Foresters Fall to Nation's 14th-Ranked Team
Bleitner's 22 tackles for loss a new school record
  

David Bleitner has set new school records with 13.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss in 2003.

The visitors scored first on a seven-yard touchdown pass to Brian Schley with 2:13 remaining in the first quarter. St. Norbert's extra point failed and both teams' next three possessions ended in punts. 

With 1:23 left in the half, freshman Ryan Gallegos (Plantation, FL/St. Thomas Aquinas) recovered a fumble at the Lake Forest 23, but the Foresters were unable to move the ball into scoring territory. The Green Knights took a 6-0 lead into intermission.

On the first play of the second half, senior quarterback Don Lackey (Lindenhurst, IL/Antioch) found junior Nick Hildreth (Lombard, IL/Willowbrook) for a 45-yard connection, the game's longest reception. Lake Forest drove to the visitors' 15 but was unable to score. On its second drive of the period, Lackey completed four passes for 28 yards, including a seven-yard touchdown strike to junior A.J. Rodino (Elkhart, IN/Elkhart Memorial) on fourth-and-four to tie the score at six.

The Lake Forest defense halted the Green Knights on their ensuing drive. Freshman linebacker Louis Bertuca (Chicago, IL/Fenwick) wrapped up Aljay Wren for a loss of five to start the possession and junior David Bleitner (St. Louis, MO/Vianney) notched one of the Foresters' three sacks on the afternoon on the following play. Bertuca finished the game with 11 tackles, including four behind the line of scrimmage. Bleitner ended with six stops, including a sack and two more for loss. The junior has tallied 22 tackles for loss this season, breaking the previous school record of 20, set in 1977.

The Foresters were forced to punt on their ensuing drive. Starting from his own 43, St. Norbert's Wren broke loose for a 37-yard rush and then added runs of eight, five, and two, respectively. On second-and-goal from the six, the Ryan Hartman found a Ryan Russell in the end zone to put the visitors ahead 12-6 with 1:42 left in the third quarter. The extra point try failed again.

After the Foresters punted again, senior defensive end Tom Starnicky (Oak Lawn, IL/Marist) picked off a pass at the St. Norbert 30 with 25 seconds remaining in the quarter. Lake Forest reached the St. Norbert five before turning the ball over on downs. 

The Green Knights added their third passing score of the day and a two-point conversion with 2:45 left in the contest to seal a 20-6 victory. 

Junior linebacker Omar Pickering (Mount Vernon, NY/Port Chester) led the Forester defense with 13 tackles and his league-high fourth forced fumble of the year. Senior Pat Gillihan (Leawood, KS/Blue Valley North) added a dozen stops and Starnicky finished with 11, a sack, and an interception. Freshman Anthony Gebhart (Addison, IL/Addison Driscoll) picked off a pair of St. Norbert passes.

Lake Forest will conclude its season at Ripon College next Saturday (November 15). The Foresters beat Ripon 20-18 on a late field goal in last year's Lake Forest Homecoming Game.

Box Score