SHEBOYGAN, Wis. - After a difficult loss last week, the Regents were looking to rebound on the road on Saturday against the Lakeland College Muskies. Rockford had lost all four previous meetings against Lakeland and had been shutout in each of the previous three meetings. Both the Regents and the Muskies were coming off difficult loses last week and were looking to avoid an 0-2 start in NAC play this season.
The first half of Saturday's game was a defensive struggle with neither team able to get much going on offense. Of a combined total 12 first half possessions for both teams, there were 6 punts, 2 interceptions, a missed field goal, 2 touchdowns and a possession where the half ended. Lakeland's lone score in the first half came on touchdown on the opening possession of the game. After struggling tremendously in there first four possessions, the Regents got things going offensively early in the second quarter. Rockford put together its best drive of the afternoon moving the ball down the field 65 yards in 10 plays for touchdown to tie the game at 7-7. Neiter team would score for the remainder of the half, taking the 7-7 tie into the half. The Muskies took control of the game in the second half scoring on four of their six possessions and cruising to a 31-7 victory.
Offensively it was a difficult day for Rockford. The Regents were held to just 41 yards on the ground after having back-to-back weeks of racking up over 240 yards rushing. Junior quarterback Aabed Nekrawesh (Fremont, Calif./Fremont) played one of his better games of the season despite being under constant pressure from the Muskie defense. Nekrawesh was sacked 8 times but did not wilt under pressure completing 18 of 31 passes for 165 yards and no interceptions. The junior also accounted for the only Regent touchdown of the afternoon when he ran it in from five yards out. Tight end Dane Kirk (Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle) was the team's top receiver catching a season high 5 passes for 48 yards.
Despite a tough second half, the Regents defense was able to create three turnovers in the game and keep the game within reach during the first half. Juniors EJ Johnson (Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield) and Jinks Arnold IV (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield North) each intercepted a pass for Rockford during the first half. Johnson made his Northern Athletics Conference leading 3rd interception of the season in the end zone at the end of the first half and now as an interception in 3 of the last 4 games. Sophomores Michael Krieter (Rockford, Ill./Boylan) and Seth Swinehart (Rockford, Ill./East) were both all over the field for the Regents each making a season-high 9 tackles. Swinehart also added his third quarterback sack of the season and a pass breakup to round out his afternoon.
The Regents will again be on the road next Saturday when they travel to Benedictine University to take on the defending Northern Athletics Conference Champions. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
