Friday, December 24, 2010
Happy Holidays
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
SIX FORESTERS NAMED ALL-MIDWEST CONFERENCE
Six Lake Forest College players were named to the All-Midwest Conference Teams. Senior Kicker Tim Gruzwalski and Junior Defensive Lineman Kenny Clady-Mason were named to the 2nd team. While Senior Captains Linebacker Anthony Garetto, Running Back Brock Stenberg, and Tight End Steve Yena were joined on the honorable mention list by Junior WR Kevin Davis who made the team as a Special Teams Player.
Coach Catanzaro on the awards:
"Though I am always happy when our player recieve awards of this magnitude, I can't help but think that some of the guys on this list were "underrated" by the awards. I am also surprised by a couple of omissions from the all-conference list."
"I am glad to see that the hard work that these individuals have put in to their betterment, and the performance that they had on the field has been recognized."
On the winners:
"I am thrilled that our three captains as Tim were able to complete their careers by being recognized. I think that all of those seniors are worth of any honor that comes their way. Brock finished 4th in the conference in rushing yards among running backs, and Anthony finished 7th in the conference in tackles. Steve was a player who will never have the stats to back up his successes because of what we ask him to do in our offensive scheme. One of the things that stands out about Steve is that though he didn't catch a lot of passes, almost all of his catches were for either first downs or touchdowns. The coaches in the league must have noticed this as well, as this is his third all-conference honor. Beyond the statistics these three guys were just tremendously consistent players throughout the year and their career.
Kenny really had a coming out year this year. He took over a position that had been manned by seniors throughout the last few years, and he really stepped up as a junior. He was ranked 7th in sacks, and 11th in Tackle's for a loss. I am looking for him to continue to build upon the foundation that he has laid."
On the ommissions:
"I'd rather not comment on that."
Friday, November 5, 2010
Munoz named Forester Athlete of the Week!
Junior Offensive Lineman Gil Munoz was named the Forester Athlete of the Week by the Coaches within the Athletic department.
Coach Catanzaro on Gil's award:
"This is a very symbolic and important award. Though Gil is deserving individually, what it truly represents is the accomplishments and performance of our entire offensive line. For two weeks, they have been able to run the ball for over 200 yards, and they have not given up a single sack during that time either. I have been thoroughly impressed with their performance, and there is no doubt that they have been a major reason as to why we are on a win streak. I can't say enough about the effort, camaraderie, and chemistry that has been developed amongst this position group. This is a very young position group with 3 juniors, 1 sophomore, and 2 freshman in the rotation, and their potential is limitless."
Munoz is the third Forester football player to be named the Forest Athlete of the Week during the Fall semester. Joining junior Casey Flynn (Carroll), and Freshman Eddie Dobernig (Lawrence).
LAKE FOREST COLLEGE PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Forester Domination!
The Foresters had another impressive victory this weekend, beating the Knox Prairie Fire by a score of 35-6. While playing to win, the Foresters were also playing for another cause. Saturday marked the culmination of the Foresters’ support of Trick or Treat for the Troops, in which they collected supplies to send to servicemen and women in Iraq. Additionally, the Foresters welcomed a group from the training class at Great Lakes Naval Base to come and watch the game.
When asked why he thought the team was able to start off last Saturday’s game so well, Coach Cat said, “Defensively, I felt like we were really well prepared, and we were at our highest emotional level of the year to start the game. We had an opportunity to get five three and outs to start the game. That was an awesome thing to watch take place.
Offensively, I felt like we did a great job moving the ball. We had a few big plays in the passing game, despite not completing an overly high percentage of passes. In addition, we were running the ball with great success. Our tailbacks and quarterbacks were having some great success, as was evidenced by rushing for over 200 yards on the day. We just came off firing on all cylinders.
In addition, we had something that was possibly even greater for our team. We had BIG plays in the kicking game. Our 49-yard field goal by Dom Campagna was a big boost. No one on the other sideline thought we were really trying a field goal; they thought we were faking one. It was a big play, and I was glad to see Tim Gruzwalski come out and fire in a few additional field goals to help increase our lead even when we weren't scoring touchdowns. 12 points in the kicking game is a big day. Our special teams play was just as valuable in kickoffs and punts.”
Sophomore quarterback Pete Scaffidi and junior wide receiver Kevin Davis put together an impressive game, which greatly contributed to Saturday’s victory. On Scaffidi and Davis, Coach Cat commented, “They etched their names in the record books on Saturday. Kevin tying the individual game record for TD's, and Pete tying the record for thrown TD's in a game. These guys have been hooking up for a number of years since they were high school teammates at South Elgin. When Pete transferred in this year, you could see some comfort between the two of them. As a second teamer, Pete wasn't getting a lot of reps with Kevin, but when they had a chance, there was a natural rebirth of their chemistry. Beyond that, I think that Pete forces all of our wide receivers to maintain their focus. He has a unique ability to extend plays, and in doing so, he has created plays farther down the field than our wide out might expect.”
The defense also performed remarkably, holding Knox’s offense to just six points during the game. When asked who was the main contributor to the success of the defense, Coach Cat said, “There was no single player. It was a tremendous group effort. We had some players, Casey Flynn, Tanner Compton, Luke Butts, Eddie Dobernig, and Kenny Clady-Mason make big individual plays, but that doesn't take into consideration how some of our bench players like Jake Rotkvich, Michael Garetto-Balmer, and others made plays as well. It was truly our finest team defensive performance. We played with a determination that was unrelenting in its pursuit of the football. We always had multiple players in on the tackle. Our pass defense was pretty solid, as well. That is an area that has made leaps and bounds over the last few weeks. We had our hands on 10 total passes, including 2 interceptions.”
This week, I also had a chance to catch up with Coach Dodd, who helped bring the training class from Great Lakes Naval Base to Saturday’s game. A former Navy SEAL himself, Coach Dodd said, “They [the trainees] absolutely loved the game; it was something different and close by. An ironic fact is a college teammate of Coach Canty is in the training right now and attended the game. Of course, that means he was coached by Coach Catanzaro as well.”
When asked how the Foresters can become more involved with our local military community, Coach Dodd said, “To get more involved with the community is simple, we encourage them to explore and see different things as they travel throughout their careers. The other side of the partnership is for LFC students to visit the base and witness some of the training. Each base has a PAO, which is public affairs officer, or like Coach Cat does with his winner’s manual, he invites people from different aspects of the military to come speak to the athletes. I have extended offers to the players to visit and witness our training up here and that offer is certainly available to any student who would like to visit.”
It was a successful week for the Foresters, both on and off the field. Looking ahead to Saturday’s game against St. Norbert, Coach Cat said that he is looking for one thing—“A Forester victory. Plain and simple.” Here’s hoping that Coach Cat and the Foresters get that last victory.
--Elise Beckman, contributing author
POTW Announced
The Forester Coaching Staff announced the players of the week for their victory over Knox College. In a rare case, the coaches could not come to a conclusion between two school record tying performances on the offensive side of the board. For the first time in recent history, their will be "CO" Offensive MVP's.
Offense: Kevin Davis- Junior WR and Pete Scaffidi- Sophomore QB. Davis and Scaffidi connected for three scoring strikes in the victory. Davis' three touchdown recpetions in a game ties the school record, which was most recently accomplished by current wide recievers coach Dan Carter against Grinnell College in 2009. Scaffidi also threw a touchdown pass to sophomore Austin Sobey, giving him four touchdown passes on the day. This also tied the Forester mark for most touchdown passes in a game. This mark was most recently done in that same Grinnell game by current Forester Geoff Sobey. Davis finished the day with five catches for 113 yards. Scaffidi finished his relief appearance 7 of 20 passing for 152 yards and 4 TD's. Scaffidi was also the leading rusher for the Foresters with 12 carries for 102 yards. Davis and Scaffidi were high school teammates at South Elgin High School.
HM: to the entire offensive line, for their first 200 yard rushing, no sack performance of the year.
Defensively: Casey Flynn- Junior DL- Morristown, NJ. Flynn has an all-around solid performance for the Foresters recording 8 tackles, 1 Sack, 1 Forced Fumble, and 2.5 tackles for a loss. Flynn disrupted numerous Knox running plays by gaining superior penetration up field. Flynn's pressure on another pass attempt by the Prarie Fire led to freshman Eddie Dobernig's second interception of the day. Flynn played his high school football at Morristown High School in New Jersey.
HM: Eddie Dobernig (2 Interceptions), and Luke Butts (13 Tackles, 2 Pass Breakups)
Special Teams: Luke Butts- Junior DB- Warrensburg, IL. Butts had an active day on defense as well as special teams. The junior recorded three tackles on kickoffs alone. He also helped orchestrate a punt block unit that had is largest return yard average on the season, and provided tremendous pressure on the Knox punt team. Butts played his high school football at Warrensburg-Latham High School in Illinois.
HM: Domnick Campagna 49 yard field goal and averaged 60 yards per kickoff.
Scout Team: Max Goodrich- Freshman DL- Watervliet, MI. Goodrich, who is a defensive lineman, was asked to play offensive line due to a rash of injuries that hit the offensive line. Max performed at a very high level and made our defensive lineman much more successful in the game, than they had been in the previous two weeks. Max played his high school football at Watervliet High School in Michigan.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Dobernig named D3Football National Team of the Week
Eddie Dobernig's performance against Lawrence University has been recognized once again. This time, he becomes the third Forester defender to be named to the team this season. He joins junior defensive lineman Casey Flynn (vs. Carroll University) and Dylan Burke (vs Beloit) who have previously been recognized.
Congratulations Eddie. D3 FOOTBALL.COM PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Dobernig collects MWC Player of the Week Awards
Freshman Defensive Back Eddie Dobernig was named the Midwest Conference Player of the Week for his performance against Lawrence University on Saturday. Dobernig had 5 tackles, and 2 interceptions, the second of which was returned for a 39 yard touchdown.
Congratulations Eddie! MIDWEST CONFERENCE PRESS RELEASE Click Here
Players of the Week Announced
The Forester Football Coaches announced the players of the week for the Lawrence game this past week.
Offensively: Pete Scaffidi, Sophomore, QB, South Elgin, IL. Pete in his second start put together a strong overall game. His performance incuded a 14-22 for 155 yards. In addition to his efficiency with his arm, Pete also ran the ball 6 times for 47 yards (7.2 yards per carry). Pete's decision making was particularly strong in the first half where the Foresters converted 5 of 8 third down plays. Pete played his prep football at South Elgin High School, and played one season at Rock Valley Community College prior to transferring to Lake Forest this year.
Special Teams: Dominick Campagna, Sophomore, Kicker, Elmwood Park, IL. Dom, who is the Forester's kickoff specialist placed 2 of his 6 kickoffs into the endzone for touchbacks and averaged 61.2 yards per kickoff. Lawrence who was ranked in the top half of the conference in kickoff returns, only managed 74 total return yards on four returns for an 18 yard average. Dom played his prep football at Fenwick High School.
Defensively: Ed Dobernig, Freshman, DB, New Berlin, WI. Eddie played perhaps his most impressive games as a Forester. Eddie had a dominating fourth quarter for the Foresters as he recorded two interceptions. His first interception ended a potential game tying drive by the Vikings. The Forester offense capitalized on Eddie's interception and scored a touchdown, giving the squad a 14 point lead. Eddie returned his second interception 39 yards for his first collegiate touchdwon. In addition Eddie made 5 tackles on the day. Eddie played his prep football at Eisenhower High School in New Berlin, WI.
Scout Team: Keenan Carrawell, Freshman, WR, St. Louis, MO. Keenan's enthusiasm for running the Lawrence offense was evident all week long. The freshman made some big plays in the scrimmage periods of pracitce and forced the defense to focus on certain route combinations. Keenan's performance during the practice week, undoubtedyl help defensive back Eddie Dobernig be more prepared for the game this week. Keenan played his prep football at University City High School in St. Louis, MO.
Congratulations to each of these players!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Earning That Victory!
This past weekend, the Foresters were home to take on Lawrence University at Farwell Field. Playing perhaps their most impressive game of the season, the Foresters were able to finally put a “W” on the board. Coach Cat expressed his happiness with the outcome, saying, “I am excited that our team took the next step this week and got our first win of the season. I couldn't be more pleased with the result. It was a long time coming, and our players have worked extremely hard each week of the season. It was only a matter of time before we pushed through.”
When asked about the keys to winning the game, Coach Cat said, “Our first half. Period. We haven't started a game all season like we did on Saturday. Our first drive offensively really set the tone. We were able to run the ball at will, and were able to convert a few third downs that led to our first touchdown. In the first half, offensively, defensively, and on special teams, we were really spectacular. Offensively, our offensive line and quarterback Pete Scaffidi really got comfortable and in a rhythm. I think that an established rhythm makes it easier for the offensive line.”
He credits the offensive line with doing an incredible job, saying, “Our offensive line gave up zero sacks and gained over 200 yards rushing for the first time all season. They are led by juniors Gil Munoz, Dan McSparin, and Sal Perales. The leadership of those upper-class guys has been really exciting to see grow. Our center, freshman Tom Mitchell, was ALL OVER the field. He was getting down field and making big blocks all the way through the whistle.”
Sophomore quarterback Pete Scaffidi started for his second game of the season. Last week, Coach Cat commented on his performance against Monmouth College, saying, “Pete did a commendable job preparing this week, and I am excited to see his continued growth. I am confident that he will grow from this game. It was his first start in the MWC and I think he had a chance to see what the true level of the competition is.” After this week’s game, Coach Cat said, “Pete had his second start this week. I know that the Monmouth game was a great learning experience for him. It also displayed to our coaches which parts of our offense Pete was most comfortable with. There is no doubt in my mind that the second half of the Monmouth game helped us put together this week’s game plan, even more so than our film study of Lawrence. I am excited about some of the plays that Pete made with both his arm, and his feet. He gives us a nice double threat combination at quarterback.”
Perhaps one of the most impressive players on the field this past week was freshman defensive back Ed Dobernig. On Saturday, he had 5 tackles and a return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Commenting on Dobernig, Coach Cat said, “Eddie played a great three quarters. After film study, I am sure he'll agree. His two interceptions in the fourth quarter were pivotal to us closing out the game. His return for a touchdown is the second return for a touchdown by the defense this semester. I am hopeful that this will be one of many more in Eddie's career. One of the unnoticed things that Eddie also did on Saturday was that he tackled VERY VERY well. He made a couple of big third down plays on tackles that got our offense the ball back.”
After reviewing film on Sunday, Coach Cat said, “It was great for our guys to eliminate the 0 in the win/loss column. I know that the coaches and the players all slept better last night. I hope that this win, and the feeling that comes with it, will serve as motivation for wanting another win against Knox this upcoming week.”
The last home game of the season takes place this coming Saturday as Knox comes to Farwell Field! We will be celebrating our Forester seniors and their parents. We hope to see you all there!
--Elise Beckman, contributing author
(Photo Credit: Scott Sanford '14)
Spotlight on Freshman Clint Stibbard!
Hometown: Kelowna, British Columbia
High School: Kelowna Senior Secondary
High School Coach: Roy Anderson
Position: Linebacker
Academic Honors: Monty Minor Football Scholarship
Planning to Major In: Economics
Birthday: June 19th
Birthplace: Smithers, BC
Parents’ Names: Jeff and Brenda Stibbard
Favorite Movie: Friday Night Lights
Favorite Book: Atlas Shrugged
Favorite Food: Steak
Favorite Quote: “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”
Person You’d Most Like to Meet: Jay Cutler
Favorite MLB Team: Not a baseball fan
Favorite NFL Team: Chicago Bears
When asked what he likes best about playing football at Lake Forest College, Clint said, “One of the best things about playing football at LFC is getting to know my teammates.” On being entertained at practice, Clint said, “There are many entertaining antics at practice; one that comes to mind is Joe Stella's dance moves in the locker room and on the field.”
Clint, good luck as you finish out your first season as a Forester!
--Elise Beckman, contributing author
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Monmouth POTW
The Forester Coaching Staff announced the Players of the Week for the Monmouth Game.
Offense: Sophomore Running Back Al Mitchell (Milwaukee, WI). Al replaced an injured starter Brock Stenberg in the second half, and had a his most productive stint as a Forester. Mitchell took his first touch in the second half for 11 yards, and would end up averaging 7.1 yards per carry in the second half. Mitchell totaled 78 yards rushing on 11 carries, and 27 yards receiving on 4 catches. What was perhaps most impressive of Mitchell's performance was his yards after contact total of 38 yards. Mitchell played his prep football at Pulaski High School in Milwaukee.
Defense: Junior Safety Luke Butts (Warrensburg, IL). Luke was all over the field on Saturday. He recorded 13 tackles, 1 TFL, and 2 Pass Breakups. Butts also helped eliminate four drive threats with tackles or pass breakups on third down plays. Butts received his second POTW award in as many weeks. Butts played his prep football at Warrensburg-Latham High School in Central Illinois.
Special Teams: Junior Safety Luke Butts (Warrnesburg, IL). In a rare double-double, Luke recorded three special teams tackles, including a "big hit" on a kick off return. In addition, he had a punt pressure.
Scout Team: Sophomore Quarterback Justin Novak (Miami, FL). Justin served the defense as the Monmouth QB. He did a great job of forcing the defense to secure their rush lanes, and had a phenomenal attitude. His efforts made the defense much better on Saturday. Justin played his prep football at Miami's Coral Park High School.
Congratulations to each of these Foresters!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Inching Closer to Victory
The Foresters were home this past weekend to take on Beloit. After a valiant effort, the Foresters suffered another tough loss. This game, however, had the Foresters fighting into overtime.
When asked about the game, Coach Cat said, “That was a heartbreaking loss. I wanted that win for our players. They fought extremely hard through the entire game, and gave themselves an opportunity to have a chance in overtime. There were some stellar individual performances on the field on Saturday. Dylan Burke, Brock Stenberg, Luke Butts, Bryce Jones, they all played the best games of their careers on Saturday. I can look at each of our players, directly in the eye, and know that they gave us EVERYTHING that they were capable of."
He continued, saying, “I give credit to Beloit, they could have folded up the tents with the way that we came back, but they fought all the way to the end, as well. Coach Brann did a great job of having his team finish the game. I have talked to our players about the fact that each week, no matter what the outcome, or the score, we play for ‘sixty minutes, or whatever it takes.’ We definitely played all the way until the end. I am excited to see where we are able to grow from this game. I know that our guys are going to continue to work hard getting ready for this week’s game."
As mentioned by Coach Cat, several players performed tremendously during the game. Among them were linebacker Bryce Jones ‘14, defensive back Luke Butts ’12, defensive lineman Casey Flynn ’12, defensive lineman Dylan Burke ’12, and running back Brock Stenberg ’11. Coach Cat commented on each performance, saying, “Bryce Jones had the opportunity to play more this week than he had in previous weeks and really stood out. I hope that he can use this as motivation to continue his development as a total player." During the game, Bryce had 6 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks.
Commenting on the upperclassmen, Coach Cat said, "Luke had an amazing game. Anytime a player is personally responsible for three takeaways (2 INTS, 1 Fumble Recovery) you have to be excited about their performance as a coach. He keeps proving why he is the best safety in the MWC. Casey Flynn might have a four-leaf clover stuck in his shoe, because he has three interceptions in the last two weeks, and they have all been off of tipped passes. Truly an outstanding player, who has worked hard to make himself even better and more productive. Dylan Burke had his breakout game this week. I am hopeful that he is able to continue to build on this performance. I know that he was struggling a little bit early in the season with an ankle injury, and it is good to see him bouncing back from that. Brock Stenberg played his tail off today. His intensity running the football was tremendous. It may not have been his productive game, yardage wise, but his effort running the ball provided a lot of motivation for the team, and built our confidence as the game went on."
Tomorrow, the Foresters head to Monmouth, IL to take on Monmouth College. Good luck, boys!
--Elise Beckman, contributing author
(Photo credit: Scott Sanford '14)
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Players of the Week: Beloit
The Forester Football Coaching Staff announced the team player of the week awards from the Beloit College game.
Defensive player of the week: Luke Butts, Junior, Safety (Warrensburg, IL)
Luke had a hand in three Forester turnovers. He intercepted two passes, and recovered a fumble forced by Anthony Garetto in the fourth quarter. Luke's second interception, was followed by a 64 yard return to the Beloit 12 yard line. Luke upped his season total to three interceptions and his career total to nine. Butts played his prep football at Warrensburg-Latham High School, in Illinois.
Offensive Player of the Week: Brock Stenberg, Senior, Running Back (Grand Haven, MI) Brock won his second offensive player of the week award rushing 23 times for 104 yards, he also had two receptions on the day as well. Brock's final run of regulation was a 5-yard rush for a touchdown. The ensuing point after tied the ball game, and forced overtime. Stenberg played his prep football at Grand Haven High School, in Michigan.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Tim Gruzwalski, Senior, Kicker (Oakland, MI)
Tim earned his first player of the week award in 2010 with a great day kicking on Saturday. Tim was perfect on extra-points, including his game-tying extra point with one minute remaining in the fourth quarter. Tim was also 2-3 on field goals including two in the pivotal third quarter for the Foresters. Gruzwalski played his prep football at Stoney Creek High School, in Michigan.
Scout Team Player of the Week: Greg McDowell, Freshman, Quarterback (Chicago, IL)
Greg provided the Forester Defense with a lot to account for, both as a quarterback and a wide reciever during the practice week. His steallar performance on scout team, earned him his first opportunity to play on game day, where he completed his first and only pass of the day in the third quarter. McDowell played his prep football at Orr High School, in Chicago.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Spotlight on Freshman Bryce Jones!
Juice Hall of Fame
John Klasen, Class of 1996, was inducted into the LFC Athletics Hall Of Fame this past homecoming weekend. This is a tremendous honor for a tremendous alum, player, and representative of all that is great about Lake Forest College.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Foresters Fall to Carroll, but Look Ahead to Homecoming 2010!
Last Saturday, the Foresters traveled to Wisconsin to take on the Carroll Pioneers. Though they fell to the Pioneers 15-7, the Foresters experienced their closest contest this season. After the game, Coach Cat said, "We played tough. That was the grittiest performance of the year so far. Our defense played extremely well, especially considering the starting field position of the first half. It was also great to see some of our players make "BIG" plays. We hadn't had any real big plays this year on the defensive side of the ball. Offensively, we took care of the football, and had a couple of good drives, but we still need to become more consistent in the things that we do. I am looking forward to our guys having a great homecoming week as we prepare for Beloit."
This week, the Foresters have been working hard to prepare for this weekend’s Homecoming Game against Beloit. A full explanation of the Forester forecast for the second half of the season and the predictions for this weekend’s contest can be seen tomorrow morning during the Pre-Game show.
Looking forward to Homecoming and hoping to see fans pack Farwell Field on Saturday, let’s go Foresters!
--Elise Beckman, contributing author
Spotlight on Kevin Davis!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
FLYNN NAMED TO NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK!
Junior Defensive Lineman Casey Flynn, was recognized nationally by D3Football to their National Team of the Week for his performance against Carroll University on Saturday. The Morristown, NJ native recorded two interceptions on consecutive series of Carroll QB Chris Casper. Flynn also recorded three tackles on the day.
Read more here: D3 Football Release
POTW ANNOUNCED
The Forester Coaching Staff announced the players of the week from the Carroll game on Monday.
Offense: Senior Running Back, Brock Stenberg (Grand Haven, Michigan). Stenberg rushed for 59 yards on 16 carries, and led the Foresters with three receptions for 32 yards. The dual threat runningback also improved his pass blocking significantly. Stenberg played his prep football at Grand Haven High School.
Defensie: Junior Defensive Lineman, Casey Flynn (Morristown, NJ). Flynn had a career day on Saturday, recording interception to end back to back Carroll drives. Flynn's first interception was off of a tipped ball by Kenny Clady-Mason. The next series after a timeout, Flynn dropped back into coverage after and intercepted the Pioneer pass that was deflected by Luke Butts. Flynn also recorded three tackles on the day. Flynn played his prep football at Morristown High School.
Special Teams: Junior Wide Receiver, Kevin Davis (South Elgin, IL). Davis recorded three solo tackles on punt coverage, and forced two fair catches on the day. His tremendous coverage ability held the Pioneer return game to 20 yards on four returns, including one tackle for a loss of yardage. Davis played his high school football at South Elgin High School.
Scout Team: Freshman Defensive Lineman, Austin Tijerina (Coral Springs, FL). Austin had a great week working against our offensive line representing the Carroll pass rush. Austin, who made the move to the interior defensive line early in the season is making significant strides in his understanding of the position. Tijerina played his prep football at Marjory Stoneham Douglas High School in Parkland, FL.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
The Foresters Play for a Cause--and a Teammate!
On Saturday, the Foresters hosted the Grinnell Pioneers for the Foresters’ fourth game of the season. In the end, the Foresters were defeated by a score of 41-20. However, Coach Cat and the Foresters took more away from the game than what the scoreboard read at the end. On Saturday, as with every game, the Foresters were playing for a cause.
Saturday, September 25th, marked the national “Coach to Cure MD” program throughout the country. Each year, football coaches from colleges and universities across the United States rally to support the fight against Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The most common fatal condition amongst young men, DMD is a genetic disorder that causes muscles to rapidly deteriorate. The average life expectancy of a person with DMD is 25 years.
When Coach Cat was asked how the “Coach to Cure MD” program impacted the Lake Forest College community, he said, “I hope that first and foremost it has helped raise awareness of this disease. There are very few diseases that affect young men so specifically. I know that when the day is over, we may not raise funds at the level they may at Michigan or Ohio State, but I do know that we have been able to engage students, faculty, and fans in a discussion about DMD."
During Saturday’s game against Grinnell, the Foresters fought valiantly to catch up to the Pioneers. When asked what happened on the field, Coach Cat said, “On the field, we had a chance. After the fumble (forced by Luke Butts) we had a very advantageous field position on the 41-yard line. We had two big plays, a pass to Ty Van Valkenburg, and then a rush by Geoff Sobey. Those two plays made it first and ten at the 11-yard line. On third down and seven, we gave up a sack on a missed protection, and this led to a 4th down that was not in our field goal range against the wind. We decided to go for it, unsuccessfully. To Grinnell's credit, they capitalized on two very uncharacteristic penalties on the next drive. Our only two seniors that were on the field, both committed personal foul penalties. They were then able to hit another deep pass against our deep zone coverage. They were up 14 at that point, and we put together a drive that dips us into the red-zone for the second series in a row. Unfortunately, a holding penalty put us in a long down and distance situation. We weren't able to convert from there. I believe that if we had scored on either of those drives, we would have been able to put more pressure on Grinnell to answer us. Those were two pivotal points that we needed to convert on.”
The Foresters have been at work again this week preparing for this weekend’s game against Carroll University. Coach Cat said, “I think that over the course of this week, our players will be focused on taking that next step. In our last three games, we have had a chance to take the lead, and we have been unsuccessful in doing so. We need to take that next step in order to break our streak.”
Looking forward to this weekend, we end on a note of remembrance. During last Saturday’s game, the Lake Forest College community celebrated the life of Benny Watters by honoring him with a moment of noise. Coach Cat commented, "Pre-game, we had a moment of noise for Benny. We didn't think that a traditional ‘moment of silence’ really fit Benny's personality, or his relationship with our guys. I think it was a great gesture, and I know that he was looking down cheering us on. I was really honored that his mom and dad, and two sisters joined us for the Forester Walk in the morning as well.”
Always looking ahead, but never forgetting to look behind--let’s go Foresters!
--Elise Beckman, contributing author
Photos: (L) Coach Cat wears his "Coach to Cure MD" patch. (R) Junior Josh Kabala catches the ball. (Photo Credit: Scott Sanford '14)
Grinnell College POTW Announced
The Lake Forest College Football team is pleased to announce the Forest Football Player of the Week award winners.
On Offense, Kevin Davis had 7 catches for 147 yards and two touchdowns. All were career highs. The junior from South Elgin High School, had a breakout performance. This game was his most prolific of his career. In four games this year, Kevin has more yards, and touchdowns than he had in his entire career coming into the season. He needs one catch to pass his previous career total. Kevin's has scored more than half of the Foresters touchdowns on the season.
On Defense, junior Kenny Clady-Mason recorded his second Player of the Week Honors. Kenny had 5 tackles, including 2 tackles for a loss, and was a disruptive force along the defensive line all day long for the Foresters. KCM was often double team, and his opponent was called for three holding calls on the day. Kenny played his high school football at Corliss High School in Chicago.
On Special Teams, freshman Alex Gracia made his impression felt. In addition to having a few solid blocks on kick return, Alex also excelled as a gunner on the punt team. Gracia also had three kick returns for 81 yards. The first year Forester played his high school football at Dysart High School in Willow Canyon, AZ.
The week #4 scout team player of the week was Tanner Daugherty. Tanner, a freshman from Sheboygan North High School in Wisconsin, has been returning from an off-season injury and over the last two weeks has really been putting pressure on the offense to be successful. During the week, Tanner had multiple pass breakups, including an interception.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Illinois College
The Forester football program announced their players of the week from the Illinois College game on Monday.
The offensive player of the week was junior offensive lineman Gil Munoz, who had a tremendous day blocking for the Foresters. Munoz, who is charged with making all of the line adjustments performed at a very high level, and did not give up a sack in the game against the Blueboys. Gil attended De La Salle High School in Chicago.
The defensive player of the week was outside linebacker Tanner Compton. The senior from Macon, Missouri, had a great game recording his second career interception, and leading the Foresters with 8 unassisted tackles and 14 overall. Compton also served as the intensity leader of the Foresters and helped keep the defense working hard through 100 plays.
The special teams player of the week was senior punter Anthony Garetto. Garetto, who was the defensive player of the week last week, had a tremendous game punting for the Foresters. His leg accounted for three significant changes in field position, and twiced pinned the Blueboys deep in their own territory, including a 2nd quarter punt that pinned them on their own two yard line. Of his 6 punts, two were downed inside the 20, and two were fair caught. His 36.5 yard net punting average was outstanding considering the windy conditions in Jacksonville. Anthony played his high school ball at Marist High School in Chicago.
The scout team player of the week was sophomore running back Thomas Wilson. Thomas, who played his prep football at Culver Military Academy, bounced back from a nagging finger injury and provided a tremendous look for the Forester defense. His running ability was put on display and has provided the coaches with some enthusiasm towards his playmaking ability for the next couple of weeks.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Foresters Suffer a Tough Loss on the Road
The Foresters suffered another tough loss this weekend at Illinois College. After the game on Saturday, I had a chance to catch up with Coach Cat. When asked about what he thought of the game, Coach Cat said, “We had a tough game today. Every time we started to push forward, we shot ourselves in the foot. A fumble here, an interception here, a penalty there. We just couldn’t put together a clean game.”
While the game did not end as Coach Cat and the Foresters were hoping, he did mention some positives that were seen on Saturday. He said, “On a positive note, our defense played with a lot of grit after finding themselves in some difficult field positions. They were on the field for 100 plays on Saturday. On offense, our offensive line only gave up 1 sack in 50 pass attempts.”
Coach Cat continued, saying, “I think that we, as coaches, need to focus on getting our run game to be better. We have a great tailback in senior Brock Stenberg and we need to make sure that we get him more touches. On defense, we need to get more pressure on the quarterback. To not record a sack today with the number of blitzes that we dialed up, it means that we aren’t finishing the plays up front.”
This week, the Foresters will be looking forward to a tough week of practice before they take on the Grinnell College Pioneers (2-1 overall) on Saturday. In conclusion, Coach Cat said, “I am looking forward to getting a good week of practice in before we return to Farwell Field next week against Grinnell.”
Here’s hoping that the Foresters will be able to put together all that they have been learning to finally put a W on the board. We hope to see you all at the game!
--Elise Beckman, contributing author
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK- RIPON
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Senior running back, Brock Stenberg, ran for 113 yards on 20 carries. His 44 yard run near the end of the first quarter was a huge emotional boost for the Foresters. In addition to his running, Brock was extremely solid in his pass protection for the Foresters. Brock is from Grand Haven, Michigan and attended Grand Haven High School.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Senior linebacker, Anthony Garetto, led the Foresters with 11 solo tackles and an assisted tackle. He had perhaps his best game of his career playing sideline to sideline and attempting to contain Ripon's running attack. Anthony is from Orland Park, Illinois and attended Marist High School.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Junior wide receiver, Kevin Davis, was a force on the coverage teams. He personally forced two fair catches on punt coverage, and was a disruptive force in the kick coverage as well. Kevin is from South Elgin, Illinois and attended South Elgin High School.
SCOUT TEAM PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Freshman tight end, Quernellus Jones, was nominated by the offensive coaches for his work as a defensive end on the scout team in the teams preparation for Ripon. Quernellus is from Chicago, Illinois and attended Lincoln Park High School.
