recovered, fumbling the opening kickoff and falling behind 7-0 15 seconds into the game. Benedictine would build a 21-0 lead at halftime, with the Muskies avoiding the shutout when Robby Michael connected with Xaviar Thomas for a 15-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Lakeland had a dismal day offensively, gaining a season-low 147 yards including a net of minus-16 yards rushing with Benedictine posting eight sacks. Michael completed 10 of 29 passes for 142 yards, with Jatron Bevly catching four passes for a team-best 52 yards. Jake Leclaire led the defense with 13 tackles (six solo, seven assisted), with 2.5 tackles for loss including a forced fumble.

Aurora last time out: Won at Rockford 77-10 last week
The Spartans continued their season-long trend of blowing out Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opponents, building a 42-3 lead at halftime and leading 70-3 after three quarters to remain undefeated. Aurora scored six touchdowns of 26 yards or longer among its first eight touchdowns and gained 595 yards of offense and 30 first downs. Ian Luyando completed 22 of 25 passes for 327 yards and five touchdowns, Jhequay Chretin rushed for 138 yards and three touchdowns and Trey Madsen (six catches, 119 yards) and Michael Boland (five receptions, 108 yards) both topped 100 yards receiving. Connor Nordmeyer also returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown.

About the Spartans: Aurora has dominated the NACC the past four years, winning 36 straight conference games, and has taken it to another level this year, outscoring opponents 408-43 in their six league wins. The Spartans have risen to No. 11 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) NCAA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll and 14th in the D3football.com Top 25 Poll. Aurora is the highest-ranked opponent the Muskies have faced since taking on 10th ranked UW-Platteville Sept. 23, 2017, a game the Pioneers won 56-22.

Aurora is again coached by Don Beebe, who played in the NFL for nine seasons, including in 1996-97 for the Packers, and was a member of Green Bay's Super Bowl XXXI champions team. Beebe has quickly built Aurora into the standard in the NACC, including Division III playoff berths the last three years the playoffs were held and last year advancing to the national quarterfinals, the furthest advancement ever of a NACC team in the D-III playoffs.

Touchdown maker: Senior wide receiver Xaviar Thomas caught his third touchdown pass of the season last time out against Benedictine, tying him with Kolby Cohen for the team lead in touchdown catches with three each. Thomas has career highs with 12 catches for 269 yards plus the three TDs this year, and his average of 22.4 yards per catch leads the team. Over the last two seasons Thomas has four touchdown receptions among his 17 receptions, or an average of a touchdown every 4.3 times he catches a pass.