PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Lakeland University's defense held Rockford University to 207 yards and the Muskies pulled away with 21 points in the fourth quarter on the way to a 35-7 win Saturday afternoon at Sam Greeley Field.

The Muskies continued their mastery of the Regents, improving to 17-1 all-time in the series with their best defensive performance of the early season. Lakeland also earned its first win of the season and in its Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opener, improving to 1-2 overall.

The Muskies limited the hosts to 108 yards passing and 99 yards rushing, the latter coming on 44 rushing attempts for an average of 2.2 yards per run. Lakeland also coaxed Rockford into three turnovers, including Kenyon Peoples (Jr.-Lansing, Ill.) forcing two fumbles and Trayvonne Roberts (Jr.-Lynwood, Ill.) recovering both fumbles, plus Markese Collins (Sr.-Phenix City, Ala.) intercepting his second pass of the season.

The Muskies also piled up 295 yards rushing in accumulating 486 yards of offense for the day and posting a 23-13 advantage in first downs. Lakeland never trailed in the game but still held just a 14-7 lead entering the first quarter before putting the game away with three quick touchdown drives in the final period.

The Muskies scored first with a 10-play, 80-yard march on their second drive of the game. Robby Michael (Sr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) found Jaden Davis (Wentzville, Mo.) for a 29-yard touchdown pass, with the freshman establishing a theme for the day for Lakeland by scoring his first collegiate touchdown.

Michael scored on the first play of the second quarter on a 1-yard dive that with the extra-point kick by McKynzee Schepp (Jr.-Marshall, Wis.) made it 14-0, but the Muskies would miss chances to extend the lead with three later drives in the quarter all ending inside the Rockford 35-yard line without points. The Regents then cut the lead in half late in the third quarter, when a fumbled punt snap was recovered by Fabeous Dowd in the end zone for Rockford's first and only touchdown of the game.

Lakeland opened up some breathing room early in the fourth quarter with a quick four-play, 92-yard drive that included a 72-yard run by Michael to inside the Rockford 20. Michael then connected with Caden Kleparski (So.-Unity, Wis.) for an 18-yard touchdown, the receiver making a diving catch in the end zone for his first career touchdown reception as a Muskie.

Lakeland would get the ball back again on a short field after Leroy Coleman (So.-East Moline, Ill.) blocked a punt that was recovered by Cade Holombo (So.-Atlantic Mine, Mich.) at the Rockford 33. Hassan Rivers (Jr.-Dearborn Heights, Mich.) then scored on an 11-yard run that with Schepp's PAT made it 28-7, and the Muskies added a final touchdown when freshman Jontae Lambert (Fort Wayne, Ind.) rushed for a 3-yard score with 3:26 left in the game.

Michael rushed 25 times for 171 yards, becoming the second player in Muskies history to go over 3,000 yards rushing in a career. The senior quarterback also completed 15 of 38 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns.

Jatron Bevly (Sr.-Springfield, Ill.) also rushed for 45 yards and caught three passes for 28 yards, and Jeremy Kobe (Sr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) caught two passes for 55 yards.

Tayshaun Hayes (So.-Portage, Ind.) finished with eight tackles (seven solo, one assisted), including a sack and a pass breakup. Peoples also added four tackles for loss including a sack and Schepp made all five of her extra-point kicks.

Lakeland is back home next week to host Aurora University for a 1 p.m. kickoff at John Taylor Memorial Field.