PLYMOUTH, Wis. – The Lakeland University defense played the part of wrecking crew with a harassing performance and Charl'Tez Nunnery (Sr.-Liberty, Miss.) provided the offensive fireworks through the air as the Muskies dominated St. Norbert College in a 40-8 victory Saturday night at Taylor Field.
The first meeting between Lakeland and St. Norbert in nearly 60 years and a highly anticipated first-ever meeting between the two as Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference foes was a knockout win for the Muskies, who earned their first-ever win over the Green Knights. Lakeland also improved to 4-0 overall (2-0 NACC) and is off to its best start since its 1997 team finished an undefeated season at 10-0.
The Muskies defense forced eight St. Norbert turnovers, including six in the first half. Combined with Nunnery's passing brilliance that included three first-half touchdown throws, Lakeland never let the Green Knights get into the game in their first-ever conference game as a NACC member, building a 33-0 lead before halftime and cruising the rest of the way.
St. Norbert (1-2 overall, 0-1 NACC) fumbled on its first two possessions and four of its first seven possessions. Including two interceptions late in the half, six of the Green Knights' first nine drives ended in turnovers in a nightmare opening half.
Lakeland turned three of those fumbles directly into touchdowns, but the initial pressure on the guests was applied just six plays into the game. Facing 1st-and-20 from Lakeland's own 9-yard line after a holding penalty, Nunnery went deep down the middle to Mason Prunick (Sr.-Sheboygan, Wis.), who got behind the defense, made a juggling catch and was gone, 91 yards for a touchdown just 1 minute, 41 seconds into the game and a 7-0 lead after the extra point by Peyton Domangue (So.-Thibodaux, La.).
St. Norbert's first two drives would end on fumbles, the first forced by D.J. Tomlinson (Sr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) and recovered by Isaac Anaya (Jr.-San Antonio, Texas) and the second was forced by Shazon Crutcher (Sr.-Lansing, Mich.) and recovered by Otis Watts (Sr.-Chicago, Ill.). Lakeland took advantage quickly after the second, driving 49 yards in six plays started by a 29-yard run by Larry Rivers (Sr.-Dearborn Heights, Mich.) and ended with Rivers slithering in from two yards out for a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
The Muskies would strike again early in the second quarter, with Nunnery connecting with Brice Kensey (Sr.-New Orleans, La.) three times in a six-play, 60-yard drive, including a 20-yard touchdown pass for a 20-0 lead. St. Norbert came back to move into Lakeland territory but a promising drive ended suddenly, as Karlis Ozols (So.-Fond du Lac, Wis.) broke through to sack SNC quarterback Ben Kohl and strip him of the ball, and Watts scooped it up on the bounce in stride and raced 50 yards for his first career touchdown and a 27-0 Muskies lead.
Lakeland added another touchdown late in the half to demoralize the visitors, when on 2nd-and-goal from the St. Norbert 23 after a pair of penalties, Nunnery dropped back and found Prunick wide open over the middle for a 23-yard touchdown. Crutcher and Jayson Wilder (Jr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) then followed with interceptions in the final 1:06 of the half and the Muskies took a 33-0 lead into halftime.
Much like the second half from a week earlier when Lakeland led Wisconsin Lutheran 50-7 at the half, the second half was almost academic. The Muskies did push the lead to 40-0 late in the third quarter on Nunnery and Kensey's second touchdown connection of the game, this one from 19 yards. St. Norbert finally got on the board early in the fourth quarter with a nine-play, 68-yard drive ending with a one-yard touchdown plunge and an ensuing two-point conversion run both by Charlie Hietpas.
Lakeland held St. Norbert to 254 yards of offense, including just 88 yards passing. Green Knights quarterbacks Kohl and Richie Gillis combined to complete 15 of 34 passes for just 88 yards and four interceptions, with Leondre Townsend (So.-Menomonee Falls, Wis.) and Ezekiel Combs (Sr.-East Point, Ga.) adding picks in the fourth quarter. Crutcher finished with 14 tackles (eight solo, six assisted), Anaya added eight tackles (three solo, five assisted) and Tomlinson added six tackles (four solo, two assisted). Romeo Vang (Fr.-Stevens Point, Wis.) also added a fumble recovery of a muffed punt to go along with three special teams tackles.
Nunnery completed 21 of 33 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns total while Rivers rushed 24 times for 143 yards, his fourth straight game with at least 140 yards and his 17th career 100-yard rushing game. Kensey also added a career-high 12 catches in his season debut for 121 yards, and Prunick caught three passes for 137 yards. The Muskies finished with 484 yards of offense, including 309 through the air and 175 yards rushing.
Lakeland and St. Norbert had not met since 1962, and the win was the first for the Muskies over the Green Knights in three meetings.
The Muskies are idle next week with a break in their NACC schedule before returning to play Oct. 9 with a trip to Lisle, Ill., to face Benedictine University.
Lakeland defense gives St. Norbert rude welcome to NACC in 40-8 rout
/seasons/2021/boxscores/20210925_mlkz.xml
2021
St. Norbert
8
Lakeland
40
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Norbert (1-2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Lakeland (4-0) | 14 | 19 | 7 | 0 | 40 |
Sep 25, 2021