Football Reels in Lakeland to Keep the Cheese Bowl

PLYMOUTH, Wis. – The Concordia Wisconsin football team came out on top of another classic Cheese Bowl matchup. The Falcons reeled in the Muskies with a 31-28 victory to improve to 2-1 on the season and open Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) play at 1-0.

The Falcons struck early on Saturday on a two-play drive to start the day that was capped off with a three-yard rush for Pierre Summers III, after he rushed for 19 yards on the previous play. The drive was set up by a sack on fourth down by sophomore Marquiton Sellers (Winnsboro, La.).

The Muskies responded with touchdowns on their next two drives to take a 14-7 lead into the second quarter.

Fourth down was once again unkind to our fish-based friends in the second quarter with a fumble that set the Falcons up in prime real estate.

Senior Michael Purkey (Woodstock, Ill.) connected with sophomore Nick Crowell (Las Vegas, Nev.) on the next play for a 29-yard touchdown pass.

Lakeland took 1 21-14 lead into halftime after the Muskies returned an interception 21 yards for a touchdown to close the first-half scoring.

Michael Purkey started the third quarter scoring with a two-yard rush.

The two rivals headed to the final quarter tied at 21.

The Falcons struck again after another unsuccessful fourth down. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty put the Falcons in field goal range and freshman Nick Klein (Rome City, Ind.) struck from 31 yards.

The Muskies then responded with a touchdown of their own to take a 28-24 lead with 11:24 remaining.

The Blue and White did not fold and drove down the field. The drive was capped off with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Michael Purkey to sophomore Kekoa Carmichael (Las Vegas, Nev.).

The CUW defense stood tall and senior Evan Lischka (Manitowoc, Wis.) intercepted a pass in the red zone on the next drive.

The Muskies marched down the field, clawed their way into the red zone and were faced with a short-yard situation on fourth down. Robby Michael tried to rush for the first down but was stopped by Marquiton Sellers to secure the victory.

Michael Purkey threw for 138 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior Ashar Thomas (Punta Gorda, Fla.) was the leading rusher for CUW with 75 yards and Nick Crowell led the attack through the air with 64 yards.

Senior Ben Kraft (Wauwatosa, Wis.) led the defense with 12 tackles in the victory.

Lakeland was two for eight on fourth down.

The Falcons look to defend their other rivalry trophy on Saturday at home against Wisconsin Lutheran for the Luther Cup.