PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Benedictine University scored 35 points in the first half by scoring on five of its first six possessions, setting a pace Lakeland University was unable to keep up with in a 49-13 loss Saturday night at John Taylor Memorial Field.
Defensive struggles and inconsistency on offense led to a second straight Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference loss at home for the Muskies, who dropped to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in conference. The Eagles remained undefeated, improving to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the NACC.
Benedictine rolled up 520 yards of offense for the game, including 288 yards rushing plus 232 yards through the air. The Eagles took advantage of short fields driving 46 yards or less on three of their first four touchdown drives and as the game went on mixed in big plays and sustained long drives as Lakeland allowed 49 points for the second straight week.
The Muskies had success at times offensively, including rushing 29 times for 180 yards, averaging 6.2 yards per rush attempt. Lakeland drove 75 yards for touchdowns on its first two drives but then went scoreless the rest of the way, moving the ball at times but seeing three drives end inside the Eagles' 30-yard line and three more end on downs near midfield after initial success.
The Muskies matched Benedictine touchdowns on their first two drives, including a 12-play, 75-yard march on their first drive capped by
DeShawn Hampton (
Sr.-Hazel Crest, Ill.) making a twisting back shoulder catch of a 3-yard pass from
Carson Glosny (
Jr.-Green Bay, Wis.) for a touchdown. Lakeland also needed just five plays to score on its second drive, with
Jontae Lambert (
So.-Fort Wayne, Ind.) running left and getting free down the sideline for a 42-yard touchdown.
The Muskies then had a chance to take the lead late in the first quarter, forcing what would be the only Benedictine turnover when
Ayden Winston (
Sr.-East Chicago, Ind.) stripped Eagles running back Tyler Pospisil and
Norrye Evans (
So.-Chicago, Ill.) recovered at the Lakeland 33. The hosts drove 60 yards in just five plays down to the Benedictine 9, but four incomplete passes resulted in a turnover on downs.
Benedictine led 14-13 after one quarter, but extended the lead on the opening play of the second quarter on a 36-yard run by Dino Stephens. Lakeland's next drive was hampered by penalties and ended on downs at its own 45, and the Eagles took full advantage scoring seven plays later with Stephens running it in from 23 yards out.
Lakeland then drove 50 yards on its next drive, including a 24-yard scramble by Glosny up the middle, and was as far as the Benedictine 24, but stalled out again deep in the opponents' territory, and the Eagles again responded. A 12-play, 74-yard drive over more than five minutes ended with another Stephens touchdown, his fifth of the half, and Benedictine led 35-13 at halftime.
The Muskies forced an Eagles punt for the first time in the game to start the second half, but an 11-play drive again ended on downs at the Benedictine 27. Lakeland would drive 11 plays, six and seven plays on its final three drives but again came up with no points, including two more possessions ending on downs.
Glosny completed 23 of 44 passes for 207 yards, hampered throughout the night by a number of dropped passes. He also rushed seven times for 48 yards.
Lamarious Liggins (
So.-Memphis, Tenn.) set career highs with six catches and 97 yards receiving.
Caleb Besaw (
Sr.-Conroe, Texas) added four catches for 51 yards. Lambert led the rushers with 55 yards. The Muskies finished with 387 yards of offense but were 5 of 17 on third downs and 3-for-9 on fourth down.
Trayvonne Roberts (
Sr.-Lynwood, Ill.) led the defense with nine tackles,
Robert Brown (
So.-Detroit, Mich.) finished with eight tackles in his first extensive action in the secondary, and
Kenyon Peoples (
Sr.-Lansing, Ill.) added seven tackles with two tackles for loss including one sack.
Stephens and Jason Moore did much of the damage for Benedictine, combining for 379 yards in all rushing and receiving. Stephens rushing for 200 yards and four touchdowns while also catching another, and Moore caught 12 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns.
Lakeland goes on the road for its next two games, including next week when it travels to face St. Norbert College in De Pere at 1 p.m.
