ST. PAUL, Minn. – A blocked extra point by sophomore Jared Brogni (Des Plaines, Ill./Maine West) late in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference, as the Macalester College football team defeated Lake Forest College, 28-27 Saturday afternoon at Macalester Stadium. The Scots improve to 3-1 on the season, while the Foresters fall to 2-2.

With the Scots leading 28-21, Lake Forest drove 78 yards on six plays in 1:47, scoring on a 4-yard run by Alex Adams with 3:35 remaining in the game. On the ensuing extra point, Brogni got a hand on the attempt and the ball hit the cross bar, keeping the score at 28-27. Macalester was able to get two first downs on its next possession to run out the clock and clinch the win.

The Scots took the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Cody Petrich (Lansing, Ill./Thornton Fractional South) to senior receiver Alec Beatty (Topeka, Kan./Topeka), to take a 6-0 lead. The Foresters answered late in the first quarter, taking a 7-6 edge on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Jagan Cleary to Andrew Siren. On its first drive of the second quarter, Lake Forest took a 14-6 lead after Nick Edlund ran it in from two yards out to complete a 72-yard drive.

A failed fake punt by the Foresters gave Macalester the ball at the LFC 34-yard line with 3:01 left in the half. The Scots took advantage, as Petrich hit senior receiver Jonathan Knee (Lynnfield, Mass./Lynnfield) for a 15-yard touchdown reception. The decision was made to go for the two-point conversion, but a penalty on what was a successful try moved the ball back five yards. Macalester went for two again, and Petrich found Knee in the end zone to tie the score at 14-14.

Lake Forest started the second half with a scoring drive capped by a 34-yard touchdown pass from Cleary to John Rall for a 21-14 lead. After a pair of unsuccessful drives, Macalester picked up some momentum when sophomore defensive back Cooper Tunac (Plainfield, Ill./ Plainfield North) intercepted a pass at the Scots' 10-yard line. The offense moved the ball down the field into Lake Forest territory, getting a key 16-yard completion to senior receiver Jack Streibich (Whitefish, Mont./Whitefish) on 4th-and-4. On the next play, Petrich found Streibich in the end zone from 16 yards out to tie the score at 21-21.

On their first drive of the fourth quarter, the Scots drove 56 yards on five plays, with Beatty making an acrobatic, 15-yard touchdown catch to put Macalester ahead, 28-21. The drive also included a 24-yard pass from senior running back Jeremy Stephan (Duluth, Minn./Marshall) to Knee.

Petrich completed 29 of his 40 attempts for 300 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran 11 times for 55 yards. Beatty ended up with nine catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns, while Knee (72 yards) and Streibich (54 yards) each caught seven passes and scored a touchdown. On defense, senior defensive back Andrew Smith (Racine, Wis./St. Catherine's) and junior safety Kiante Miles (Yukon, Okla./Mustang) each had six tackles. Junior defensive lineman Matt Heppleston (Lee, Mass./Lenox Memorial) had a sack and three solo tackles.

Cleary was 24-of-33 for 233 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, while Ted Crane caught nine passes for 86 yards.

The Scots begin Midwest Conference play next Saturday, Oct. 6 with a game at Beloit, beginning at 1:00 p.m. in Beloit, Wis.