Box Score Sept. 7, 2013 - The opening of Concordia University Chicago's 91st season of intercollegiate football at Lake Forest College this afternoon brought with it several questions, owing to a record amount of new players and a new coaching staff. The Cougars were eager to make a sparkling debut effort collectively, but the inconsistencies that often come with a young team manifested themselves in the first half. Lake Forest jumped to a 21-3 halftime lead and put the game away with a big third quarter, eventually winning by a 45-3 final score.

Lake Forest took the opening kickoff and picked up a couple of first downs before Concordia's defense held on a fourth and six. The defense continued to hold tough on the hosts' next few possessions and appeared to have the first big play of the game late in the quarter. Freshman Bryndon Williams (Fort Wayne, IN/Concordia Lutheran) made an interception in the Cougars' end of the field, but the play was nullified by a penalty flag and, moments later, the Foresters opened the scoring on a 23-yard pass from Mike Lewis to Willie McIntyre at the left pylon. The extra point put Lake Forest up 7-0 with 3:18 left in the quarter.

Early in the second quarter, the takeaway came for the Cougars as freshman linebacker Gilbert Reger (Phoenix, AZ/Cesar Chavez) picked off a Lewis pass and returned it to the Foresters' 34. Ryan Fischbach (South Elgin, IL/St. Charles North) then hit Michael Brown (Modesto, CA/Johansen) for 23 yards and a first down at the 11. The drive stalled on a third-down sack, but Danny Colapietro (Chicago, IL/Maine South) came on to drill a field goal from 34 yards out for the Cougars' first points of the season.

The Foresters responded with a big play on the ensuing possession. On a second-and-13 from midfield, Lewis hit George Vidas on a fly pattern down the right sideline for a 53-yard score and a 14-3 advantage.

Late in the half, the Cougars were on the move when a completed pass was fumbled with the Foresters getting possession at the 31. Lake Forest needed four plays to convert the turnover into points, starting with a Charlie Quinn run to the nine. The score came on a third-down five-yard pass from Lewis to Mike Peters and gave the home team the 21-3 lead at the half.

Following an extended halftime, due to lightning in the area, the Cougars took the kickoff looking for a chance to cut into the lead. However, immediate pressure from the defensive line forced a hurried throw and an interception, and the Foresters cashed in on Alec Howe's two-yard run.

Concordia's next possession saw them pinned in their own zone, but Acusio Bivona (Los Angeles, CA/Hamilton) and Brown hooked up for a couple of third-down completions to generate some momentum. However, this drive also ended abruptly as Ed Dobernig intercepted and returned to the 21-yard line. The short field resulted in a second Howe scoring run and a 35-3 lead.

Lake Forest added a 47-yard field goal later in the third before Concordia embarked on its longest drive of the day. Kevin Hagens (St. Louis, MO/Lutheran North) picked up a first down on a 14-yard run, and Fischbach hit Nick Awrey (Marquette, MI/Saginaw Nouvel Catholic) for 16 yards to move the chains again. The drive continued to build steam as C.J. Woodford (Detroit, MI/John Glenn) ran for 10 yards to give Concordia a first-and-goal at the three. However, a penalty set the offense back and they were forced to settle for a field goal try. A bad snap caused the field goal to be blocked, and the Cougars were turned away despite a 15-play, 64-yard drive.

Later in the fourth, a final turnover closed the scoring. A long interception return set Lake Forest up at the four-yard line, and it took just one play for running back Osayi Menzies to cover the yardage off tackle for the score.

Cougar quarterbacks Bivona and Fischbach combined for 19 of 38 for 127 yards. Brown was the leading receiver with five for 49 yards. Hagens led Concordia's rushers with 45 yards on 14 carries.

Mike Bailey (Spring Hill, FL/Central), newly converted to defensive back from receiver, led the Cougars with 10 total tackles (seven solo) plus a fourth-quarter interception. Williams recorded seven tackles (six solo) and Marcus Frazier (Chicago, IL/Evergreen Park) made seven tackles including the Cougars' lone sack of the day.

For Lake Forest, Lewis finished 13 of 22 for 176 yards. On the ground, the Foresters rushed for 119 yards on 39 carries.

Concordia will open up the home portion of the schedule next Saturday, Sept. 14 when they host the University of Chicago. A Senior Day ceremony honoring the team's six seniors will precede the 1:00 kickoff.