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Lake Forest takes full advantage, tips Lakes

Lakes had chances — plenty of them.

In fact, the Eagles spent the majority of their time in Lake Forest territory Friday night in a North Suburban Conference crossover with the visiting Scouts.

Unlike their visitors from the Lake division, however, the Eagles simply didn’t take advantage of their chances.

Lake Forest did.

In a tightly played contest with a playoff feel to it, Lake Forest took its first and only lead of the night on a 41-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Clifford to David Glynn with 5:01 left in the game. The Scouts edged Lakes 20-13, handing the Eagles their first loss of the season.

Lake Forest has started 3-0 for just the second time in the last five years.

“I had no doubt that this was going to be a playoff type game and we told our kids that,” said Lakes coach Luke Mertens. “They are a good team and are well coached; we are a good team and are well coached. It was a good football game and I am sure the fans enjoyed it. It came down to inches from us being the victor here tonight.”

Lakes tried to convert a fourth-and-about-a-foot from its own 43 with 6:23 left, but came up about a foot short.

“Somebody has to make a play at some point, and right there we stepped up and got the job done,” said Lake Forest coach Chuck Spagnoli. “We knew coming in that (Lakes) would go for it on fourth down and we had to be ready for it.”

Lake Forest (3-0) proceeded to score three plays later. Andrew Spencer came within a foot of picking off Clifford’s pass, but his foot slipped, and Lake Forest scored. It was the second connection between Glynn and Clifford on the night.

“I read the play and on my break I kind of slipped, but it’s no excuse — I should have had it,” Spencer said.

Spencer certainly couldn’t be blamed for this loss as his highlight reel catch of a TJ Edwards pass from 23 yards out gave Lakes a 13-7 lead with 5:26 left in the third quarter. Spencer also had the Eagles’ first score on a 2-yard run early in the first quarter.

Lake Forest responded with a quick scoring drive of its own, capped by a 9-yard scoring run from Stephen Cirame. He was a load for the Scouts offense, finished with 112 yards on 24 carries.

Lakes senior Direll Clark was just as tough to bring down. He rushed for 141 yards on 30 carries.

The Eagles marched right down the field after Lake Forest took the lead, getting all the way to the Scouts’ 23-yard line. But the Lake Forest defense stiffened and ended the Lakes threat.

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