Jatron Bevly (Jr.-Springfield, Ill.) took a short pass from Robby Michael (Jr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) 54 yards for a score with 55 seconds left in the game, but a two-point conversion attempt to tie failed and the Warriors also recovered an ensuing onside kick attempt. WLC finished with its third straight win over the Muskies, while Lakeland lost its home opener and dropped to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.
The Muskies played from behind most of the night, but continued to battle and had multiple chances to tie or take the lead in the final quarter. In the end, Lakeland left just enough opportunities on the table offensively, defensively and in special teams to make the difference in a game between teams that were evenly matched.
The Muskies trailed 30-19 entering the final quarter but closed within five points after Michael scrambled nine yards for a touchdown with 11 minutes, 45 seconds left in the game. A two-point conversion attempt failed, but the defense held the Warriors on their next two drives to give the Lakeland offense two opportunities to take the lead.
The Muskies gained a net of just eight yards over those two possessions, though, with the latter ending on downs deep in their own territory with 2:13 remaining. The defense held again, but Arnulfo Ortega hit a 36-yard field goal to push Lutheran's lead to 33-25 with 1:42 left.
Lakeland took over at its own 35 with 1:42 to play and had only advanced 11 yards in five plays when on 2nd-and-10 Michael found Bevly leaking out of the backfield. The running back caught the pass in stride and suddenly had a wide-open field in front of him, and he took it all the way for a touchdown. Needing two points to tie, the Muskies two-point conversion try didn't get far, as Michael's pass was knocked down, and an onside kick attempt was recovered by the Warriors to finish it out.
The Muskies outgained WLC (3-1 overall, 2-0 NACC) 418-342, and Michael passed for 229 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for 147 yards and a score. The Lakeland quarterback also completed just 11 of 34 passes, though, and even with long touchdown passes to Bevly and Kolby Cohen (Sr.-Missouri City, Texas), the Muskies missed connecting on a number of opportunities down the field.
Wisconsin Lutheran also controlled possession for more than 37 minutes, and the Warriors kept enough drives alive to frustrate the hosts, converting 8 of 19 third downs. Four of the conversions came on third downs needing seven yards to go or more, and WLC also converted a 4th-and-10 early in the second quarter on an 11-play, 63-yard drive that ended with Carson Koehler's 7-yard run and a 17-7 Warriors lead.
Michael and Cohen hooked up for a 61-yard bomb with 1:14 left in the second quarter, and the Muskies trailed 17-13 at halftime. Lakeland then stopped the Warriors on their first drive out of halftime and then put together their most complete drive of the night, going 60 yards in seven plays. The drive finished with Hassan Rivers (So.-Dearborn Heights, Mich.) rushing for eight and then 10 yards, the latter his first collegiate touchdown and giving the Muskies a 19-17 lead.
Wisconsin Lutheran came right back, though, needing just six plays to go 73 yards to retake the lead. A 44-yard pass from Bryce Barbian to Drew Mears on 2nd-and 16 was the key play, and Koehler ran it in from 12 yards out to give the Warriors a 23-19 lead. Lutheran also would score on its next possession, a 10-play, 47-yard drive finished by a four-yard run by Liam Heiges to make it 30-19.
Cohen caught three passes for 80 yards, Caleb Besaw (Jr.-Conroe, Texas) finished with three catches for 52 yards and Keon Willis (Jr.-Chicago, Ill.) added three receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown.
Matt Glogowski (Jr.-San Diego, Calif.) led the defense with eight tackles (five solo, three assisted) and a pass breakup. Vyron Rosquist-Wallace (Sr.-Henderson, Nev.) added seven tackles and Jake Leclaire (Sr.-Stuart, Fla.) added six tackles including a sack.
Barbian completed 25 of 41 passes for Wisconsin Lutheran for 215 yards, with many of his passes going for short yardage. Jamil Gordon caught 11 passes for 64 yards, and Koehler led the Warriors rushing with 19 carries for 74 yards.
Lakeland is back home next Saturday for its Homecoming game when it welcomes Benedictine University for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Taylor Field.
Lakeland’s last-ditch rally comes up short this time in narrow loss to Wisconsin Lutheran
/seasons/2024/boxscores/20240928_o0o7.xml
2024
Wisconsin Lutheran
33
Lakeland
31
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Lutheran (3-1) | 10 | 7 | 13 | 3 | 33 |
| Lakeland (1-2) | 7 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 31 |
Sep 28, 2024