The Aurora University Spartan football team clinched a share of the 2021 Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference Championship and a trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs with a 38-20 victory at Lakeland University on Saturday. 


FINAL SCORE:  Aurora University 38, Lakeland University 20
LOCATION: Plymouth, Wisconsin
RECORDS: Aurora University 7-2 overall and 7-0 NACC; Lakeland University 7-2 overall and 5-2 NACC


- With the win, the Spartans clinched a share of the 2021 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Championship
- AU will make the programs sixth NCAA Playoff appearance after winning the eighth conference championship. The Spartans first played in a football conference in 1998.
- Tyran Bailey surpassed 1,000 yards rushing on the season with his 213 yards on the day.
 

- The Spartans found themselves down 13-0 with 5:44 left in the first quarter.
- AU responded with an 8-play, 68-yard drive capped off with a Gavin Zimbelman to Cameron Moore 27 yard touchdown strike.
- AU trailed 13-6 heading into the second quarter with the ball after the defense forced a quick three and out.
- 1:52 into the second, AU took the lead, a lead they would not give up.
- Zimbelman hit Jhequay Chretin on a five yard score and Chretin converted the two-point play for a 14-13 lead.
- Quintarius Davis picked off a Lakeland pass to give the Spartans the ball back.
- The Spartan offense marched 80 yards in nine plays with Tyran Bailey scoring from four yards out. AU led 20-13.
- AU got interceptions from the defense, Ernesto Ramirez and Marcellus Romious.
- One play after the Romious interceptiom, Zimbelman hit Brock Harner from 33 yards out and AU led 26-13.
- After trading possessions, Lakeland scored late in the third quarter to pull within six at 26-20.
- On the first posession of the fourth quarter, the offense went to work.
- An 11-play, 71-yard drive that took 5:26 off the clock resulted in a Zimbelman one yard touchdown run and AU led 32-20.
- The defense got the ball back with a fourth down stop inside Lakeland territory.
- Trey Madsen scored from 23 yards out on a jet sweep.
- AU led 38-20.
- The Spartan defense stopped the Muskies on the following drive which allowed the offense to grind out the final 3:23 of clock.
- Three kneel downs and AU is NACC Champions with a 38-20 win.
 

Rushing:
 - Carries: Tyran Bailey (30) and Jhequay Chretin (16)
 - Yards: Tyran Bailey (213)
- Touchdowns: Tyran Bailey, Trey Madsen and Gavin Zimbelman (1)
Passing:
- Gavin Zimbelman (13-of-20 for 148 yards and three touchdowns)
Receiving:
 - Catches: Trey Madsen (6)
 - Yards:  Trey Madsen (50) and Cameron Moore (48)
 - Touchdowns: Cameron Moore, Brock Harner and Jhequay Chretin (1)
Defense:
- Tackles: Blake Martz (9) and Marcellus Romious (8)
- Interceptions: Marcellus Romious, Ernesto Ramirez and Quintarious Davis (1)
- Forced Fumbles: Christian Bower (1)
- Sacks: Brett Crissie (1)