LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Lake Forest handed the Illinois College football team its first defeat of the 2024 season, outlasting the Blueboys, 42-35, on Saturday at Farwell Field.
IC dropped to 1-1 on the young season while the Foresters improved to 2-0. The contest was the Midwest Conference opener for both squads.
LFC 42 IC 35
Lake Forest jumped out to a quick lead when Josiah Kidd returned a blocked punt 21 yards for a touchdown. LFC missed the extra point and held a 6-0 advantage.
The Blueboys came right back to take the lead when
Collin Brunstein latched on to a 20-yard pass from
Destin Chance.
Toby McTamney's extra point gave IC a 7-6 lead. Lake Forest closed out the first quarter scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run by AJ Jackson.
IC stormed back in the second quarter as
Trey Birdsong scored on a 26-yard pass from Chance followed by Chance and Brunstein hooking up again, this time from 74 yards out. McTamney drilled both extra points and IC led 21-13.Â
Jackson found the end zone for LFC just before halftime on a 7-yard run and the Blueboys held a 21-20 lead at halftime.Â
The second half opened with another Jackson TD, this time from 10 yards out and LFC held a 27-21 lead going into the final quarter.
Brunstein and Chance hooked up for a third TD reception to open the fourth quarter on a 64-yard touchdown connection to make it 28-27 IC before Jackson tallied twice more to give LFC a 42-28 lead.
The Blueboys got within a touchdown when
Jordan Bethany scored on an 11-yard TD pass from Chance but that was as close as IC would get.
IC out gained LFC, 505-370 on the day. Chance was 17-for-40 for 415 yards and five touchdowns. Brunstein hauled in seven passes for 227 yards and three scores while Birdsong also had seven catches and 112 yards.
Ethan Billingsley and
Cam Dailey paced the defense with 11 tackles each.
Larvell Watkins had eight stops on the day.
Blue Notes
IC had a nine-game regular-season winning streak snapped… Chance now has 78 career touchdown passes which is third in IC history… Already IC's all-time leader in reception yards and receiving touchdowns, Brunstein increased his totals to 3,811 yards and 54 TDs respectively… Brunstein now has 161 career catches which is fifth in IC history and he needs three to move into fourth place.
Up Next
IC makes its home debut on Saturday when Ripon comes to England Stadium. Kickoff for the Midwest Conference contest is set for 1:00 p.m.
