Foresters Begin 2004 with Dramatic 16-10 Victory at Carleton
Mahaney connects with Carter on 55-yard game-winning TD pass

Mike Carter kicked a 33-yard field goal and had a 55-yard game-wining touchdown catch.

Lake Forest kicked off to begin the game and Carleton's first possession ended with a blocked 23-yard field goal attempt. The Foresters responded with a 14-play, 77-yard drive that culminated with a 33-yard made three-pointer by senior Mike Carter (Arlington Heights, IL/St. Viator).

The home team tied the score with a 24-yard field goal early in the second quarter. Lake Forest was able to move the ball effectively throughout the first half but four second-quarter turnovers ended scoring opportunities. The third quarter was also scoreless as the teams combined to punt five times and turn the ball over once on downs.

Each team punted and threw an interception on its first two fourth-period drives before the visitors finally took the lead on a 2-yard touchdown run by sophomore Anthony Gebhart (Addison, IL/Addison Driscoll). The extra point attempt failed, leaving the Foresters with a 9-3 advantage.

After a punt by each squad, the Knights completed its only touchdown drive of the game with 47 seconds remaining and converted the extra point to take a 10-9 lead.

Junior Keith Hanson (Fairfax, VA/Chantilly) returned the ensuing kickoff 35 yards to midfield. After a penalty and a pair of incomplete passes, sophomore quarterback Matt Mahaney (West Chicago, IL/Addison Driscoll) connected with Carter on a 55-yard touchdown pass with 24 seconds left. Freshman Joe Dziki (Antioch, IL/Antioch) kicked the extra point to put Lake Forest on top 16-10.

Carleton was able to smother the "squib kick" at its own 48 yard line. After a 20-yard pass play and a couple of incompletions, Forester freshman Marc Naya (Miramar, FL/St. Thomas Aquinas) grabbed his first career interception in the end zone on the game's final play to preserve the victory.

Mahaney finished the contest with 309 passing yards in his first career start. Gebhart carried the ball 19 times for 54 yards and added five receptions for 50 more yards. Senior Nick Hildreth (Lombard, IL/Willowbrook) caught three passes for a game-high 85 yards. He is now tied for first place in school history with 119 career receptions and moved into third place with 1,571 receiving yards.

Senior Drew Holman (Morris, IL/Morris) led all players with a dozen tackles, including two behind the line of scrimmage. He also intercepted his 12th career pass, leaving him just three shy of the school record. Junior Soren Johnson (Ripon, WI/Ripon) was next on the squad with 10 stops and senior Scott Hodina (Lake Villa, IL/Antioch) recorded seven tackles, including a pair of sacks.

Lake Forest out-gained Carleton 363-286 but gave up 218 of those yards on the ground. The Foresters committed five turnovers and forced three.

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