Kevin Krabel Named Forester Athlete of the Week
Linebacker made a number of big plays in win over Ripon
  

Kevin Krabel helped the Foresters to their fourth consecutive victory.

Krabel tallied 11 tackles, including two for loss, a forced fumble, an interception, and a sack in Lake Forest's homecoming win. It gave the Foresters their first 4-0 start to a season since 1982 and ended a 12-game losing streak to Ripon.

The inside linebacker's first "big play" of the game occurred with just 37 seconds remaining in the first half and Ripon at the Forester 24-yard line. Krabel came on a blitz and got to Ripon quarterback Matt Trickey, dislodging the ball at the 34. Junior defensive lineman Tom Starnicky (Oak Lawn, IL/Marist) scooped up the loose ball and sprinted 66 yards for the touchdown, cutting the Ripon lead to 9-7.

After the Foresters had taken a 17-9 lead midway through the third quarter, the senior ended another Ripon drive with his first career interception.

It was a play for which Krabel was not awarded anything statistically that actually saved the day for the Foresters. With Lake Forest nursing a 20-18 lead and just 26 seconds remaining in the game, Ripon had the ball at the Forester 9-yard line. Krabel blitzed once again and spun Trickey around just as he was releasing the pass. The ball traveled backwards, was kicked by a Ripon player at the 23, and eventually rolled out of bounds at the 36. An illegal kicking penalty was called, sending Ripon back to the 38-yard line and out of legitimate field goal range, preserving the victory for Lake Forest.

Krabel is second on the team in tackles this season with 32 in four games. He also leads the team with two sacks and is tied for the lead with a pair of forced fumbles.

Forester Athlete of the Week is voted on by the Lake Forest Athletic Department Staff on Thursdays.