PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Robby Michael (Sr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) broke the Lakeland University career school record for total offense and Zelmarious Banks (Fr.-Fort Wayne, Ind.) put on a show with three interceptions as the Muskies routed Concordia University Chicago 47-16 Saturday afternoon at John Taylor Memorial Field.

Lakeland shook free from a string of close losses, building a 34-0 lead in the first half on the way to earning its first home win of the season. The Muskies improved to 2-6 overall and are 2-4 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference with two games remaining in the season.

Michael and the Lakeland offense had a fairly quiet day compared to much of the season, but the senior quarterback still threw for 171 yards and rushed for 53 more. The 224 yards gave him 11,005 yards passing and rushing in his career as he surpassed both previous second place Michael Whitley (10,915 yards from 2014-17) and former record holder Mark Novara (10,975 yards from 1994-97) for the top spot.

The Muskies gained a season-low 322 yards, but that was still more than plenty with the defense holding Concordia Chicago (4-4 overall, 2-4 NACC) to just 217 yards for the day. Lakeland limited the Cougars to 104 yards rushing on 45 attempts (2.3 yards per carry), 12 completions in 30 pass attempts for 113 yards, and sacked CUC quarterbacks five times, including two by Austin Mulingbayan (Fr.-Skokie, Ill.) and one each by Norrye Evans (Fr.-Chicago, Ill.) and Benji Smith (Sr.-Port Orchard, Wash.).

The Muskies also intercepted Concordia quarterback Colton Bosch three times, with all three by Banks, two returned for touchdowns. The first came in the first quarter when, already with Lakeland holding a 7-0 lead, the freshman picked off Bosch and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown and a 13-0 lead just 4:05 into the contest.

The second came midway through in the third quarter, when with Lakeland leading 41-7 but the Cougars driving, Banks intercepted a pass in the very back of the end zone. He then ran right and eventually into the field of play, going down the right sideline all the way for officially a 100-yard interception return and a 47-7 Muskies lead. Banks also added one more interception in the fourth quarter, and his five interceptions on the season now leads the NACC and ranks among the NCAA Division III leaders.

In addition to the Banks touchdown early, Lakeland scored touchdowns on its first four offensive drives. Receiving the opening kickoff, the Muskies needed just three offensive plays to take the lead, when running back Jontae Lambert (Fr.-Fort Wayne, Ind.) took a short swing pass from Michael all the way down the left sideline for a 66-yard touchdown that with the extra point by McKynzee Schepp (Jr.-Marshall, Wis.) gave Lakeland a 7-0 lead just 61 seconds into the game.

Concordia chewed up more than six minutes on its next possession but came up empty with the drive ending at the Muskies 25. Lakeland then went 75 yards in 10 plays, with Michael finishing it up with a 2-yard run and a 20-0 lead still in the first quarter.

The Muskies stopped CUC's next drive when Mulingbayan sacked Bosch on fourth down, and Lakeland again drove 60 yards in nine plays for a score. Jatron Bevly (Sr.-Springfield, Ill.) carried it in up the middle from one yard out to make it 27-0, and Lakeland added another score on its next drive as Lambert took off on a 54-yard run and scored one play later on a one-yard plunge to make it 34-0.

Concordia Chicago scored its lone points of the first half on the final play of the half, with Bosch finding Kevon Lawson in the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown to make it 34-7 at halftime. CUC received the second half kickoff but netted zero yards on three plays including a sack by Evans on third down, and the Muskies again drove down the field with a 67-yard drive wrapped up by Michael hitting Deshawn Hampton (Jr.-Hazel Crest, Ill.) for a 15-yard touchdown in the left corner of the end zone.

Michael completed 13 of 21 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns, exiting the game midway through the fourth quarter with the big lead. Lambert finished with his first 100-yard rushing day, carrying 10 times for 103 yards, and also caught two passes for 85 yards.

Kenyon Peoples (Jr.-Lansing, Ill.) paced the Lakeland defense with nine tackles, including two tackles for loss, and Trayvonne Roberts (Jr.-Lynwood, Ill.) added seven tackles with 1.5 TFLs. The Muskies limited CUC to 2.9 yards per play and dominated the game even as the Cougars held a nearly 10-minute advantage in time of possession.

Lakeland goes on the road for the final time this season next week when it travels to face Eureka College this coming Saturday at 1 p.m. in Eureka, Ill.