Box Score Nov. 4, 2017 – The penultimate game of the season for the Concordia University Chicago Cougars was certainly one of their most challenging to date. The opponent was Lakeland University, defending three-time Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference champions and current leaders with a 4-0 record beginning play today. The Cougars fell behind by a large margin, attempted a comeback in the third but, ultimately, they were the unwitting guests at Lakeland's celebration as the Muskies wrapped up a fourth straight NACC title with a 49-13 victory.

Lakeland took the opening kickoff, but a solid hit on running back Dezmon Eddie by Caleb Casey knocked the ball loose to be recovered by Jaylan Cox. With the help of a 21-yard completion from Shane Virnala to Corey Dooley, and a 14-yard run by Tylor Martens, the Cougars advanced to the Muskies' 42. However, a push by LU's defensive line stopped CUC on a fourth-and-one as the Cougars were denied on their first possession.

The Muskies drove from their 43 into the red zone on their second possession. However, the Cougars were not in the mood to concede the points. Instead, they produced another takeaway as Casey read the pass into the end zone and intercepted. Unfortunately, the Cougars were unable to do anything worth the ball and were forced to punt. Lakeland was given a short field, and they cashed in on a fourth-and-three from the 15 when Michael Whitley threw to the left corner of the end zone. Receiver Jody Harrison out jumped the coverage to come down the ball and a 7-0 lead with 3:43 remaining in the first quarter.

The momentum continued to build for the Muskies as they struck again early in the second quarter. The Cougars looked to make a goal-line stand as Romario Coley dropped Whitley for a four-yard loss. However, Lakeland scored on the third down as Whitley floated a pass over the middle to Dezmen Morse for a 14-0 lead.
There was no stopping the Muskies as they expanded the lead to 35-0 before the half ended. Whitley threw for a third touchdown, and Eddie ran for a 52-yard score. Eddie was the main story of the half, as he ran for a stunning 258 yards on 22 carries. By contrast, the Cougars were held to 65 yards for the half, 21 rushing and 44 passing. Virnala was four of 16, sacked twice and hurried several more times.  Martens ran for a net 33 yards on 15 carries.

Concordia-Chicago began to generate some offense in the third quarter. A fumble recovery by Robert Dominguez off a botched punt return gave CUC the ball in Muskies' territory. The Cougars would drive to the 15 before they were turned away on fourth down. However, they got the ball back quickly and put together a 78-yard drive, fueled by a 43-yard catch-and-run by Ryan Allison. Another completion to Allison put the ball at the 15 and, three plays later, Virnala hit Dominguez in tight quarters, and Dominguez spun around to evade the tackler and went in from 11 yards out to make the score 35-6 (extra point failed).

The Cougars were back in the end zone shortly afterwards. An illegal block on the kick return pinned Lakeland deep in their own territory. On the first play from scrimmage, Deshawn Battle stepped in front of a pass and returned it to the 10-yard line.  The pick paid immediate dividends as Martens took the handoff, went around the right side and scored for CUC's second touchdown in 34 seconds. Orlando Hayes' extra point made it a 35-13 game.

Unfortunately, the Cougars' momentum did not continue after Martens' score. CUC's next three possessions ended in an interception, a punt and a fumble. The Muskies would add two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter to claim their victory while the Cougars fell to 3-5 overall, 1-4 in conference play.

Lakeland finished with 599 total yards on 418 rushing (Eddie, 308 on 30 carries) and 181 passing. Concordia-Chicago finished with 230 on 214 passing and 16 rushing. Virnala threw for 162 yards while Griffin Beaudette threw for 52 yards, mainly on the strength of a 45-yard completion to Robert Barragan late in the game.

Defensively, Thaddous Daniel had a season-high 12 tackles, 10 solos. CUC had a season-high six takeaways too with the four interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

The Cougars will conclude the 2017 campaign next Saturday with a 1:00 game against Wisconsin Lutheran College at Raabe Stadi5um in Milwaukee.