The Lake Forest College football team defeated host Grinnell College 33-7 on Saturday. Forester junior tight end Justin Smith caught a pair of touchdown passes in the contest.
Smith started the scoring by hauling in a 4-yard touchdown pass from senior Pete Scaffidi with 3:21 to play in the first quarter.
The Pioneers, who blocked the Foresters' first extra point attempt, grabbed a 7-6 lead on their next possession, which ended 48 seconds into the second quarter.
The Lake Forest defense accounted for the next two scores (see video below). Senior defensive lineman Jake Rotkvich intercepted a pass and returned it 60 yards to give the visitors the lead with three minutes remaining in the first half and junior cornerback Nicholaus Waters picked off another pass at the Grinnell 40 and took it to the end zone with 3:46 to play in the third period.
Smith caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Scaffidi with 12:16 left in the contest and senior tailback Al Mitchell capped off the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run with 5:32 on the clock.
Scaffidi completed 19 of 28 passes for 187 yards and no interceptions. Already the Foresters' career leader in touchdown passes, he moved into sixth place in program history with 354 career completions and 4,109 passing yards.
Lake Forest's leader in receiving yards on the day was senior wideout Austin Sobey with 95 on just four catches. Mitchell caught a team-high seven passes for 42 yards and covered another 49 yards on the ground.
Sophomore linebacker John Preston led the visitors with eight tackles. In addition to the two interceptions, the Forester defense recovered five fumbles, including two by senior safety Aidan Price. Junior linebacker Jordan Cruz forced two of the fumbles and Price, senior linebacker Joe Stella, and junior defensive lineman Taylor Holzmeyer one apiece. Rotkvich recorded a pair of sacks.
Lake Forest was actually outgained 278 to 270 but were turnover-free in the contest.
The Foresters are now 2-1 overall and 2-0 in Midwest Conference play. Grinnell fell to 0-3 overall and 0-2 in the league.
Lake Forest will host Knox College next Saturday afternoon at 1:00.
