2023-24 Muskies Year in Review: Football - Lakeland University Athletics (2024)

Football 5/29/2024 1:53:00 PM

2023 Lakeland Football Recap

Head Coach: Colin Bruton (9th year)
Assistant Coaches: Joey Lehto (Defensive Coordinator, 8th year); Larry Feest (Offensive Line/Special Teams, 17th year); Keith Woodson (Defensive Backs, 1st year); Lane Peterson (Wide Receivers, 1st year); Justin Jurek (Defensive Line, 3rd Year); Kendrick Burks (Running Backs, 4th Year); Mark Edmond (Cornerbacks, 5th year); David Simon (Offensive Line, 8th year); Mason Prunick (Wide Receivers, 2nd year); D.J. Tomlinson (Defensive Line, 1st year)
Record: 4-6 overall, 3-5 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
Long Winning Streak: 1 game (four times)
Long Losing Streak: 2 games (twice)
NACC Finish: 6th of 9 teams
All-NACC Team: Jayson Wilder (DB, 1st Team); Jake Leclaire (DL, 2nd Team); Robby Michael (QB, Hon. Mention); Shamond Oliver (DB, Hon. Mention); Karlis Ozols (LB, Hon. Mention); Zach Welnetz (OL, Hon. Mention).
NACC Player of the Week: Robby Michael (Sept. 24, Offense); Jesus Garcia (Sept. 24, Special Teams); Ben Garcia (Oct. 15, Special Teams)
D3football.com Team of the Week: Shamond Oliver (Oct. 17, Defensive Back)
NACC All-Academic Team: TBA
Leading Passer: Robby Michael (169-330, 2,214 yards, 16 TD)
Leading Rusher: Robby Michael (169 att., 780 yards, 9 TD)
Leading Receiver: Caleb Besaw (44 Rec, 537 Yards, 4 TD)
Leading Scorer: Robby Michael (54 points - 9 TD)
Leading Tackler: Shamond Oliver (67 tackles - 55 solo, 12 assisted)
Leading Kick Returner: Hassan Rivers (30 ret., 562 yards)
Leading Punt Returner: Kaeden Calcari (7 ret., 69 yards)
Leader in Tackles For Loss: Karlis Ozols (12 TFL for 54 yards)
Leader in Sacks: Karlis Ozols (5.5 sacks for 42 yards)
Leaders in Interceptions: Markese Collins/Shamond Oliver (2)
Leader in Punting: Ben Garcia (31 punts, 1,023 yards, 33.0 avg.)

Single-game highs:
Passing Yards: Robby Michael, 463 vs. Concordia Wisconsin, Sept. 16
Touchdown Passes: Robby Michael, 4 vs. Eureka, Nov. 11
Receptions: Caleb Besaw, 10 at Rockford, Sept. 23
Receiving Yards: Kolby Cohen, 128 vs. Concordia Wisconsin, Sept. 16
Receiving Touchdowns: 2, by Kolby Cohen at Rockford, Sept. 23 and by Caleb Besaw vs. Eureka, Nov. 11
Longest Pass Play: Robby Michael to Kolby Cohen, 59 yards at Aurora, Nov. 4
Longest Run: 69 yards, by Jatron Bevly at Wisconsin Lutheran, Oct. 7
Rushing Yards: Robby Michael, 143 at Rockford, Sept. 23
Rushing Touchdowns: 2, on three occasions, including twice by Robby Michael vs. Wisconsin-Platteville, Aug. 31 and at Rockford, Sept. 23, and also by Devon Harris at Wisconsin Lutheran, Oct. 7
Longest Punt: Ben Garcia, 58 yards vs. Concordia Chicago, Oct. 14
Longest Punt Return: Kaeden Calcari, 25 yards at Rockford, Sept. 23
Longest Kickoff Return: Devon Harris, 59 yards vs. St. Norbert, Sept. 30
Tackles: Jake Leclaire, 13 at Benedictine, Oct. 21
Tackles For Loss: 2.5, on three occasions, including twice by Jake Leclaire at Benedictine, Oct. 21 and vs. Eureka, Nov. 11, and also by Shamond Oliver vs. Eureka, Nov. 11
Sacks: Jake Leclaire, 1.5 at Aurora, Nov. 4
Interceptions: 1, on 10 occasions by eight different players

Season Highlights

• Muskies made a modest improvement in the win column from three wins to four
• Robby Michael completed 38 of 61 passes for 463 yards against Concordia Wisconsin Sept. 16. The 38 completions tie Mark Novara (vs. Concordia Chicago, Nov. 22, 1994) for the second-most in a game in school history, and the 463 yards passing are the fifth-most in a game in school history.
• Michael hit Caleb Besaw for a 16-yard touchdown pass with 23 seconds left in the game that with the Jesus Garcia extra point gave Lakeland a 35-34 comeback win over Eureka Nov. 11. The Muskies rallied from a 20-point fourth quarter deficit, scoring three touchdowns in the final 6:43, including two in the last 1:25 to win.
• Michael finished 21st nationally in NCAA Division III in total offense (299.6 yards per game)
• Lakeland tied Merchant Marine for the lead in Division III for most times going for it on fourth down (53)
• Michael finished 2nd in NACC in total offense (2,994) and total offense yards per game (299.4), 3rd in passing yards (2,214) and passing yards/game (221.4), 4th in passing touchdowns (16), 5th in rushing yards (780) and rushing yards/game (78.0), tied for 7th in touchdowns scored (9) and tied for 8th in points scored (54)
• Besaw finished 6th in NACC in receptions/game (4.4), 7th in receptions (44), tied for 9th in receiving touchdowns (4) and 10th in receiving yards (537) and receiving yards/game (53.7)
• Hassan Rivers led NACC in kick return attempts (31) and kick return yards (564)
• Shamond Oliver finished 3rd in NACC in solo tackles (55)
• Karlis Ozols finished tied for 4th in NACC in tackles for loss/game (1.20), tied for 5th in sacks (5.5) and 6th in total tackles for loss (12.0)
• Jake Leclaire finished 5th in NACC in solo tackles (50), 8th in tackles for loss/game (1.10) and 10th in total tackles for loss (11.0)
• Jordan Garvin tied for 8th in NACC in pass breakups (6) and tied for 9th in total passes defensed (7)