The Lake Forest College football team posted a 13-7 victory at the University of Chicago on Saturday to claim a share of the Midwest Conference title and earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Playoffs.
After getting a stop on defense, the Foresters scored first on a 60-yard touchdown run by graduate student Damon Bonds on their first offensive play of the game. He ran right and sprinted up the sideline for his longest rush of the season.
Lake Forest added to its lead early in the second quarter when senior Tre Stewart finished off a 14-play, 80-yard drive with a 1-yard plunge into the end zone on a quarterback sneak. The drive lasted more than eight-and-a-half minutes and freshman kicker Beckham Sonnabend's extra point made the score 13-0.
The Forester defense made sure that was all the scoring the visitors would need. The Maroons gained just 88 yards on six first half possessions and had a field goal blocked by senior defensive end Alex Bendler at the end of a 70-drive in the third quarter. They finally reached got on the scoreboard on a touchdown with 9:52 remaining in the game but had their last drive end on an interception by Lake Forest sophomore linebacker Nik Rieck. He made a diving grab in front of a Chicago receiver at the Maroon 46-yardline with just 2:01 on the clock.
After a pair of carries by senior running back Armani Brown netted three yards, he gained eight on his next attempt to earn a first down and secure the victory. Brown ran for 99 yards on 23 carries while Bonds finished with 84 on 13 attempts. The duo finished the regular season having combined for 1,590 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground.
In addition to his blocked field goal, Bendler registered eight tackles, including six tackles for loss and three sacks, and forced a fumble that was recovered by fellow senior defensive end Justin Albee. Bendler's 18.5 tackles for loss on the season ranks sixth in program history while his 9.0 sacks are tied-for-seventh. He is sixth in both categories on the program's career list with 37.5 and 20.5.
Leading the Forester defense in tackles were freshman safety Thomas DeChesaro and senior linebacker Dylan Pedersen with 13 and 11, respectively. Meanwhile Albee and senior linebacker Javan Ah Quin matched Bendler with eight stops apiece.
Lake Forest surrendered a total of just 71 points in nine conference games this season.
The victory raised the Foresters' overall record to 9-1 and they finished the regular season tied with Monmouth College and Ripon College atop the MWC standings at 8-1 in the league. While all three teams are crowned conference champions, tiebreakers favored Lake Forest for the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Playoffs.
Lake Forest's opponent in next weekend's opening round will be announced during the NCAA Selection Show on NCAA.com Sunday at 4:00 p.m.
