GREENVILLE, Ill. – Lakeland University scored three touchdowns in just over three minutes on the way to a 27-point second quarter and went on to defeat Greenville University 41-20 Saturday afternoon at Francis Field.
The Muskies rode the wave of four touchdowns in the second period on the way to a big halftime lead and earned their first win of the season, evening their record at 1-1. Lakeland also avenged a one-point loss to the Panthers a year ago while dropping Greenville to 0-2 this season.
The Muskies scored touchdowns on five consecutive drives in the first half over the first and second quarters. Lakeland took advantage of Greenville turnovers to score three times in that stretch and added a pair of long drives in taking a 34-6 lead by halftime.
Lakeland never trailed in the game, taking the lead in the final minute of the first quarter with a one-yard run by
Jontae Lambert (
So.-Fort Wayne, Ind.) and the ensuing extra point by
McKynzee Schepp (
Sr.-Marshall, Wis.) for a 7-0 lead. The touchdown came after the Muskies defense forced the first of five Panthers turnovers in the game, with
Deontae Rickmon (
Fr.-Wentzville, Mo.) forcing a fumble recovered by
Norrye Evans (
So.-Chicago, Ill.) at the Greenville 40.
The Panthers answered with a two-yard touchdown plunge by Gavin Baldwin to make it 7-6 early in the second quarter, but the Muskies scored 27 unanswered points to close the half.
Carson Glosny (
Jr.-Green Bay, Wis.) threw three touchdown passes in the quarter, including a four-yard toss to
Caden Kleparski (
Jr.-Unity, Wis.) to cap a seven-play, 71-yard drive to put Lakeland ahead 14-6 with 9:09 left in the period.
The Muskies then got the ball right back when Greenville muffed the kickoff and
Lamarious Liggins (
So.-Memphis, Tenn.) recovered, and Lambert scored from two yards out three plays later to quickly make it 21-6.
The Panthers then went backwards on their next drive and then it got worse, with a third-down pass by Brayden Huber intercepted by
Trayvonne Roberts (
Sr.-Lynwood, Ill.) and returned to the Greenville 25. On the next play Glosny completed a pass to
Demarion Johnson (
So.-Chicago Ridge, Ill.), who took a short pass 25 yards for a touchdown and a 28-6 lead with still 6:02 remaining in the half.
Lakeland added one more score in the quarter, with an 11-play, 63-yard drive finished by a Glosny-to-
Caleb Besaw (
Sr.-Conroe, Texas) connection for a 3-yard touchdown and a 34-6 lead at halftime.
The Muskies stalled out on offense in the second half for a time, with four drives producing two punts, loss of possession on downs and an interception. Greenville took advantage of the Lakeland punts to score on back-to-back drives, with quarterback Breylan Dewberry scoring on runs of 33 and two yards, the second drawing the Panthers to within 34-20 with 14:51 left in the game.
A Glosny pass intercepted and returned to the Greenville 48 had the hosts in business again, but the Muskies defense came up with a stop and forced the Panthers to turn it over on downs with 7:55 remaining in the game. Lakeland then salted it away with an eight-play, 82-yard march aided by a pair of Greenville personal fouls and capped by Lambert scoring his third touchdown of the game, this from nine yards out for the game's final points.
Lambert rushed 15 times for 97 yards, leading a Muskies rushing attack that gained 227 yards total.
Hassan Rivers (
Sr.-Dearborn Heights, Mich.) also carried 13 times for 64 yards and
Octavis Cherry (
Sr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) added 38 yards on six carries.
Glosny completed 16 of 27 passes for 134 yards, with Besaw catching six passes for 39 yards and
Deshawn Hampton (
Sr.-Hazel Crest, Ill.) adding four receptions for 47 yards. Lakeland finished with a narrow 366-357 edge in total offense but committed just one turnover to the Panthers' five.
Roberts led the defense with 11 tackles (six solo, five assisted) plus the interception and a pass breakup.
Jerell Brenston (
So.-Chicago, Ill.) added seven tackles (three solo, four assisted) and both
Tayshaun Hayes (
Jr.-Portage, Ind.) and
Jacamreon Campbell (
Fr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) intercepted passes.
Dewberry completed 15 of 32 passes for 161 yards for Greenville and also rushed eight times for 58 yards and the two touchdowns. The Panthers gained 175 yards on the ground and added 182 yards passing but were defeated a year after rallying for a 29-28 win at Lakeland in the teams' first meeting in 18 years, when the teams were conference foes in the Illini-Badger Football Conference.
The Muskies conclude a three-game road trip to start the season when they take on Wisconsin Lutheran College in their Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opener this coming Saturday at 1 p.m. in Wauwatosa.
