MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's football team returns from a bye week for its second straight road test against and undefeated Midwest Conference opponent.
 
The Rams (1-2 overall, 1-1 MWC) are homecoming guests Saturday for a matchup against Lake Forest (3-0 overall, 2-0 MWC) in Lake Forest, Ill. Kickoff is 2 p.m. at Farwell Field.
 
Cornell is coming off a 31-13 loss Sept. 18 at Ripon, which is among three MWC unbeatens with Lake Forest and Chicago. Lake Forest remained perfect with a 41-10 road rout of Knox two weeks ago.
 
The young Rams face an impressive Lake Forest squad averaging 40.0 points per game and allowing just 15.3, ranking second in the MWC in both categories.
 
The series – Saturday is the 17th meeting all-time between the schools in a series that began in 1974. Cornell holds a 9-7 advantage, although the Foresters have taken the past four meetings.
 
The Rams are seeking their first win in Lake Forest, Ill., since a 36-0 shutout in 1992. Cornell's last series win was a 31-3 decision in 2014.
 
Last meeting – Lake Forest had its way with the Rams in a 42-0 home win on Oct. 13, 2018. The Foresters racked up 429 total yards, 206 coming on the ground from Nick Edlund.
 
 Quarterback Jagan Cleary passed for 200 yards and three touchdowns for Lake Forest, which led 28-0 at halftime. Trevhon Porterfield netted 81 rushing yards to lead the Rams.
 
About the Foresters – Lake Forest scored on five of its first six offensive drives in the blowout win over Knox, highlighted by a 255-yard all-purpose effort from junior receiver A.J. Jackson. Jackson, a two-time first team all-American, averages an MWC-best 175.0 all-purpose yards per game and also leads the conference in receiving yards at 110.0 per contest.
 
Junior quarterback Tre Stewart is No. 1 in the MWC in total offense (312.7 ypg). He's completing 63.4 percent of his passes for 816 yards and six TDs. Defensive back Dante Esposito leads all Division III players with four interceptions. He picked off two passes against Knox.
 
The bye week – The Rams have enjoyed recent success following their annual bye week, winning four straight such contests and six of their last seven.
 
Cornell defeated Lawrence, 22-17, following the 2019 bye week.
 
Man in the middle – Senior linebacker Colden Clark led Cornell in tackles for the third consecutive game, recording seven stops (six solo) against the Red Hawks.
 
The Mount Vernon native is No. 1 in the MWC at 10.3 tackles per game.  
 
Mason's mark – Cornell tight end Mason Davis was a bright spot for Cornell's offense against Ripon, hauling in five passes for 102 yards. He had sizable gains of 33 and 43 yards.
 
Davis recorded his fourth career 100-yard receiving game. For the season, the senior has 13 catches for 220 yards, ranking among the MWC leaders with 16.9 yards per reception.
 
First TDs – Cornell freshman running back Tony Gomez and freshman tight end Andrew Barker registered their first collegiate touchdowns at Ripon, both coming off pass plays from Isaak Hahn.
 
Gomez reached pay dirt on a 22-yard reception late in the first quarter that put Cornell ahead 7-0. Barker grabbed a 1-yard TD pass in the fourth period.
 
Hahn's two scoring strikes gives him six TDs responsible for in the last two games.
 
Stopping the run – The Rams rank No. 3 in the MWC in rushing defense at 112.3 yards per game. The unit was stout at Ripon, limiting the MWC's top ground gainer Connor Ramage to 47 yards, 111 below his season average.
 
In two MWC contests, Cornell has given up only 169 rushing yards on 69 carries, an average of 2.4 yards per attempt. The Rams look to continue the trend against Lake Forest, which averages 212.0 rushing yards per game.
 
Catch the action – Fans can follow Saturday's game with live video and live stats at the respective links.