The Forester football team was defeated 16-14 at Monmouth College on Saturday in a match-up of two of the top three teams in the Midwest Conference standings.
It was nearly a dramatic victory for Lake Forest, thanks to a blocked punt by senior
Trenton Brail that gave them the ball at the Monmouth 14 with 29 seconds remaining. A blocked field goal, however, secured the win for the Fighting Scots.
Monmouth led 16-0 at halftime and received the second half kickoff. The next five possessions ended with punts, the last of which set the Foresters up with the ball at their own 12. Fifth-year wide receiver
A.J. Jackson caught a 12 yard pass before carrying the ball for five. Freshman quarterback Michael Kasemervicz then launched a long pass up the left side of the field that hit junior wideout
Trevor Land in stride and he sprinted the rest of the way for a 71-yard touchdown. Land now has 11 touchdown catches and 14 scores overall this season.
Trailing 16-7, the Foresters continued their comeback bid in the fourth. After a fumble recovery by graduate student
Alex Bendler at the Monmouth 32, a couple of rushing plays and an incompletion set up a 4th-and-1 play at the 23. Jackson took a direct snap, followed his blockers to the right, and broke through for his fifth career rushing touchdown. The extra point made the score 16-14 with 8:09 to play.
Interceptions ended the Foresters next two drives and the last attempt to win the game was thwarted by the blocked field goal.
Bendler led all players in the game with a career-high 12 tackles from his defensive end position. Linebacker
Javan Ah Quin, another graduate student, add 10 stops and sophomore safety
Thomas DeChesaro nine. The Lake Forest defense forced three turnovers and 10 punts on the afternoon. Brail also recovered a fumble and junior cornerback
Darion Miller turned in his second career interception.
Saturday's loss dropped the Foresters' overall record to 7-2 and MWC mark to 6-2. Monmouth is also 7-2 overall but 7-1 in the league.
Lake Forest will close out the season against the University of Chicago at home next Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.
