Despite being separated by just over 50 miles, the Muskies and Green Knights have met just four times before, including the last two years as Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference members. St. Norbert won last year's meeting 35-12 at home behind two touchdown passes and a TD run by Richie Gilles. Lakeland dominated the previous year's matchup with a 40-8 win at home, forcing eight turnovers in SNC's first game as a NACC member, including six TOs in the first half on the way to a 33-0 halftime lead.

That was the first meeting between the schools in nearly 60 years, since St. Norbert won the two previous meetings in back-to-back years in 1961 and 1962, including a 25-0 win at Lakeland Oct. 7, 1961 in the first meeting and then a 42-0 shutout Sept. 22, 1962 in De Pere. There have been two other meetings between the schools involving the Muskies' varsity. Lakeland, then known as Mission House College, hosted the St. Norbert freshman team in consecutive years in 1938 and 1939 and picked up two close wins by scores of 14-13 in 1938 and then 19-12 a year later.

Lakeland last time out: Won at Rockford 41-20 last week
The Muskies rebounded from a narrow loss to rival Concordia Wisconsin in their conference opener and won on the road for the second time this season in taking down the Regents. Robby Michael had another productive day, throwing for 206 yards and three touchdowns and also rushing for 143 yards and two more scores. Caleb Besaw also caught 10 passes for 115 yards, career highs in both areas, and Kolby Cohen made a triumphant return from injury with four catches for 73 yards and two touchdowns. Justin McMahon also added an interception for the defense as Lakeland outgained Rockford 469-275 and held the Regents to just 50 yards rushing, and freshman Jesus Garcia kicked two field goals and made all five of his extra point kicks.

St. Norbert last time out: Lost at Eureka 21-17 last week
The Green Knights came up just short in their bid for a second straight last-second comeback win and took their first NACC loss this year. St. Norbert drove down to the Red Devils' 2-yard line with 18 seconds left, but four straight passes to the end zone went incomplete and Eureka held on for the win to stay undefeated. Peyton Lyon completed 24 of 38 passes for 257 yards and a score and Delton Zuleger put SNC ahead with a touchdown run in the fourth quarter, only for the Red Devils to come back and score the go-ahead touchdown with 4:50 to play. St. Norbert rushed for just 62 yards and Eureka held a time of possession advantage of more than 15 minutes in the win.

About the Green Knights: Like Lakeland, St. Norbert has alternated wins and losses this year, opening with a win over Ripon before a narrow loss to UW-Stevens Point followed by a last-second win over Wisconsin Lutheran, a game where SNC held a 31-20 lead with a minute left before the Warriors scored, recovered an onside kick and scored again the next play, only for the Green Knights to drive 69 yards in four plays and just 30 seconds for the winning points with 13 seconds left.

St. Norbert is in its third year in the NACC and after going .500 (5-5 overall, 4-4 NACC) its first year improved to 7-3 overall and 6-2 in league last year. The Green Knights also defeated UW-Stevens Point for the NACC's first-ever win over a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team, and were close to an even bigger year, falling to Concordia Wisconsin in overtime and to Ripon by three points.

Muskies on Homecoming: Homecoming has far more often than not in the past been a very good day for Lakeland football. The Muskies have a superb 61-21-3 all-time record in Homecoming games, including last year defeating Concordia Chicago 43-23 to improve to 14-1 in their last 15 Homecoming games. This year marks the first time Lakeland has hosted St. Norbert for a Homecoming game, and the Green Knights are the 24th different opponent the Muskies have welcomed in 86 all-time Homecoming games.

Among the national leaders: Robby Michael has been off to a big start this season, one that has him among not just the NACC but also NCAA Division III leaders. Michael ranks fourth in Division III in total offense, averaging 390.2 yards per game. He also is 11th in D-III in total rushing yards and 12th in total passing yards, as well as 14th in total points responsible for with 78 (points scored rushing or passing). He also ranks in the top 25 in Division III in rushing touchdowns (21st), rushing yards/game (111.8, 22nd) and completions/game (22.75, 23rd). Another illustration of Michael's all-around excellence: he ranks second in the NACC in both passing AND rushing yards per game so far this season.

Kicking game found: Jesus Garcia joined Michael in receiving NACC player of the week awards this week, with Michael taking offensive honors and Garcia recognized on special teams. Garcia's two field goals against Rockford marked the first time Lakeland has made more than one field goal in a game in nearly 10 years, since Ramsey Riehl kicked three field goals including the game-winning 28-yard kick as time expired in a 15-12 win over Benedictine Nov. 16, 2013. Multiple field goals has been a rarity for the Muskies over the years; before Riehl accomplished the feat, the previous last time  came Oct. 25, 2003, when Gerald Starner booted field goals of 28 and 27 yards in a 34-10 victory over Aurora. Garcia's 38-yarder also is the longest field goal by a Muskie since Andrew Colley connected from 39 yards out Oct. 12, 2019 against Concordia Wisconsin.