Carthage College scored the final 14 points of the game in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead touchdown with 5:14 left, as Lakeland College dropped another close non-conference game by a 21-14 score Saturday night at Art Keller Field.
The Red Men warmed to the task late, scoring all 21 of their points over the game's final 15:01 to one-up a career night by Muskie receiver Michael Esiobu (Jr.-Chicago, Ill.). Lakeland dropped to 0-3 overall and lost on a late touchdown for the second consecutive week.
Esiobu caught five passes for a career-best 154 yards and both Lakeland touchdowns, twice giving the Muskies the lead. A.J. Veloz (Fr.-Whiting, Ind.) found Esiobu for a 29-yard score with 8:31 left in the second quarter, breaking the ice in a scoreless game to put Lakeland ahead 7-0.
The duo also connected on the second play of the fourth quarter, just three plays after Carthage (1-2 overall) had tied the game at 7-7 on an 11-yard run by quarterback Nick Anzelmo. On 3rd-and-13 from Lakeland's own 32, Veloz pump-faked to draw the defense and found Esiobu open down the sideline for a 68-yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead with 14:42 to play.
Muskie turnovers and a Carthage offense that found its rhythm late combined to lead to the Red Men's late rally. Lakeland committed three turnovers in the game, all coming on interceptions, including two in the second half, plus a third in the first half deep in Carthage territory.
Anzelmo also heated up late, finding receivers Jamahl Wright (10 catches, 123 yards) and James Cobbs III (6 receptions, 109 yards) frequently in the second half. His 41-yard pass to Wright put the Red Men deep in Lakeland territory and led to Derek Bellamy's 18-yard touchdown run to draw Carthage within 14-13.
Anzelmo then connected with Wright three times on the Red Men's eventual winning drive, twice for first downs, before finding Cobbs twice for a total of 45 yards. He hit Cobbs for 27 yards to put Carthage inside the red zone, and on the next play found him in the back of the end zone for an 18-yard score that with the two-point conversion put the Red Men ahead.
The Muskies had a final chance, but Veloz's third down pass was intercepted with 4:17 to play, and Lakeland never saw the ball again. Carthage gained three first downs to salt the game away, the final coming on a 4th-and-1 rush for two yards.
The Red Men outgained the Muskies 385-265, and both teams struggled to run the ball, with Lakeland gaining 53 yards on 31 carries but holding Carthage to 98 yards in 37 attempts. Third down also was a point of difference, as the Red Men converted 10 of 22 third down attempts while the Muskies finished just 3-for-16.
Veloz completed 12 of 32 passes for 212 yards. Fred Fielding (Jr.-Black Creek, Wis.) and Yaphay Harvey (Sr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) led the Muskie defense with eight tackles each. Eric Counts (Fr.-Belleville, Mich.) added an interception.
Lakeland is back home next week when it hosts Wisconsin Lutheran College for its Homecoming game at 1 p.m. at Taylor Field. The game also marks the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference season opener for both teams.
Carthage rallies late as Lakeland falls in another close one
/seasons/2014/boxscores/20140927_li1f.xml
2014
Lakeland
14
Carthage
21
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland (0-3) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Carthage (1-2) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
Sep 27, 2014