After a 17-14 loss against Lake Zurich High School, the Lake Forest Varsity Football Team no longer holds their undefeated record. The team will continue their season with an away game against Stevenson High School this Friday.
For the first time this season, the Scouts received the opening kickoff putting the offense on the field to start the game. What seems to be a small abnormality might have been enough to knock the Scouts out of rhythm as the offense had a quick three-and-out on the first drive. After a long 12-play drive from the Bears resulting in a field goal, Lake Zurick led 3-0 after the first quarter. The Scouts found themselves down 10-0 after a long touchdown run from the Bears but answered right before halftime with an 8-yard touchdown reception from WR Charlie Markee.
“I think they played a lot harder and more physically than we expected which was a big reason they came out on top,” said senior WR Bink Hartline. “They were playing with a huge chip on their shoulder considering they were 1-3 and realized that their season was relying on a game like this one.”
In a game where every drive mattered, the Scouts trailed 10-7 to open the second half. It didn’t take the Bears long strike again, scoring on the first drive of the second half. A 1-yard touchdown run extended the Bears’ lead back to ten points, making the score 17-7. From that point forward, both teams were held scoreless until two minutes left in the fourth quarter when QB Danny Van Camp punched in a 7-yard touchdown rush to make the score 17-14. With one last chance to recover an onside kick, the Scouts were unable to convert.
It’s safe to say it was not the same Scouts team we’ve seen the past four weeks, but this loss has only left the Scouts more motivated.
“We will be more focused during the week with our preparation and mindset going into the game. I also think that we won’t take these next couple opponents lightly and we will be ready to play the way we did the first couple of weeks,” said Hartline.
