Sangamon Sun

The Illinois College Blueboys football team secured a 28-25 overtime victory against Lake Forest on Saturday at England Stadium, improving their season record to 2-0. The game marked the 50th career win for head coach Ray DeFrisco.

Illinois College established an early lead in the first quarter with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Tyson Elliott to Kyle Leonard, followed by a one-yard run by Tanner Spencer. Lake Forest responded in the second half, tying the game and later taking their first lead with just over four minutes remaining.

A pivotal moment occurred when Lake Forest’s holder dropped a snap, allowing Jaylen Johnson of Illinois College to return the fumble 95 yards for two points. This made the score 20-16 in favor of Lake Forest. The Blueboys regained the lead after Elliott ran eight yards for a touchdown; however, their extra point attempt was blocked and returned by Lake Forest for two points, resulting in a tie at 22.

In overtime, Illinois College’s defense limited Lake Forest to a field goal. On their subsequent possession, Leonard caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Elliott to secure the win.

Elliott completed 22 of 28 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed nine times for 46 yards and caught one pass for 15 yards. Leonard finished with nine receptions totaling 132 yards and two touchdowns. Lleyton Miller contributed four catches for 26 yards and had eleven carries for another 29 yards.

Defensively, Drake Stuart recorded fourteen tackles—including one tackle for loss—and one sack. Cam Dailey added twelve tackles with one tackle for loss.

Following this result, Illinois College is off to its best start since the 2013 season. The win also marks their first victory over Lake Forest since 2015. Over recent years, the Blueboys have won eighteen out of twenty regular-season games and twenty-three of their last twenty-seven games overall.

Illinois College will play its next game on the road against the University of Chicago on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.