ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University football team (0-2, 0-2 NACC) fell 35-7 in Saturday afternoon's home opener to the Lakeland University Muskies (2-0, 2-0 NACC). The Regents looked sharp coming out of the gate, hanging with a good Lakeland football team in the first half. Rockford put together good drives, however, penalties killed any sort of momentum the Regents had. Rockford recorded 16 penalties that cost them a big chunk of yardage. 

• The Muskies were the first to put numbers on the board, scoring quickly in the first quarter from a 65-yard drive that ended with a short three-yard pass in the endzone. Lakeland made the extra point giving it a 7-0 advantage over the Regents.
• Rockford had a 31-yard drive in the first quarter but could not convert to make anything of it. LaVar Johnson Jr. accounted for the majority of the yards gained from the drive with 23 rushing yards and five receiving yards.
• The Regents scored on the first drive of the second quarter from a 54-yard drive to tie the Muskies 7-7. LaVar Johnson Jr. could not be stoped, rushing for 18 yards to put the Regents in the red zone. Emani Johnson was also a threat, running for 19 yards and punching it into the end-zone for the Regents. Gerardo Zamudio secured the extra point to match the Muskies seven points.
• The tie was short-lived as the Muskies scored in the second quarter from a 44-yard drive capped off by a 20-yard pass for a touchdown to regain the lead 14-7 after the made extra point.
• Lakeland scored again in the third quarter to run the score up on the Regents. The Muskies drove 64 yards down the field with the quarterback running it in for an 11-yard touchdown.
• Just before the end of the third quarter, the Muskies struck again on its first play of the drive for a 33-yard passing touchdown. Lakeland now led the Regents 28-7 after the extra point attempt and looked to be running away with the game.
• At the end of the third quarter and continuing into the fourth quarter, the Regents drove 80 yards down the field for the longest drive of the game between both teams. Unfortunately, the Regents were unable to score as three false start penalties hindered its chance of getting into the end zone. LaVar Johnson Jr. highlighted the 80-yard drive with a 47-yard run, but it was brought back because of a penalty. Joey Owens also got in on the action with a 35-yard reception from Jaelen Ray.
• Unfortunately, Lakeland scored again at the beginning of the fourth quarter with an impressive 98-yard drive and running in for a 26-yard touchdown to put the Regents away 35-7.

• Jaelen Ray passed for 151 yards and completed 14 out of 26 passes.
• LaVar Johnson Jr. rushed for 95 yards and had 13 yards receiving.
• Emani Johnson rushed for 40 yards and had 14 yards receiving.
• Joey Owens recorded 94 receiving yards on 7 catches.
• Jallen Bashford tallied 13 total tackles including one for a loss of 3 yards. Bashford also had 0.5 sacks for a loss of 2 yards.
• Michael Averhart Jr. had 9 total tackles including 2 for a loss of 5 yards.
• Dallas Brown had 6 total tackles with 0.5 sacks and a tackle for a loss of 4 yards.
• Tyler Burnham added 5 tackles and a forced fumble.
• Derrick Lewis had 3 tackles with 0.5 sacks and 0.5 tackles for a loss of 5 yards.

The Regents return to action on Saturday, April 3 against Concordia University Wisconsin. Kickoff is set for 1 PM at Sam Greeley Field.