Subscribe RSSPrint News Email News

Muskies Roll over Benedictine 75-7; Flirt with National Records


Athletics - posted on 9/25/2004


Head Coach Jim Zebrowski
The Lakeland College football team flirted with some national records in Saturday’s 75-7 domination of Benedictine in the Illini-Badger Football Conference opener for both schools.

Lakeland (2-2) scored all 11 of its touchdowns rushing, which came within one of tying the national record for most rushing TDs in a single game.

The Muskies, who scored 33 points in the second quarter and led 40-0 at the half, had 738 total yards of offense, a single-game high in NCAA Division III play headed into Saturday’s games.

Lakeland had 594 total rushing yards on 66 attempts, a gaudy average of 9.0 yards per carry. Six different Lakeland players had 50 or more rushing yards with junior quarterback Ryan Maiuri leading the way with 150 rushing yards on 10 carries.

“The offensive line was busting out holes right and left,” said Maiuri, who also scored once. “When we bootleg, one option is to for me to run. I know my guard is going to make the block, our offensive line was doing a great job and our receivers were all blocking.”

Sophomore running back Aaron Barrie scored three TDs and finished with 62 rushing yards on 11 carries. Junior running back Nick Hunter added 120 yards on 10 carries and two TDs. Sophomore Marcus Denham and junior Travis Gervais also both scored a pair of TDs.

“They didn’t have a lot of guys on defense and we wore them down,” Barrie said. “We never take anybody lightly. I think UW-Whitewater took us lightly last week and we gave them a heck of a game. We always play like we’re playing a great team. You’ve always got to give a great effort.”

Maiuri threw an early interception and Lakeland led just 7-0 after the first quarter. But the Muskies scored five times in the second quarter, including a 67-yard TD run by Maiuri.

Benedictine’s lone score came with 3:31 left in the third quarter when Lakeland led 61-0.

Lakeland head coach Jim Zebrowski said the team re-set its goals before this week’s game, focusing them on the seven-week run through the IBFC.

“This is a great way to start conference play,” Zebrowski said. “To us, this is a seven-step season. This was step one, and now it’s on to Eureka and step two. We played exceptionally hard after not doing much in the first quarter.”

The Muskies travel to Eureka, Ill., on Oct. 2 for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff.

<< Return to News