Lake County Gazette

The Lake Forest College (LFC) football team closed out its regular season with an 8-2 record, and a number of Foresters received postseason honors in the Midwest Conference.

The Foresters started the year with a seven-game winning streak, which tied the 1938 school record for most consecutive wins. Lake Forest's season ended Nov. 11, when the Foresters lost the Midwest Conference (MWC) championship game against the University of Chicago, falling 33-13.

LFC running back Joey Valdivia was named the MWC Offensive Skill Player of the Year. This season, Valdivia was ranked second in the nation with 30 touchdowns. He also averaged 212 all-purpose yards per game. He rushed for at least 100 yards in nine of the Foresters games this year. The senior will leave Lake Forest holding a number of the college's records. He is the all-time rushing leader with 4,170 career yards. During his collegiate career, he averaged nearly seven yards per carry and scored a total of 69 touchdowns. 

Six other LFC players were named to the All-MWC South first team. Joining Valdivia on the offensive first team are tackle Andrew Johnson, quarterback Jagan Cleary and wide receiver Chris Edomwande. Johnson has started as left tackle for the Foresters for three years and will be a senior next year. This is his second time being named to the ALL-MWC South first team. Cleary led the conference in completions with a 65 percent average, which set a school record. He also finished third in the conference, with 2,065 passing yards and 19 touchdown passes. Edomwande finished this season ranked second in the conference, with 63 catches. He recorded 842 receiving yards and caught at least three passes in every game this year. 

LFC also saw two underclassmen named to the offensive all-conference second team. Freshman receiver Chase Allen finished the season with 36 receptions, 428 yards and five touchdowns. Sophomore tight end Noah Recker also made the second team. Recker caught three passes for 15 yards but made big contributions blocking, which helped the Foresters' run game.

Three players on the defensive side were named to the conference first team, including safety R.J. Pomey. Pomey recorded 71 tackles this year, which was the 14th highest number of tackles in the conference. He also recorded two interceptions and two blocked kicks. Linebacker Johnny Laponte and defensive linemen J.W. Windsor also were named to the first team. Laponte also had 71 tackles this season and led the team with eight tackles for a loss. In addition, Laponte had 3.5 sacks and three interceptions. Windsor had 41 tackles on the year, 3.5 tackles for a loss and one forced fumble. 

Cornerback Trevor Bain and defensive end Hector Mendoza were named to the conference defensive second team. Bain led the team in interceptions with four, which was the fourth best in the conference. He recorded 46 tackles and broke up four passes. This season was Mendoza’s first as a lineman. Last season, he played as a linebacker. During the year he recorded 44 tackles and seven tackles for loss. He also led the team with four sacks.