Lake Forest College

The Lake Forest College football team defeated Grinnell College 63-0 and out-gained the Pioneers 469-77 at home on Saturday.

The Forester defense allowed the visitors to cross midfield on just one possession in the contest and 49 of Grinnell's total yards came during that drive that ended at the Lake Forest 31.

Linebacker Joseph Okoh led the Forester defense with seven tackles and he recovered a fumble forced by fellow linebacker Blake Ware in the second quarter. Safety Evan Vernon forced a fumble recovered by linebacker Zachariah Brayboy in the third quarter and Kaden Kern caused one that cornerback Payton Smith picked up in the fourth. Smith also recorded his first career interception to end the Pioneers' longest drive of the day.

In addition to causing turnovers, the Foresters registered 10 tackles for loss, including a pair of sacks by defensive end Ben Jones. Brayboy and defensive end Preston Mosher also had 2.0 tackles for loss apiece.

Quarterback Ethan Springer's dual threat capabilities were on display on Saturday. He completed 18 of 22 passes for 213 yards and a career-high five touchdowns while also rushing 10 times for 103 yards and two more scores. He has already thrown for 1,062 yards and 13 touchdowns and run for 185 yards and three more trips to the end zone in just three games this season.

Wideout Dom Esposito was the team's leading receiver once again with seven catches for 95 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He has 22 receptions, 529 yards and six scores on the year. Tight end James Jordan also caught two touchdown passes and had five receptions for 54 yards overall. Springer's other touchdown pass was the first career reception for freshman wide receiver John Asaro.

Also reaching the end zone for the first time as a Forester was freshman tailback Javion McKinney on a 4-yard run that closed out the scoring with 4:53 to play in the contest.

Lake Forest's special teams also had a good day, highlighted by a 69-yard punt return touchdown by Jeramichael Hernandez. That play matched the fifth-longest punt return in team history. Kicker Hudson Schambach was 9-for-9 on extra points and averaged 64.3 yards on 10 kickoffs while Jakob Gump's only punt of the day traveled 51 yards. 

The shutout was the Foresters' seventh in their last eight meetings with Grinnell and the team has outscored its first three opponents by a combined score of 208-26.

The Midwest Conference opener for both teams left Lake Forest at 3-0 and Grinnell at 1-2 overall this season.

The Foresters will travel to Illinois College next Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff.