After a dominant 42-14 win over the Bulldogs last Thursday, the Lake Forest Varsity Football Team improved their record to 5-2. With only two games left in the regular season, the Scouts have nearly guaranteed a spot in the 6A playoffs.
The Scouts got things going early, forcing Waukegan to a three-and-out on the first possession of the game. Senior WR Gavin Burns scored the game’s first touchdown with a 38-yard touchdown reception, giving Lake Forest a 7-0 lead. Another three-and-out forced by the Scout Defense ultimately resulted in a 15-yard touchdown rush for RB Marty Hippel. Just 11 plays later, the Scouts found the end zone for the third time in the first quarter with a 27-yard catch-and-run from WR Jack Burger.
“We came out with some confidence. We wanted to come out firing and spread the ball around to get everyone touches. It kept the defense on their heels and we were able to continuously punch the ball into the end zone,” QB Danny Van Camp said.
The scoring continued for Lake Forest in the second quarter as Hippel and Burger each collected their second touchdowns of the game, both coming from within Waukegan’s 10-yard line. Hippel punched in a 3-yard walk-in touchdown, and Burger hauled in an 8-yard pass from Van Camp to increase the lead to 35-0. With a strong defensive performance, the Scouts now have four games where they’ve held their opponent to seven points or less in the first half.
“We were humbled from the two losses and realized that we needed to play with the same fire we had in the beginning of the year. With Libertyville right around the corner, it had to start with Waukegan,” DB Joey Schnack said.
To open the second half, Hippel ran 53 yards for his third touchdown of the night. The Scouts were kept at 42 points for the remainder of the night as Waukegan tacked on two scores of their own, one of which coming within the last minute of the game.
With tonight being the last home game of the season, Lake Forest will honor their seniors involved in football, cheer, poms, and band. The game is already seen as a must-win as it marks the final home game for a majority of players. But the Scouts are set to host Libertyville, their biggest conference rivals. With a dominant win last week, the team now focuses on what every player considers the most important game of the year.
“The season is not complete without a win against Libertyville. We spend 364 days a year waiting to play them. It’s one of those rivalries that never disappoints. This game means a little more with it being senior night, and our last ever home game,” said senior DB Ryan Milliman.
The Scouts look to improve to 6-2 with a win over Libertyville at 7 P.M.
