2023 Lakeland Football Recap
 
Head Coach: Colin Bruton (9th year)
Assistant Coaches: Joey Lehto (Defensive Coordinator, 8th year); Larry Feest (Offensive Line/Special Teams, 17th year); Keith Woodson (Defensive Backs, 1st year); Lane Peterson (Wide Receivers, 1st year); Justin Jurek (Defensive Line, 3rd Year); Kendrick Burks (Running Backs, 4th Year); Mark Edmond (Cornerbacks, 5th year); David Simon (Offensive Line, 8th year); Mason Prunick (Wide Receivers, 2nd year); D.J. Tomlinson (Defensive Line, 1st year)
Record: 4-6 overall, 3-5 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
Long Winning Streak: 1 game (four times)
Long Losing Streak: 2 games (twice)
NACC Finish: 6th of 9 teams
All-NACC Team: Jayson Wilder (DB, 1st Team); Jake Leclaire (DL, 2nd Team); Robby Michael (QB, Hon. Mention); Shamond Oliver (DB, Hon. Mention); Karlis Ozols (LB, Hon. Mention); Zach Welnetz (OL, Hon. Mention).
NACC Player of the Week: Robby Michael (Sept. 24, Offense); Jesus Garcia (Sept. 24, Special Teams); Ben Garcia (Oct. 15, Special Teams)
D3football.com Team of the Week: Shamond Oliver (Oct. 17, Defensive Back)
NACC All-Academic Team: Lucas Diedrich, Parker Giese, Matt Glogowski, Josh Gross, Roderick Hearne, Logan Leach, Jake Leclaire, Robby Michael, Hassan Rivers, Daytravion Sopsher, Evan Soto, Asa Spindler, Jonah Weinfurter, Zach Welnetz, Josh Wensink, Kaelib Whitley
Leading Passer: Robby Michael (169-330, 2,214 yards, 16 TD)
Leading Rusher: Robby Michael (169 att., 780 yards, 9 TD)
Leading Receiver: Caleb Besaw (44 Rec, 537 Yards, 4 TD)
Leading Scorer: Robby Michael (54 points - 9 TD)
Leading Tackler: Shamond Oliver (67 tackles - 55 solo, 12 assisted)
Leading Kick Returner: Hassan Rivers (30 ret., 562 yards)
Leading Punt Returner: Kaeden Calcari (7 ret., 69 yards)
Leader in Tackles For Loss: Karlis Ozols (12 TFL for 54 yards)
Leader in Sacks: Karlis Ozols (5.5 sacks for 42 yards)
Leaders in Interceptions: Markese Collins/Shamond Oliver (2)
Leader in Punting: Ben Garcia (31 punts, 1,023 yards, 33.0 avg.) 

Single-game highs:           
Passing Yards: Robby Michael, 463 vs. Concordia Wisconsin, Sept. 16
Touchdown Passes: Robby Michael, 4 vs. Eureka, Nov. 11
Receptions: Caleb Besaw, 10 at Rockford, Sept. 23
Receiving Yards: Kolby Cohen, 128 vs. Concordia Wisconsin, Sept. 16
Receiving Touchdowns: 2, by Kolby Cohen at Rockford, Sept. 23 and by Caleb Besaw vs. Eureka, Nov. 11
Longest Pass Play: Robby Michael to Kolby Cohen, 59 yards at Aurora, Nov. 4
Longest Run: 69 yards, by Jatron Bevly at Wisconsin Lutheran, Oct. 7
Rushing Yards: Robby Michael, 143 at Rockford, Sept. 23
Rushing Touchdowns: 2, on three occasions, including twice by Robby Michael vs. Wisconsin-Platteville, Aug. 31 and at Rockford, Sept. 23, and also by Devon Harris at Wisconsin Lutheran, Oct. 7
Longest Punt: Ben Garcia, 58 yards vs. Concordia Chicago, Oct. 14
Longest Punt Return: Kaeden Calcari, 25 yards at Rockford, Sept. 23
Longest Kickoff Return: Devon Harris, 59 yards vs. St. Norbert, Sept. 30
Tackles: Jake Leclaire, 13 at Benedictine, Oct. 21
Tackles For Loss: 2.5, on three occasions, including twice by Jake Leclaire at Benedictine, Oct. 21 and vs. Eureka, Nov. 11, and also by Shamond Oliver vs. Eureka, Nov. 11
Sacks: Jake Leclaire, 1.5 at Aurora, Nov. 4
Interceptions: 1, on 10 occasions by eight different players
 
Season Highlights

• Muskies made a modest improvement in the win column from three wins to four
• Robby Michael completed 38 of 61 passes for 463 yards against Concordia Wisconsin Sept. 16. The 38 completions tie Mark Novara (vs. Concordia Chicago, Nov. 22, 1994) for the second-most in a game in school history, and the 463 yards passing are the fifth-most in a game in school history.
• Michael hit Caleb Besaw for a 16-yard touchdown pass with 23 seconds left in the game that with the Jesus Garcia extra point gave Lakeland a 35-34 comeback win over Eureka Nov. 11. The Muskies rallied from a 20-point fourth quarter deficit, scoring three touchdowns in the final 6:43, including two in the last 1:25 to win.
• Michael finished 21st nationally in NCAA Division III in total offense (299.6 yards per game)
• Lakeland tied Merchant Marine for the lead in Division III for most times going for it on fourth down (53)
• Michael finished 2nd in NACC in total offense (2,994) and total offense yards per game (299.4), 3rd in passing yards (2,214) and passing yards/game (221.4), 4th in passing touchdowns (16), 5th in rushing yards (780) and rushing yards/game (78.0), tied for 7th in touchdowns scored (9) and tied for 8th in points scored (54)
• Besaw finished 6th in NACC in receptions/game (4.4), 7th in receptions (44), tied for 9th in receiving touchdowns (4) and 10th in receiving yards (537) and receiving yards/game (53.7)
• Hassan Rivers led NACC in kick return attempts (31) and kick return yards (564)
• Shamond Oliver finished 3rd in NACC in solo tackles (55)
• Karlis Ozols finished tied for 4th in NACC in tackles for loss/game (1.20), tied for 5th in sacks (5.5) and 6th in total tackles for loss (12.0)
• Jake Leclaire finished 5th in NACC in solo tackles (50), 8th in tackles for loss/game (1.10) and 10th in total tackles for loss (11.0)
• Jordan Garvin tied for 8th in NACC in pass breakups (6) and tied for 9th in total passes defensed (7)