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The series between the Muskies and Falcons began in 1980 and has been played every season since, including the 2020-21 season when both teams played limited schedules in the spring due to the COVID-19 virus. Concordia has won the last three meetings, the last two by a field goal including last year's 37-34 victory in Mequon when Logan Navis made a 54-yard field goal as time expired. CUW also claimdd a 31-28 victory in the teams' last game at Lakeland in 2023 when Michael Purkey connected with Kekoa Carmichael for a 30-yard touchdown with 6:55 left for the winning points, spoiling Robby Michael's 463-yard passing day. The Falcons' recent streak in the series comes after the Muskies had won the previous three meetings and seven of eight, including most recently a 49-32 win at Taylor Field Oct. 23, 2021, as Charl'Tez Nunnery passed for four touchdowns and Brice Kensey caught 17 passes for 180 yards.

Cheese Bowl: Lakeland and Concordia also are playing for the Cheese Bowl trophy for the 34th time. The Cheese Bowl originated in 1992 as a traveling trophy for the winner of the two teams' annual game when they were the lone two Wisconsin members of the old Illini-Badger Football Conference. Lakeland and Concordia were conference rivals in the IBFC from 1980 through its final year in 2007, when both joined the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference for football. Concordia leads the Cheese Bowl series 18-15, holding the trophy the last three years after Lakeland won the previous three games in the series.

Lakeland last time out: Lost to Aurora 49-28 last week
The Muskies hung around all day with the NACC power Spartans but ultimately were done in by Aurora's quick scores, including one each right before and after halftime. Lakeland was tied after one quarter, trailed by just a touchdown late in the second quarter and was still within two touchdowns late in the fourth, but the Spartans scored all seven of their touchdowns on drives of six plays or less. Robby Michael, Hassan Rivers and Jatron Bevly all rushed for touchdowns as the Muskies gained 195 yards on the ground, and Michael completed 20 of 33 passes for 237 yards and a touchdown to Jeremy Kobe. Caden Kleparski caught six passes for 71 yards and Deshawn Hampton added four catches for 68 yards, while De'Amonte Arroyo paced the defense with nine tackles and Zelmarious Banks added his first career interception.

Concordia last time out: Won at St. Norbert 24-17 last week
The Falcons picked up a key road win in NACC play, defeating the Green Knights in De Pere. CUW led 20-17 at halftime and held the hosts scoreless in the second half to remain alone in first place in the conference with a 3-0 league mark. Roman Funk completed 14 of 27 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns, both to Jason Leonard. Jerome Hinton rushed for 110 yards on just eight carries and the Falcons defense held St. Norbert to 232 yards of offense, including just 68 yards rushing.

About the Falcons: Concordia continued its trend of winning close games in the NACC so far this season, with its victories over Wisconsin Lutheran, Benedictine and St. Norbert coming by seven, eight and seven points, respectively, including a double-overtime win over Benedictine one week after the Eagles snapped Aurora's 46-game winning streak in conference games.

Concordia finished 6-3 last year and 5-3 in the NACC. The Falcons have posted seven straight winning seasons and are coached by Greg Etter, the dean of NACC coaches in his 18th year as head coach and has 90 career wins at the school.

Capitalizing on opportunity: Lakeland wide receiver Caden Kleparski has made some of the most noticeable gains of any player on the roster from last year to this year and has quickly become one of quarterback Robby Michael's favorite targets. Kleparski caught four passes for 29 yards last year while playing mainly on special teams as a freshman, but this year through four games he leads the team with 17 catches for 196 yards. A native of the village of Unity (population 384) in central Wisconsin and a graduate of Colby High School, Kleparski caught his first collegiate touchdown pass two weeks ago against Rockford and also has caught two two-point conversion passes from Michael.

Hitting her stride: After a tough opening game when the Muskies had all sorts of problems on placement kicks throughout the operation, McKynzee Schepp has made 11 straight extra points over the last three games. Schepp made both of her tries last week and after having two kicks blocked in the opener against Carthage, has moved up to fourth in the NACC in accuracy on extra points (84.6%). Schepp also has received help with long snapper Marshal Hobbs rejoining the team after the season opener as well as Mason Motquin taking over as holder starting in the second game.

Freshmen making plays: Norrye Evans posted his first collegiate sack last week against Aurora, and through four games is tied with Kenyon Peoples for the team lead in tackles for loss (4.5). Evans is one of three freshmen starting on the defense for Lakeland, and all three have made big plays early in their careers. Linebacker Austin Mulingbayan leads the team with two sacks, and cornerback Zelmarious Banks added his first interception last week and has been one of the team's top kick returners too.