The Lake Forest College football team erased a 24-7 deficit but eventually fell 33-27 in overtime to Beloit College on Saturday. The Forester defense forced five turnovers and recorded 14 tackles for loss, including five sacks, in the heartbreaking Homecoming loss.
Beloit led 10-0 until a 10-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Geoff Sobey to junior wide receiver Kevin Davis with 6:48 to play in the first half trimmed the Buccaneer lead to three points. The drive was set up by an interception by junior safety Luke Butts at the Beloit 42-yardline.
The visitors, however, responded with a touchdown on their next drive. The game's next three possessions ended with interceptions, including Forester junior defensive lineman Casey Flynn's third of the season at the Forester 4-yardline.
Lake Forest fumbled the ball away on the first drive of the second half and Beloit scored another touchdown seven plays later to extend its lead to 24-7.
After a 29-yard kickoff return by Forester freshman Darius McKay, the home team traveled 53 yards in seven plays, including a 3-yard pass from Sobey to junior wideout Josh Kabala in the end zone. Kabala's first career touchdown reception made the score 24-14 with 6:26 to play in the third quarter.
A sack, forced fumble, recovery, and 18-yard return by Lake Forest freshman linebacker Bryce Jones on Beloit's next play from scrimmage gave the Foresters the ball on the Buccaneer 5. Four plays later a 23-yard field goal by senior Tim Gruzwalski trimmed the deficit to seven with four-and-a-half minutes to play in the third period.
Beloit drove into Forester territory on its next possession before another interception by Butts and subsequent 62-yard return took the ball to the Buccaneer 12. It was Butts' second interception of the game, third this season, and ninth of his career. Gruzwalski second figld goal of the game, a 29-yarder, pulled the home team to within four points (24-20) with 16 seconds left in the third quarter.
The visitors traveled 50 yards in seven plays before connecting on a 30-yard field goal to take a 27-20 lead with 11:56 remaining in regulation.
Lake Forest punted and turned the ball over on downs on its next two possessions while the Buccaneers' next two drives ended with a fumble recovery by Butts and a punt.
The Foresters took over on their 34-yardline with 3:42 left on the clock. Sobey completed three passes for 48 yards and three carries by senior Brock Stenberg took care of the other 18 yards, including the last five on his first rushing touchdown of the year. Gruzwalski's extra point and career-high-tying ninth point of the game tied the score at 27 with 1:07 on the clock.
Beloit was unable to move the ball and the Foresters would play their first overtime game in 10 years.
Stenberg went over the 100-yard mark on a 13-yard run to start the extra session. He finished with 104 yards on 23 carries in the contest. The drive stalled and a missed field goal gave Beloit the opportunity to win the game with any type of score. The Bucs capitalized with a 22-yard touchdown pass on their second play.
Sobey connected on 16 passes for 143 yards in the game, including 94 on a game-high seven receptions by Davis.Senior linebackers Anthony Garetto and Tanner Compton led the defense with nine tackles apiece. Jones and junior defensive lineman Dylan Burke each had six tackles and combined for 6.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
Lake Forest fell to 0-6 overall and 0-5 in Midwest Conference play while Beloit evened its overall record at 3-3 and raised its league mark to 3-2.
The Foresters will play at Monmouth College next Saturday at 1:00 p.m. A live video webcast of the game will be available at pennatlantic.com.