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| Tanner Compton |
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| Brock Stenberg |
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| Austin Sobey |
The Lake Forest College football team was defeated 52-23 by visiting Concordia University Chicago on Saturday in the season opener for both programs.
Concordia Chicago led 10-0 after the first quarter and tacked on another touchdown on the first play of the second.
The teams traded punts on the next two possessions, but Forester senior Anthony Garetto's 55-yard boot pinned the Cougars inside their own 10-yardline and the 23-yard punt coming back set the home team up just 32 yards from the end zone. Lake Forest was stopped at the 8-yardline and had to settle for a 26-yard field goal by senior Tim Gruzwalski.
The visitors scored another touchdown on their next possession and led 24-3 at halftime.
Concordia Chicago drove 70 yards in six plays for another touchdown to open the second half. and added a 6-play, 48-yard scoring drive later in the third quarter to extend the lead to 38-3.
The Foresters drove to the Cougar 10-yardline before turning the ball over on downs. Two plays later, however, Lake Forest senior linebacker Tanner Compton grabbed a fumble and returned it 13 yards for his second career touchdown.
Concordia Chicago went 75 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown on their next possession, which lasted into the fourth quarter, to restore their 35-point lead (45-10).
Lake Forest turned the ball over on downs in Concordia Chicago territory on the next possession and took over on the visitors' 30 thanks to a 15-yard punt. Three plays later senior tailback Ty Van Valkenburg scored on a 4-yard run.
The Cougars scored their final touchdown of the game with exactly four minutes to play.
The Foresters' final scoring drive started at their 26 and quickly moved up the field. Sophomore quarterback Justin Novak connected on a 41-yard passing play with sophomore wide receiver Justin Novak on the first play. Senior tailback Brock Stenberg then rushed for 18 yards to the Cougar 10 before catching a swing pass and scoring on the next play. The extra point bounced back off the right upright and the score remained 52-23 the rest of the way.
Stenberg ran for 89 yards and add three receptions for 20 yards and the touchdown. Novak passed for 146 yards in his first career start and Sobey was his leading receiver with five catches for 82 yards.
Junior safety Luke Butts led the Forester defense with 10 tackles. Sophomore linebacker Aidan Price was next with eight stops and junior defensive end Kenneth Clady Mason chipped in with seven, including a sack and the forced fumble on Compton's touchdown.
Garetto averaged 36.8 yards on his five punts.
The Foresters will begin Midwest Conference play next Saturday at Ripon College. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
