PLYMOUTH - St. Norbert College used an impressive ground game in the fourth quarter to lock up a hard-fought 24-21 win over Lakeland University in a Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference game at Taylor Field.
The Green Knights (3-2, 2-1 NACC) carried a 21-14 lead into the fourth quarter and held the ball for 12 minutes 8 seconds in the final 15 minutes. St. Norbert ran 23 plays in the fourth quarter, with 22 coming on the ground. The Green Knights picked up six first downs - all via the run - including two in the final 2:23 to run out the clock.
St. Norbert took over at the Lakeland 49 with 9:31 to go, leading 21-14. The Green Knights rushed 11 straight times to melt 5:58 off the clock and picked up a valuable insurance field goal when
Dalton Moyse converted from 21 yards with 3:33 left. Lakeland needed four plays to score on a 49-yard touchdown pass from Robby Michael to Kolby Cohen with 2:23 to go. The Muskies, who had two timeouts remaining, attempted an onside kick but St. Norbert recovered near midfield. The Green Knights got runs of 13, 2 and 8 yards from
Delton Zuleger to start the drive, leading to three kneel downs to end the game.
The Green Knights got off to a good start when they marched 61 yards in seven plays to score on a 19-yard pass from
Peyton Lyon to
Paul Bageanis with 8:25 left in the first quarter. Each team traded empty possessions until St. Norbert got a big defensive touchdown when
Sam Barnett intercepted Michael at the Lakeland 46 and returned it for a score and a 14-0 lead with 1:46 left in the quarter.
Lakeland scored the second quarter's only point when Michael found Kaeden Calcari for a 38-yard touchdown pass on the second play of the period. The Muskies advanced to the St. Norbert 23 and 19 on their next two possessions, but were stopped on downs and an interception by
Luke Niksic.
St. Norbert would take a 21-7 lead on a 12-play drive - featuring 11 runs - that covered 53 yards and took 6:19 off the clock. Zuleger scored on a 4-yard run with 7:33 left in the quarter. Lakeland would get back to within one score when Michael scrambled in from 2 yards out on a fourth-and-goal play with 1:55 left in the period.
Lakeland outgained 411-268 in total offense, but the Green Knights held possession for 34 minutes and had 184 rushing yards to the Muskies' 93.
Owen Kudick rushed 25 times for 112 yards, while Zuleger rushed 24 times for 100 yards. Lyon completed 7 of 13 passes for 84 yards. Bageanis had two receptions for 29 yards and
Austin Miller had two catches for 28 yards.
Michael completed 20 of 31 passes for 318 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Caleb Besaw caught nine passes for 113 yards.
Barnett led the St. Norbert defense with a team-high 13 tackles, two quarterback sacks, two tackles-for-loss and an interception.
