The Forester football team was defeated 35-27 at Concordia University Chicago on Saturday in the season opener for both teams. Senior quarterback Pete Scaffidi threw for 210 yards and four scores and became Lake Forest's career leader in touchdown passes.
Scaffidi's 22-yard scoring strike to senior wide receiver Rocky Al-Mutawa gave the Foresters a 7-0 lead with two minutes to play in the first quarter.
Concordia Chicago scored touchdowns on three of its next five possessions to take a 21-7 lead with 1:54 on the first half clock.
A 37-yard lickoff return by Forester sophomore Joey Kropp gave the visitors good field position and a screen pass to junior running back Alec Howe reached the end zone from 17 yards away, trimming the deficit to 21-14. It was Howe's first career touchdown reception.
The Cougars, however, went 87 yards in just four plays to score again and the home team took a 28-14 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Each team scored a touchdown in the third period, the Foresters on a 22-yard pass from Scaffidi to senior wide receiver Austin Sobey, and the score was 35-21 after three quarters. It was the program record 42nd career touchdown pass by Scaffidi, who passed Avelino Cortez's mark that stood for more than 25 years.
Scaffidi completed a 9-yard touchown pass to senior running back Al Mitchell with 9:48 to play in the game but it turned out to be the final score of the contest as the extra point was blocked and neither team was able to reach the end zone again. It was the fourth time in Scaffidi's career that he threw for at least four touchdowns in a game.
Mitchell led Lake Forest with 89 yards rushing on 26 carries. He also caught four passes for 31 yards. Sobey and Al-Mutawa each matched Mitchell's four receptions with Sobey gaining 83 yards and Al-Mutawa 43.
Senior safety Aidan Price led the Forester defense with 10 tackles and junior linebacker Jordan Cruz was next with nine. Fellow junior linebacker John Dillon recovered a fumble and freshman linebacker Austin Van Meter recorded his first career sack.
Lake Forest will open Midwest Conference play next Saturday at home against Lawrence University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
