The Lake Forest College football team defeated Cornell College 41-7 on Saturday in the Foresters' first home game of 2023.

Lake Forest ran for 244 yards and passed for 239 in the contest. The Rams had just 127 total yards, including 80 on their only scoring drive of the day that made it a 7-7 game in the opening quarter.

The Foresters had pulled ahead early. Junior linebacker Nik Rieck's fifth career interception allowed the home team to start its first possession of the game at the Cornell 45-yardline. A long touchdown pass from graduate student Tre Stewart to junior wider receiver Trevor Land on the next play put the Lake Forest on top.

After the visitors tied the score, the Foresters regained the lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by freshman running back Taylen Goodwin, who led the team with 81 rushing yards on just nine carries in the game. Goodwin's touchdown was the first of his collegiate career and Lake Forest still led 14-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Stewart connected again with Land on a 9-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter and Land found the end zone again later in the period on his second 26-yard rushing touchdown in as many weeks. Land was the game's leading receiver with five receptions for 88 yards while Stewart was 15-for-28 for 202 yards.

Ahead 27-7 at the half, Lake Forest added to its lead on a 14-yard touchdown run by junior tailback Josiah Kidd on the first possession of the third quarter. Kidd finished the day with 37 yards on six carries while classmate Mal Chunn added 39 yard on four attempts. The Foresters averaged 6.1 yards per carry on the afternoon.

The final score of the day was turned in by the defense. Graduate student Javan Ah Quin picked off a Cornell pass and took it 80 yards to the end zone for his first career touchdown and the fifth-longest interception return in program history.

Lake Forest's defense has now scored three touchdowns while allowing just two in three games this season. Graduate student Alex Bendler led the unit with seven tackles from his defensive end position. Among the stops were a pair of sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss. Two more defensive lineman, junior Donnevan Plummer and freshman Preston Mosher also had a sack on the day.

The Foresters improved to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in Midwest Conference play while Cornell fell to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the league.

After a Saturday off, Lake Forest will continue its pursuit of a third consecutive MWC title at Knox College on September 30. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.