Football drops Cheese Bowl matchup in rain-soaked game

MEQUON, Wis. – It looked like Concordia University Wisconsin was off to the races with two explosive touchdown plays in the opening quarter, but Lakeland College took over for a 48-21 Cheese Bowl victory during a rainy afternoon.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Lakeland 48, Concordia Wisconsin 21
Location: Tomasini Stadium (Mequon, Wis.)
Records: Lakeland 6-2 (4-0 NACC), Concordia Wisconsin 3-5 (3-2 NACC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Falcons scored twice on explosive plays in the opening quarter to take a 14-7 lead with just under four minutes to play. They received a program-record 87-yard rushing touchdown from Senior Andrew Gatz (Adell, Wis.) three minutes and 47 seconds into the game before junior Tyler White (Milwaukee, Wis.) returned a kickoff 76 yards to pay dirt.
- Over the final three quarters and change it was all Muskies, as they outscored the Falcons 41-7. The visitors had three touchdowns by Kezlow Smith (two running, one receiving) and ended the game with 606 total offensive yards.
- Sophomore Aaron Nixon (North Prairie, Wis.) connected with junior Dante Edwards (Glendale, Ariz.) for an easy 26-yard touchdown with just over two minutes to play in the third quarter. It was Edwards first career touchdown reception and at the time it cut the hosts deficit to 35-21.
- CUW's offense stalled in the second half, gaining just 141 yards while Lakeland amassed 332 yards during its offensive explosion. The Falcons also threw three interceptions and were 4-of-14 on third-down conversions. The Muskies ended 9-of-19 on third-down conversions and held the Falcons to fewer than 20 yards on eight possessions.
- Nixon finished 19-of-42 passing for 187 yards and a touchdown. He also had three interceptions and -7 yards rushing.
- Gatz led all players with 118 rushing yards on nine carries (13.1 average).
- A trio of Falcons hauled in four catches, with freshman Ryan Wagner (Mukwonago, Wis.) leading the team with 70 receiving yards.
- Defensively, senior Aaron Krapfl (Anamosa, Iowa) led all players with career-high 13 total tackles (nine solo), while White had nine total tackles (two solo). Freshman Albert Goerlitz (Joliet, Ill.) had a career-high three pass breakups. Junior Malcolm Bowers (Germantown, Wis.) ended with a career-best eight tackles.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Gatz's 87-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter broke Jason Scott's record of an 85-yard rushing touchdown from 1997.
- Lakeland converted all five red zone opportunities into touchdowns.

THE OPPOSITION
- Smith rushed for 100 yards on 12 carries (8.3 average), to go along with his two rushing touchdowns. The Muskies finished with 223 rushing yards on 40 carries (5.6 average).
- Michael Whitley led the passing game with a 31-for-52 performance for 383 yards and four touchdowns.
- Dezmen Morse was the go-to pass catcher with eight receptions for 177 yards. Smith also hauled in six passes for 61 yards and a touchdown.
- Kevyn Lewis led the Muskies defense with 10 total tackles (six solo); to go along with a tackles for loss, interception and sack.

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE
- CUW hosts Olivet on Saturday, November 7 at 12 pm in a non-conference game.