Oct. 29, 2016 - All the elements appeared to be in place for a successful Homecoming game today at Concordia University Chicago. The Cougars came into the game with a 2-1 conference record, a two-game winning streak and a ton of confidence with both the offense and defense coming together. Meanwhile, the Lakeland University Muskies, also 2-1 in conference play, were playing their fourth straight game away from their regular home field and were reeling after a 50-34 loss last week. Instead, a different storyline played out as Lakeland stormed out of the gates with 28 points and eventually took a 42-14 victory home to Wisconsin.

The Cougars received the opening kickoff and picked up the game's initial first down on a short pass from Rob Granquist to Lance Moise.  However, the Cougars would have to punt, and the Muskies needed just three plays on their first possession to find the end zone. After Lakeland picked up their initial first down, running back Dezmon Eddie got loose going deep down the left side and hauled in a 56-yard pass from Michael Whitley for a quick 7-0 lead. 

The Muskies' defense forced a three-and-out on the next series, and the offense pulled a near-repeat when they got the ball back, going 62 yards in three plays. The big pass play earned the score as Whitley threw to Kezlow Smith on the right side. Smith shook off a few tackles and raced down the sideline for a 14-0 lead. 

Lakeland was back on offense just two plays later as Granquist was intercepted by Mason Ross. This time, the Muskies hit on the big running play as quarterback Whitley kept the ball on a third-and-seven and took it to the end zone from 38 yards out. The Muskies' third big play made the score 21-0 with less than eight minutes gone in the first quarter. The visitors added a fourth touchdown in the final minute of the quarter as Michael Wynn took a handoff and ran around the right end from 11 yards out.

Whitley's two-yard run made the score 35-0 in the second quarter, capping off the Muskies' longest drive of 10 plays, 50 yards. Late in the quarter, the Cougars got some momentum on two quarterback sacks, the first by Adeoluwa Olaniyan and Rodolfo Payan, and the second by Ivan Vixamar. CUC took over at their own 28, and Granquist hit on passes of 27 yards to Leroy Bridges and 24 yards to Moise. Two plays later from the 16, Moise took a handoff, angled to the left, and scored his 12th touchdown of the season to make the halftime score Lakeland 35,Concordia-Chicago 7.

The Muskies took the second-half kickoff and threatened to add to their lead, but another drive-ending sack - this one by Tim Bahr - forced the Muskies to punt. Concordia-Chicago started the drive at the 12 and looked to get back into the game,but they would have the ball for the next 6:40 and come away without a score. The Cougars drove to the 30, but Granquist's pass on fourth down was knocked away incomplete. 

Lakeland put their final points on the board late in the quarter. Whitley scrambled for 17 yards to begin the drive and hit Wynn from 13 yards out to put the visitors in the end zone again.

The final points of the game came from the Cougars late in the fourth. Emilio Araiza came in at quarterback and immediately found a favorite target in freshman Brandon Kowalkowski. The two hooked up for five completions on the drive, including a 36-yarder down to the two. From there, the two connected one more time with Kowalkowski geteting loose on the right side in the flat.
 
The Muskies finished with 562 total yards to the Cougars' 316. Moise rushed for 99 yards on 22 carries while CUC quarterbacks combined for 28 of 50 for 240 yards. Kowalkowski wound up the Cougars' top receiver with six catches for 69 yards. On defense, Payan finished with seven solo tackles and one tackle assist. Demetrius Rufus had the defense's lone takeaway on a fourth quarter interception.   

Concordia-Chicago will travelto Benedictine University next Saturday, Nov. 5 for a 1:00 kickoff.