MONTGOMERY, Ill. – Robby Michael (So.-Sheboygan, Wis.) rushed for a touchdown and threw for another but nationally ranked Aurora University continued to roll through Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference competition, defeating Lakeland University 70-14 Saturday afternoon.

The Spartans, ranked 11th in NCAA Division III, scored at least 70 points for the fifth time this year and won their 37th straight game in the NACC. Lakeland dropped to 3-6 overall and 2-5 in conference with one game remaining in its season.

The Muskies actually had more success than most NACC teams have against the Spartans this year. Lakeland's 14 points scored and 316 yards of offense both were the most by a conference team against Aurora this season. The Muskies' defense also recorded nine tackles for loss including three sacks, also high marks for NACC teams against the Spartans this season.

Aurora (9-0 overall, 7-0 NACC) pulled away with 28 points in the second quarter to build a 35-0 halftime lead. The Muskies scored a pair of touchdowns in the second half, including taking the second half kickoff and sustaining a long drive for a score.

Lakeland went 75 yards in 12 plays for its first score, with Michael completing passes of 25 yards to Kaeden Calcari (Fr.-Menominee, Mich.), 20 yards to Keon Willis (So.-Chicago, Ill.) and 23 yards to Kolby Cohen (Jr.-Missouri City, Texas). The drive finished with Michael scrambling five yards for a touchdown to get the Muskies on the board 2 minutes, 47 seconds into the second half.

Lakeland scored again midway through the fourth quarter with a brisk five-play, 90-yard drive. The big play was a 59-yard bomb from Michael to Cohen, and two plays later Michael connected with Calcari for a 22-yard touchdown, with the Jesus Garcia (Fr.-El Paso, Texas) extra point cutting Aurora's lead to 56-14.

The Spartans finished scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter, though, taking advantage of extremely short fields on all three drives. Aurora scored on drives of 28, 41 and 31 yards, and in all five of the hosts touchdown drives traveled 41 yards or less.

Michael completed 11 of 37 passes for 230 yards and also rushed 13 times for 65 yards. Calcari caught three passes for 54 yards and Cohen grabbed two passes for 82 yards. Trellis Williams (Fr.-New Orleans, La.) also caught two passes for 35 yards, including his longest catch of the season of 31 yards.

Shamond Oliver (So.-Phenix City, Ala.) and Jake Leclaire (Sr.-Stuart, Fla.) led the defense with 10 tackles each, and Leclaire also finished with 1 1/2 sacks and a pass batted down. Trayvonne Roberts (Fr.-Lynwood, Ill.) and Kenyon Peoples (Fr.-Lansing, Ill.) added eight tackles each, and Peoples and Karlis Ozols (Sr.-Fond du Lac, Wis.) both posted two tackles for loss each, including Ozols with a sack.

Jhequay Chretin rushed 25 times for 152 yards and a touchdown to lead Aurora, which finished with 561 yards of offense including 328 yards on the ground. Ian Luyando completed 15 of 25 passes for 233 yards and six touchdowns, with Trey Madsen catching seven passes for 144 yards and three scores.

Lakeland winds up its 2023 season next Saturday when it hosts Eureka College for a 1 p.m. start at Taylor Field.