The Benedictine University football team suffered a second straight loss after hitting the road for the first time in two weeks, falling 42-21 at Lakeland on Saturday.
Lakeland received the opening kickoff and drove deep into Benedictine territory but stalled on fourth down. The hosts struck first by intercepting a pass and returning it for a touchdown on the first offensive possession for Benedictine.
Cooper Simmons-Little was able to work a quick answer by finding
Alex Siebens for a 57-yard score on the ensuing possession to tie the game at 7-7 with 6:51 left in the first. Benedictine took the lead by pouncing on a loose football in the endzone with 3:27 remaining to take the lead for the first time.
A long drive from Lakeland spanning 15 plays enabled the hosts, who were celebrating homecoming, to tie the score early in the second. Both teams took advantage of mistakes in the first half as Lakeland scooped up a fumble and returned it 45 yards to open a 21-14 lead with 9:18 to go in the half. Taking over with just over two minutes left in the half after Benedictine stalled, Lakeland utilized a 10-play drive to score just before the half and lead 28-14 at the break.
Bryce Thurman reeled in a long pass from Simmons-Little for a 54-yard score on the first touches of the second half to bring Benedictine within 28-21, but Lakeland used another long drive to answer and put the game away early in the fourth after Benedictine was once again stopped on the Lakeland side.
Lakeland piled up 221 yards on the ground and finished with 461 yards total. Benedictine finished with 300 yards but turned the ball over three times. Simmons-Little was 7-for-19, accumulating 169 yards through the air with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Joshua Brown gained 83 yards on the ground.
Alexander Corbett caught three passes.
Jake Diamantos anchored the defense with 15 tackles, 12 of which were solo, adding 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
Johnny Camillo added 13 tackles, also notching 12 solo.
Brian Pritt logged 3.5 tackles for loss with a sack.
Benedictine (3-2, 1-2 NACC) returns home next week to host St. Norbert at 2pm.
