Foresters Break New Ground: Lake Forest Plays Arizona’s First D3 Football Game

Ryan Campos ‘26
camposr@lakeforest.edu
Section Editor

On Sept 6, the football team traveled to Arizona to square off in the Cactus Kickoff against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges (CMS) in a milestone game for both programs. The game was held at Hamilton High School in Chandler, AZ, and the contest marked the first NCAA Division III football game ever held in the state, allowing both programs to be part of history.

The matchup turned into a gritty defensive battle early on as both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm, and strong defensive play limited scoring opportunities. Each possession felt critical, with neither side willing to give much ground. The game was decided in the second half, when the Stags broke through with a touchdown early in the 4th quarter, ultimately coming away with a 14 to 7 victory.

For the Foresters, the loss carried added weight, as it marked the end of an impressive regular-season unbeaten streak. The team had not lost a regular-season game since Nov. 11, 2023, against UChicago, a span of more than 660 days.

Still, there were bright spots for Lake Forest. The Foresters’ lone touchdown came when freshman quarterback Rich Stallworth connected with senior wide receiver Mason Wright from three yards out. The score was not only Stallworth’s first career touchdown pass as a Forester but also the first touchdown of the 2025 season for the squad.

Lake Forest’s rush defense also stood tall as Senior Linebacker Charlie Fordon had 11 tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery. And Junior and Arizona native Blake Ware had 12 tackles. The linebacker duo helped limit the CMS rush attack to less than a yard per carry throughout the game.

The neutral-site game carried special significance for the Lake Forest roster. With 53 players from Arizona, including seven from Chandler, the contest gave many Foresters the rare opportunity to put the pads on in their home state in front of their friends and family. Arizona native Sophomore Joseph Clark said, “I felt proud, having the opportunity for my family to watch us play. They don’t get to watch the games live very often, so for that to happen was a cool experience playing back at home.”

Though the scoreboard did not favor the Foresters, the game provided the opportunity to showcase Lake Forest College football on a new stage while helping expand the reach of Division III football to a new area.