(ST. NORBERT COMMUNICATIONS/WNFL) – DE PERE – A 24-point onslaught in the second quarter was the impetus behind St. Norbert College’s happy Homecoming with a 34-7 win over Lakeland University in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game at Schneider Stadium.
The Green Knights (4-2, 4-0 NACC) extended their winning streak to four games to give a sun-splashed home crowd plenty of smiles on a record-warm day of 83 degrees.
Lakeland won the coin toss and elected to receive, but the St. Norbert defense forced a three-and-out and got the ball at midfield. The Green Knights marched 50 yards in 10 plays – converting a third down and a fourth down – to score on Jacob McVane’s 3-yard plunge with 8:10 left in the opening quarter and a 7-0 lead. Both teams traded punts and Lakeland converted a fake punt before turning the ball over on downs at its own 37-yard line before the Green Knights punted.
The defense turned the momentum on the second play of the second quarter when Lakeland quarterback Carson Glosny was intercepted by Alex Carter at the Muskies’ 26-yard line, which set up a 25-yard field goal by Tyler Juergensen for a 10-0 lead. Two scrimmage plays later, Glosny was hijacked again when Mason Trimberger raced down the near sideline for a 26-yard pick six and a 17-0 lead. St. Norbert came up with a third takeaway just three plays later when Aiden Gomez (pictured) batted a Glosny pass in the air and intercepted it, putting the Green Knights at the Lakeland 33. The Green Knights needed just four plays to score, taking a 24-0 lead on a McVane 2-yard run with 7:18 left before halftime.
Following a Lakeland three-and-out, St. Norbert marched 64 yards in 12 plays to score again on a 15-yard touchdown strike from Fernando Rodriguez to Aiden Bruce with just one minute left before halftime. The Green Knights held Lakeland to 56 yards and two first downs in the first half en route to building a 31-0 lead.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Green Knights tacked on another three points on a 42-yard field goal from Juergensen with 10:51 left. The Muskies registered a consolation touchdown on a Hassan Rivers touchdown with 7:10 remaining.
Lakeland held a 240-237 edge in total offense, but the Green Knights held possession for a whopping 38:46 and also had an average starting field position of their own 48-yard line.St. Norbert rushed 50 times for 186 yards, getting 53 yards from Bruce on four carries, while McVane had 50 yards and two touchdowns on 17 totes. Zack Poetzl added 40 yards on four carries. Bennett Schmidt caught four passes for 25 yards. Rodriguez completed 9 of 16 passes for 51 yards and one touchdown.
The Muskies rushed for just 117 yards on 31 carries, while a trio of quarterbacks were 14-for-38 with 123 yards and three interceptions.
Kaydin Lujan had five tackles with two quarterback sacks, while Cory Burton added five stops. Trimberger had four tackles with a tackle-for-loss, an interception and two passes defensed. John Seitz, Tommy McCauley and Jim Feeney all hadded four tackles apiece. Alex Carter also had an interception for the secondary.
Midwest Conference
Beloit 27, Lawrence 17
APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University mounted a second-half comeback attempt Saturday at Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl, scoring 17 points after halftime but ultimately falling to Beloit College.
Jordan Pidala completed 16 of 36 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns. Odexter Simms led Lawrence’s scoring effort through the air, finishing with three receptions for 56 yards and both touchdowns.
WIAC
UW-Platteville 38, UW-Eau Claire 0
PLATTEVILLE – The Pioneers outgained the Blugolds 458-193 in rolling to the win.
Platteville’s Nathan Uselding completed 30-of-33 passes for 312 yards and 4 touchdowns with Jaxson Garbish catching 12 for 189 yards.
UW-Whitewater 24, UW-La Crosse 18
LA CROSSE – Cole Warren completed 19-of-32 passes for 220 yards and Tommy Novotny rushed for 111 yards to lead the Warhawks to the win over the Eagles.
Kyle Haas completed 27-of-50 passes for 248 yards for La Crosse.
UW-Stout Polytechnic 48, UW-Stevens Point 2
STEVENS POINT – Chase Pemberton completed 19-of-25 passes for 284 to lead the Blue Devils to the win over the Pointers.
UW-River Falls 31, UW-Oshkosh 31
RIVER FALLS – Johnny Figgins kicked a 35-yard field goal in overtime to lift the Falcons to the win over the Titans.
Cade Fitzgerald led River Falls with 106 yards rushing.
Demir Ashuro completed 23-of-52 passes for 409 yards with 4 touchdowns and 3 interceptions for Oshkosh. Tommy Hammond caught 4 passes for 124 yards.
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