Sept. 29, 2018 – It was a day of big plays, rare plays and strange occurrences. It was also another incredible day for Concordia-Chicago running back Lance Moise. But in the end, the Concordia-Chicago Cougars were unable to come up with enough big plays on offense or defense to topple the defending Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference champion Lakeland University Muskies this afternoon. Lakeland celebrated their Homecoming with a 61-28 victory in the NACC opener for both teams.

Andre Jones returned the opening kickoff to the 35-yard line, but on the first play from scrimmage, a pass to the side was ruled a fumbled lateral, and the Muskies recovered the ball. The Cougars almost averted the mistake, but on a fourth-and-three, Logan O'Neill hit Jaylen Rido on a short route into the end zone, and the home team led 7-0 with just 90 seconds elapsed.

Lakeland then went to their bag of tricks and executed an onside kick. They marched downfield and, even though CUC stiffened near the goal line, the Muskies scored on a fourth-and-goal from the one for a 14-0 lead.

This time, the kickoff went deep, and the Cougars started their drive at their own 40. This drive was the beginning of the Moise show, as his first three carries took the Cougars inside the Muskies' 30. Moise later stretched out on a fourth-down run to give CUC a first-and-goal and, moments later, took it in from four yards out to put the visitors on the scoreboard.

The Cougars got their chance again with another fumbled lateral – this one winding up in the hands of CUC's Matt Henning. Ten plays later, on the first play of the second quarter it was Moise again from a yard out to knot the game at 14-14.

The deadlock lasted all of 17 seconds. Larry Rivers took a handoff, sliced through the middle of the defense and raced 78 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was missed, but the Muskies led 20-14. Lakeland later added to the lead after stopping CUC on a three-and-out. On a third-and-10, Dezmon Eddie took a swing pass from O'Neill and raced 29 yards down the sideline for the score. The extra point came unconventionally, as the Cougars blocked the kick. However, in an attempt for a defensive PAT, the Cougars retreated back into the end zone, and the tackle was made for a rare one-point safety.

Another mistake made it a three-score game as a bad snap on a Cougar punt gave the Muskies possession at the 25. It took four plays for the home team to capitalize, O'Neill hooking up with Eddie from seven yards out for a 34-14 lead.

The Cougars were not about to let the home team run away with the game, particularly while Moise was around. He broke loose for a 42-yard run on the next possession and would score once again on a one-yard run to make the score Lakeland 34, CUC 21. With six minutes left in the first half, Moise was up to 156 yards on 18 carries.

Lakeland added one more score before the half, O'Neill to Mason Prunick in which most of the 31-yard pass play was recorded after the catch. Concordia-Chicago drove in the final minutes of the half, but an interception put an end to the threat, and the half ended Lakeland 41, CUC 21.

With a laundry list of strange occurrences in the first half, it seemed only fitting to open the second half with one – this time, a repeat of the beginning of the game with the roles reversed.

Following the kickoff, the first play was a fumbled lateral, this one again recovered by Henning. Two plays later, Moise ran around the right side and took it in from 23 yards out. It was Moise's fourth touchdown of the day, and the Cougars had new life trailing 41-28.

Concordia-Chicago had a chance to gather more momentum as they were able to stop Lakeland and force a punt. However, the Cougars were unable to get a first down on the next possession, and the Muskies followed with Eddie's third and fourth touchdown receptions of the day to make the score Muskies 54, Cougars 28 after three quarters. There would be just one score in the fourth on a 73-yard touchdown run by the Muskies. The Cougars moved the ball down the field in the fourth but a missed field goal and a stalled drive inside the 10-yard line kept CUC off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game.

Moise finished with 29 carries playing the equivalent of 2 ½ quarters, He totaled 206 yards, his third game of 200-plus yards this season. His cumulative total through four games is at 924 yards, and he will have a chance to become one of the fastest runners to 1,000 yards in a season when the Cougars tangle with Aurora University next week.

The Cougars accumulated 325 yards for the day, 219 on the ground and 106 on the passing of Griffin Beaudette and Jordan Sepulveda. The Muskies rolled up 597 yards, 341 on the ground and 256 passing.

Defensively, Rodolfo Payan and Isaiah Alvarez each recorded 11 total tackles for the Cougars. Thaddous Daniel Jr. and Henning each added nine, with Daniel forcing a fumble and Henning recovering both of Lakeland's fumbles. Abdul Haleem-Ajibola was credited with two extra-point blocks.

Concordia-Chicago's Homecoming game will begin at 2:15 p.m. as part of a busy day, with women's soccer preceding at 10:30 a.m. The Cougars will look to avenge a narrow 16-14 loss to the Spartans from last year.