Lakeland College - Athletics

<title> Lakeland College - Athletics - Football Press Release </title>
<p><b><font color="006699">Muskie Football Rolls By Benedictine; 8-2 Record Best 
  Since 1997</font><br>
  November 8, 2003</b><br>
  Lakeland Football defeated Benedictine University in an offensive shoot-out 
  61-34 Saturday afternoon in Lisle, IL. The Muskies finished the season 8-2 overall 
  and 6-1 in the IBFC (Illini-Badger Football Conference). Benedictine dropped 
  to 2-8 overall and 2-5 in the IBFC. The 6-1 mark in the IBFC was good for second 
  place for the Muskies.</p>
<p>The Muskies offense is used to big days as they averaged 40.1 points per game 
  this season and outscored their opponents 401 to 164. They covered for the defense 
  Saturday...a defense that surprisingly struggled against the Eagles. <br>
  With 95 total points scored and over 900 yards of total offense, it's a given 
  many players had career days and no doubt both teams had their fair share.</p>
<p>For the Muskies senior quarterback Brent Luebke threw for 318 yards with 3 
  TD's, and he also ran for 55 yards and 2 more TD's. Freshman running back Marcus 
  Denham led the rushing attack with 93 yards and 3 scores. Wrapping up the huge 
  statistical day for the Muskies was senior wide receiver Shaun Behrend with 
  6 catches for 130 yards and 2 TD's. </p>
<p>Benedictine's attack wasn't quite as balanced as Lakeland's. Junior quarterback 
  Ryan Keag tossed for 295 yards and an impressive 5 TD's. His favorite target, 
  senior wide receiver Sebastin Singleton, was nearly unstoppable with 15 receptions 
  for 262 yards and 4 TD's. </p>
<p>Overall, Lakeland accumulated 526 yards of total offense with 318 coming through 
  the air and 208 on the ground. They had 26 first downs and had 146 more yards 
  on returns. The Muskies only downfall was the 174 yards they racked up in penalties. 
  Benedictine finished with 373 total yards with 319 coming via the pass and only 
  54 yards on the ground. The Eagles soared for 20 first downs and had an additional 
  101 return yards.</p>
<p>Benedictine actually jumped out to an early 7-0 lead on a 57 yard touchdown 
  strike from Keag to Singleton early in the first quarter at the 13:36 mark. 
</p>
<p>The Muskies answered right back with two quick scores to take a lead they would 
  never relinquish. First, Lakeland scored on an 11 yard run by Luebke, tying 
  the game at 7's with 10:36 to go in the quarter. On the ensuing kick-off Benedictine 
  fumbled giving the ball back to the Muskies. On their first play from scrimmage 
  Behrend caught a 34 yard bomb from Luebke down the right sideline making it 
  14-7 Lakeland with 10:24 to play in the first period. </p>
<p>Lakeland went through a short scoring drought until early in the 2nd quarter 
  when Denham punched it in from 9 yards out giving the Muskies some breathing 
  room at 20-7. </p>
<p>Before Denham could score his second touchdown the Muskie lead was cut to 20-14, 
  as Singleton grabbed his second touchdown reception from 5 yards out at the 
  10:19 mark of the second quarter. But Denham answered with a 6 yard run with 
  6:43 to go in the half to make it 27-14. </p>
<p>Once again Singleton would answer for Benedictine on a 24 yard touchdown reception, 
  which made it 27-21 Muskies with 3:24 to go in the half. In a game like this, 
  that's way too much time for an explosive offense like Lakeland's. </p>
<p>Jeff Taff wasted no time cashing in for the Muskies as busted the ensuing kickoff 
  for an 86 yard touchdown. Taff went untouched down the left sideline as the 
  Muskies set up the exciting return with a wall of blockers to pave Taff's way. 
</p>
<p>The Muskies took a 41-21 lead into the locker room at half when Denham scored 
  his 3rd touchdown by punching it in from one yard out with 27 seconds to go 
  in the half following a Benedictine interception.</p>
<p>In the second half the Muskies scored twice more to put the game out of reach. 
  Luebke ran it in from 2 yards out to make it 47-21 with 5:01 to go in the third 
  quarter. After Singleton scored yet again on a 3 yard reception to make it 47-28 
  at the end of the third quarter, Taff scored on the first play of the fourth 
  quarter to make it 54-28. This time Taff caught a 5 yard pass from Luebke with 
  14:55 to go in the game.</p>
<p>Benedictine scored again to make it 54-34 with 10:11 to go in the game on a 
  10 yard touchdown pass.</p>
<p>Lakeland completed the scoring with a 31 yard touchdown pass from Luebke to 
  Behrend with 8:30 to play for the final touchdown of the season.</p>
<p>Despite the score there were two defensive standouts. For the Muskies junior 
  linebacker Jacob Vigilante tallied 8 solo tackles, including 3 that went for 
  losses. Benedictine linebacker Mike Baumgartner had 11 solo tackles and assisted 
  on 3 others to lead the Eagles.</p>
<p><br>
  The 8-2 record is Lakeland's best finish since 1997, when they finished 10-0. 
  <br>
</p>