St. Norbert Wears Down Lake Forest to Win MWC North Title

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, November 9, 2019 | Football
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - St. Norbert College rallied from an early 10-point deficit and went on to post a 34-20 win over Lake Forest College to clinch the Midwest Conference North Division title at Farwell Field.

The Green Knights (6-2, 5-0 MWC North), who clinched their 21st consecutive season with at least six wins with the victory, will face Monmouth College (6-2, 4-0 MWC South) for the overall Midwest Conference title at Noon Saturday, Nov. 16 at Zorn Memorial Stadium in Monmouth, Ill. St. Norbert dispatched Lake Forest (7-2, 4-1 MWC North) by scoring 27 of the last 30 points.

Lake Forest jumped out to a 17-7 lead early in the second quarter. The Foresters opened the game with a nine-play, 64-yard drive, scoring on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Bill Degnan to Ted Crane. The Green Knights promptly answered with a 76-yard touchdown run by Matt Galanopoulos just 19 seconds later to tie the score at 7-7. Lake Forest responded with a quick four-play scoring drive, with Degnan hitting Chase Allen on a 23-yard touchdown pass for a 14-7 lead. The Foresters would then add a 33-yard field goal 65 seconds into the second quarter for a 17-7 edge.

St. Norbert would then flip the momentum in its favor by advancing 72 yards on nine plays, scoring on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Gage McClanahan to Galanopoulos with 9:20 left in the quarter. The Green Knights then forced a Lake Forest turnover when Kordell Draves intercepted Degnan and returned the ball to the Foresters' 35. Seven plays later, St. Norbert would score again, with Ben Kohl scoring on a 2-yard keeper with 5:25 left before halftime. Danny Simon's extra point put St. Norbert ahead 21-17.

Lake Forest would get five first downs on its next series, advancing to the St. Norbert 3, but a strip sack by the St. Norbert defense with 23 seconds left before halftime kept the Foresters off the scoreboard.

The Foresters would score first in the second half on a 43-yard field goal by Michael Bounds with 8:24 left in the third quarter. Each team traded punts before St. Norbert needed just two plays to move 94 yards. McClanahan hit Samuel Staehling on a 73-yard pass to the Lake Forest 21. McClanahan then connected with Mark Molitor for a 21-yard touchdown on the next play for a 28-20 lead with 3:58 left in the period.

St. Norbert would extend its lead when Simon hit a 32-yard field goal with 13:12 to go. The Green Knights would close out the scoring with another field goal by Simon, who was good from 33 yards with 4:38 left.

St. Norbert outgained Lake Forest 401-379 in total offense. McClanahan completed 11 of 16 passes for 196 yards with two touchdowns. Galanopoulos had 89 rushing yards on five carries and also had three receptions for 47 yards. Nate Ihlenfeldt added 68 rushing yards on 15 attempts.

Degnan completed 17 of 29 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns with one interception, and was also sacked seven times. Stone Matthews led the Foresters on the ground with 105 yards on 27 carries.

Maccabee Barrett had a game-high 10 tackles with two tackles-for-loss and one quarterback sack. Draves finished with nine stops, including 3 1/2 tackles-for-loss and an interceptions.