PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Robby Michael (Jr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) and Caleb Besaw (Jr.-Conroe, Texas) hooked up for a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the Lakeland University football team pushed nationally ranked Aurora University before falling 49-14 Saturday afternoon at Taylor Field.

The Muskies put together a performance better than the final score indicated, hanging in for the better part of three quarters against the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference power. The Spartans proved again how difficult they have been to knock off in winning five straight NACC championships, though, and the 15th-ranked team in NCAA Division III improved to 7-1 overall and 6-0 in conference with its 44th straight NACC win.

Lakeland (3-3 overall, 3-2 NACC) lost for the second time this season to a team currently ranked in the top 15 nationally in Division III, but this time could take a number of positives from a defeat. In particular, the Muskies easily had the most success of any NACC team against the Spartans defense this season.

Lakeland gained 389 yards of offense, well over double the 166.4 yards per game Aurora allowed in its first five conference games. Michael continued to roll up yardage running and throwing, accounting for 385 yards including 247 yards passing and 138 yards on the ground. The Muskies also outgained the guests for most of the game, held a 22-19 advantage in first downs and owned a time of possession advantage of more than eight minutes.

The defense also limited the Spartans to 101 yards rushing. Turnovers, untimely penalties and big plays allowed in the passing game would ultimately doom Lakeland, though, a few plays here and there adding up quickly against a strong opponent.

The Muskies committed three turnovers which directly led to 21 Aurora points, including a pair of crushing turnovers on back-to-back drives late in the third quarter that allowed the Spartans to break the game open. Lakeland also had penalties wipe out significant gains on promising drives that fizzled out, and a good portion of Aurora's offense came on long chunk plays in the air, including a number of them in long yardage down-and-distance situations.

Lakeland scored touchdowns on a pair of long drives early, including coming out of the gates with a superb 11-play, 75-yard drive in just over four minutes. Besaw got behind his defender and Michael floated a perfect 24-yard pass for a touchdown and the Muskies led 7-0 just over four minutes in.

Lakeland also drove 90 yards to tie the score in the second quarter. A 13-play drive over 5:40 ended with Michael again hitting Besaw over the top, this time on 3rd-and-9 for 30 yards and a score to make it 14-14 with 10:44 left in the first half.

Aurora responded by taking advantage of a short field, a recurring theme throughout the game. The Spartans went 52 yards in six plays to take the lead, with Tyler Adkins throwing an 18-yard touchdown pass to Cole Jackson to make it 21-14.

The Muskies' next drive ended on downs, and Aurora took over on the Lakeland 47. Facing 2nd-and-14 after Shamond Oliver (Jr.-Phenix City, Ala.) blew up a short receiver screen for a loss of four yards on first down, Adkins threw 37 yards to the end zone and Ty Pruett caught the pass falling down to take it to the Lakeland 1, and Adkins kept it for a one-yard touchdown for a 28-14 score that would hold into halftime.

The Muskies stopped the Spartans on their first two drives of the second half, including the second drive when Karlis Ozols (Sr.-Fond du Lac, Wis.) dropped in coverage and picked off Adkins, returning it nine yards to the Lakeland 36. Aurora returned the favor with an interception four plays later, though, and the Spartans took advantage when Steven Gonzalez leaked out behind a broken coverage and scored on a 60-yard touchdown pass from Adkins to make it 35-14 with 5:50 left in the third quarter.

Aurora needed just 59 seconds to score again, getting the ball back when Hassan Rivers (So.-Dearborn Heights, Mich.) had the ball poked away at the end of a 19-yard catch and run, and Quintarius Davis returned it 45 yards to the Muskies 1. Russell scored again from a yard out to make it 42-14, and Lakeland would not score again despite putting together drives of 10 and 17 plays on its final two possessions.

Michael rushed 29 times for 138 yards, his fourth game of at least 100 yards rushing this year. He also completed 26 of 45 passes for 247 yards, including connecting with Besaw nine times for 120 yards.

Oliver led the defense with seven tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup, and Jake Leclaire (Sr.-Stuart, Fla.) added six tackles including three tackles for loss. Leclaire and Evan Soto (Jr.-El Paso, Texas) added sacks.

Adkins completed 18 of 22 passes for Aurora for 322 yards and four touchdown passes, including two touchdowns each to Gonzalez and Jackson. The Spartans finished with a slim 423-389 edge in total yards and converted 6 of 8 third down tries.

The Muskies go on the road next week, traveling to face Concordia University Wisconsin in the annual Cheese Bowl game in Mequon at 1 p.m.