ALMA, Mich. – Kendrick Burks (Sr.-Pontiac, Mich.) rushed for 99 yards and two touchdowns as the Lakeland College football team took control in the second half and then held off a late comeback effort by Alma (Mich.) College for a 20-17 win in a non-conference game Saturday afternoon.
The Muskies did enough to win, playing through a slow start in the first half to improve to 5-3 and win their fifth straight game. It is the program's longest win streak since 2005, when Lakeland won seven straight games on the way to its first-ever trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
The Muskies have their eye on a playoff berth again this year, with two final huge regular season games left in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference against Concordia University Wisconsin and Benedictine (Ill.) University, two games that now are of equal importance after Saturday. Benedictine stunned Concordia 33-6, forcing six Falcon turnovers, leaving Lakeland in first in the conference at 4-0 with the Eagles and Falcons are both now tied along with Wisconsin Lutheran College for second at 3-1.
Lakeland had business to take care of out of conference Saturday, though, and did so with enough offense to gain the upper hand in the second half, as well as plenty more of the excellence it has received all season from its nationally ranked defense.
The Muskies trailed 10-7 at halftime after the Scots (2-6 overall) generally got the better of play in the first 30 minutes. Alma outgained the Muskies 177-113 and recorded 13 first downs in the first half, sending Lakeland to the locker room trailing at the break for the first time since the season opener against Carroll.
The Muskies responded in the third quarter with a pair of quick blows. The deep ball returned to the Lakeland passing game early in the third when A.J. Veloz (Fr.-Whiting, Ind.) hit Michael Esiobu (Jr.-Chicago, Ill.) for a 52-yard touchdown pass to cap a three-play, 61-yard drive. Burks then delivered the Muskies some breathing room late in the quarter, breaking a number of tackles on a 36-yard touchdown run for a 20-10 lead.
The defense also tightened up, surrendering just 101 yards in the second half and getting key interceptions fromLandon Derginer (Jr.-Marinette, Wis.) and Patrick Johnson (Sr.-Pontiac, Mich.). Johnson's pick came at the Muskies' 2-yard line with 1:40 left in the game, after Alma had finally moved the ball for the first time in the half, driving 49 yards deep into Lakeland territory. Prior to that drive, the Scots had gained just 35 yards on their first six second half possessions.
That stop was even more critical just a couple moments later, as the Muskies gained just three yards on three plays and then gave the Scots outstanding field position after a punt traveled just 12 yards. Alma took advantage on its first offensive play, with Dylan Zaborowski firing a 17-yard touchdown pass to Erik Hines to cut Lakeland's lead to 20-17 with 26 seconds left.
The Scots followed with an onside kick on the kickoff, but Peyton Petersen (Fr.-Farmington, Mich.) recovered for the Muskies, who then ran out the clock to clinch the win.
Lakeland outgained Alma 307-278, including 188 yards through the air and 119 yards rushing. Burks earned his 99 yards on 23 carries, and the senior moved into fourth on the Muskies' all-time rushing list. Burks now has 2,240 yards rushing in his career after surpassing fifth-place total of 2,182 yards by Mark Smith (1986-90).
Veloz played a clean game at the quarterback spot, completing 17 of 28 passes for 182 yards. Esiobu was his main target for the day, catching five passes for 93 yards.
The Muskie defense held the Scots to 64 yards rushing on 31 rush attempts, as well as 18 completions in 41 pass attempts. Derginer finished with a career-high 12 tackles, Fred Fielding (Jr.-Black Creek, Wis.) totaled seven tackles and Romain Johnson (Jr.-Pontiac, Mich.) added six tackles, including a sack.
Lakeland now gets ready for a two-pronged challenge in its quest for the NACC title, first facing Concordia next Saturday at noon at Taylor Field. The contest will be the 23rd annual played for the Cheese Bowl trophy, and it will also be Senior Day for the Muskies.
Lakeland holds off Alma to run win streak to five
/seasons/2014/boxscores/20141101_5b63.xml
2014
Lakeland
20
Alma
17
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland (5-3) | 0 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 20 |
| Alma (2-6) | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
Nov 01, 2014