MEQUON, Wis. – Concordia University Wisconsin scored on its first overtime drive and stopped Lakeland University on its ensuing drive to again retain the Cheese Bowl with a 41-34 victory Saturday afternoon at Concordia's Tomasini Stadium.

The Muskies received big offensive numbers from Robby Michael (Sr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) and Mason Motquin (So.-Forestville, Wis.) but lost the Cheese Bowl game in close and frustrating fashion for the third straight year. Lakeland dropped to 1-4 overall on the season and is 1-2 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference at the midpoint of its season, while the Falcons remained atop the NACC standings after posting their fourth straight conference win by a single touchdown, including two in overtime.

Concordia (5-1 overall, 4-0 NACC) came back from a 21-point second half deficit, tying the game with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter and taking its first and only lead of the game in overtime. Jacob Pugh scored on a 4-yard run that with the extra point gave the Falcons a 41-34 lead, and Lakeland's final drive ended at the CUW 5 when on third down Michael's pitch attempt on an option play was deflected and recovered by the Falcons to end the game.

Concordia tied the game at 34-34 with 4:51 left in the fourth quarter when Roman Funk hit Jason Leonard for a 42-yard touchdown pass, but the Muskies had a chance to win it with their last drive which started with 1:09 left in regulation. Michael completed a 42-yard pass to Caden Kleparski (So.-Unity, Wis.) to begin the march, and Lakeland was down to the CUW 15 with 27 seconds left. Three straight incomplete passes resulted in a 32-yard field goal attempt for McKynzee Schepp (Jr.-Marshall, Wis.), who was 4-for-4 on extra point kicks in the game, but the Falcons' Max Michonski deflected the kick, sending the game to overtime.

The Muskies were in charge for the first 30 minutes and into the third quarter in building a 28-7 lead. Michael completed touchdown passes to Jeremy Kobe (Sr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) and Motquin in the first half and also rushed for another TD as Lakeland took a 21-7 halftime lead. Motquin caught five passes for 147 yards in the first half alone, including a 64-yard bomb that led to Michael's 1-yard run to give the Muskies points just before halftime.

Lakeland also received the second half kickoff and drove 65 yards in 11 plays to extend the lead. Michael completed passes of 23 yards to Motquin and 21 yards to Jaden Davis (Fr.-Wentzville, Mo.), and Hassan Rivers (Jr.-Dearborn Heights, Mich.) capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run that with Schepp's extra point kick made it 28-7.

Concordia answered with a touchdown on its next drive, then scored again when a wild Lakeland punt snap was recovered in the end zone to make it 28-20 in the third quarter. The Falcons then closed within 28-27 when Funk connected with Jack Bradley for a 33-yard touchdown with 11:07 left in the fourth.

The Muskies came back to put together a time-consuming drive to stretch the lead out a bit, taking 13 plays and 5:02 to go 65 yards. Rivers scored running right from four yards out for his second touchdown of the game, but Lakeland elected to go for two points and a pass attempt failed, leaving the lead at 34-27. Concordia scored on the next drive then to tie it and set the stage for the final minutes, and also got the ball back with a chance to take the lead with 2:16 left, but a sack by Austin Mulingbayan (Fr.-Skokie, Ill.) stunted the drive and forced an eventual punt.

Michael finished completing 30 of 45 passes for 419 yards and Motquin caught eight passes for a career-high 182 yards. Kleparski also added six catches for 97 yards, while Rivers rushed 19 times for 86 yards.

The Muskies once again outgained an opponent, totaling 555 yards of offense and 27 first downs. Lakeland committed three turnovers, though, all on fumbles, and as a result was unable to take more advantage of forcing four CUW turnovers. The Muskies also scored on just four of nine trips into the red zone.

 De'Amonte Arroyo (So.-Chicago, Ill.) finished with 10 tackles (three solo, seven assisted) and Zelmarious Banks (Fr.-Fort Wayne, Ind.) and Markese Collins (Sr.-Phenix City, Ala.) both intercepted passes. Trayvonne Roberts (Jr.-Lynwood, Ill.) and Vyron Rosquist-Wallace (Sr.-Henderson, Nev.) also both recovered fumbles.

Concordia has now won the last three games for the Cheese Bowl trophy, after also winning by three points each of the last two years. The Falcons won 37-34 last year on a 54-yard field goal on the final play to complete a comeback from a 10-point fourth quarter deficit, and in 2023 won 31-28 despite the Muskies outgaining CUW 563-265 for the game.

Lakeland is back home this coming week to face Wisconsin Lutheran College for its Homecoming game at 1 p.m. at Taylor Field.