Lake Forest College Football News & Notes September 11, 1999       Contact:  Scott Rucker, SID FORESTERS RECORD FIRST GRIDIRON SEASON OPENING WIN SINCE '91      After a season which ended with Lake Forest College's best record since 1986, the Foresters found yet another way to spite the history books by winning their first season opener since 1991. The Foresters won 16-14 at the University of Chicago with a lot of defense and a little nudge from Lady Luck.       The Forester defense did not allow a score, but Lake Forest still found themselves down 14-7 (Chicago scored on interception returns for touchdowns in the first and fourth quarters) with three minutes to go in the game and Chicago in possession. But after freshman C.P. Lehr (Belville, IL/Belville High School) forced a fumble, which was scooped up by Zach Sharkey (Danville, IN/Danville High School), Lake Forest took over and marched 67 yards in 7 plays, capped by a Tom Dranger (Sauk Village, IL/Marian Catholic High School) 32-yard touchdown pass to fellow senior John Litscher (Lake Mills, WI/Lake Mills High School), to pull within 13-14. After sophomore kicker Pat Dunne's (Chicago, IL/Marist High School) extra point attempt was blocked (the third Chicago block of the day, they also blocked two punts) and the Foresters failed to recover the ensuing on-side kick, Chicago took over with 1:23 remaining.       After a rush for no gain and a Lake Forest time-out, Chicago coughed up the football again and Brent Blaudow (Morton, IL/Morton High School) recovered for the Foresters at Chicago's 47-yard line. Two plays later, freshman running back Jim Smith (Chicago, IL/Mount Carmel High School), who led LF with 65 yards rushing for the day including 42 yards in the final two series, scampered 32 yards to the Chicago 10-yard line which set up a 26-yard Dunne field goal attempt. Dunne, who had previously missed from 38 and 39 yards, split the uprights with 22 seconds left in the game.       Despite three interceptions, Dranger finished with 190 yards passing and a touchdown. But the real story was the Lake Forest defense, which surrendered just 71 yards rushing and 286 total yards. Chicago converted on third down once in 15 tries and three times out of seven on fourth down. The Foresters notched three sacks (two by Andy O'Hara (South Bend, IN/Riley High School)) and 12 tackles for losses (4 by O'Hara). Additionally, the Foresters twice turned back the Chicago offense empty-handed from a first and goal situation.      Next week, Lake Forest will look to become the first team since 1985 to open the season 2-0 when they face Monmouth at 1:30 p.m. at Farwell Field.