Nov, 9, 2013 - A 28-point first quarter put the Concordia Cougars into an early hole from which they could not escape, and the host Lakeland Muskies used a powerful ground game to roll to a 62-7 victory in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play this afternoon in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

The opening play of the game set an ominous tone for the Cougars. Lakeland fumbled the opening kickoff, and Concordia came up with the loose ball inside the Muskies' territory. However, a penalty wiped out the play, and the Cougars were forced to rekick. Lakeland wound up marching 55 yards for a score, Antwan Burks running the ball in from 11 yards out for a 7-0 lead.

Later in the quarter, the Muskies coughed up the ball again. This time, the recovery was a good one with freshman Rondell Newton (Markham, IL/Tinley Park) pouncing on the ball at the 49. The Cougars were unable to pick up a first down, but a punt pushed the Muskies back to their own 10-yard line. However, Lakeland snatched back the momentum with a 90-yard drive, 65 coming on Kendrick Burns' electrifying run to the end zone for a 14-0 lead.

The Muskies rolled on to two more scores in the first quarter before tacking on three more touchdowns in the second quarter for a 48-0 halftime lead. The Cougars looked to get on the board just before half as Acusio Bivona (Los Angeles, CA/Hamilton) hit Nick Awrey (Marquette, MI/Saginaw Nouvel Catholic) on third down for a 23-yard gain. Later in the drive, C.J. Woodford's (Detroit, MI/John Glenn) 11-yard run gave Concordia a first down at the Lakeland 29. However. an interception by Yaphay Harvey ended what had been the Cougars' deepest penetration into the Muskies' end of the field.

Lakeland added a touchdown in the third and one in the fourth before Concordia spoiled the home team's shutout bid in the final minutes. The key play of the drive was a 35-yard connection between Sean Liaromatis (Wilmington, IL/H.S.) and Michael Brown (Modesto, CA/Johansen) that took the ball down to the Muskies' 19. Moments later, the Cougars faced a fourth and six from the 15. Liaromatis rolled left and found Awrey with a step on the defender. Awrey made the diving catch for the score with just 1:41 remaining.

The final totals showed Lakeland with 519 yards of offense including 391 on the ground. Concordia finished with 131 net yards, quarterbacks Bivona and Liaromatis combining for 153 passing yards. Pat Ugolini (Seneca, IL/H.S.) recorded a team-high 11 tackles (eight solo) for the Cougars.

Concordia (1-8, 1-5 NACC) will host Maranatha Baptist Bible College in the season finale next Saturday at 12 noon.