Lake Forest returns to Varsity Field Friday for a Homecoming match-up vs Zion.

The Zee-Bees are 3-0 on the season, coming off a 19-14 victory over Mundelein in Week 3.

In this podcast, publisher Jon Kerr breaks down the keys to this game and the path to victory for the Scouts.

Photo Credit: Joel Lerner Photography

For story ideas, article comments/feedback, drop note to [email protected], or @scoutsfootball1 on Twitter.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theathleticscout.substack.com/subscribe

A special offer for Scouts Football family members: a 50% discounted price for all first-time subscribers through Sept. 15.

That’s $25 for a full season of Scouts Football coverage.

That discount covers all first-time paid subscribers and members of the Scouts Football family. That’s former players, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles — the entire community.

For first-time subscribers, click the button below to claim your special offer.

You can claim that offer through Sept. 15.

Lake Forest goes back on the road to face Warren Friday night.

The Blue Devils are 1-1 on the season, coming off a 42-14 loss to Maine South in Week 2.

In this podcast, publisher Jon Kerr breaks down the keys to this game and the path to victory for the Scouts.

Photo Credit: Joel Lerner Photography

For story ideas, article comments/feedback, drop note to [email protected], or @scoutsfootball1 on Twitter.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theathleticscout.substack.com/subscribe

A special offer for Scouts Football family members: a 50% discounted price for all first-time subscribers through Sept. 8.

That’s $25 for a full season of Scouts Football coverage.

That discount covers all first-time paid subscribers and members of the Scouts Football family. That’s former players, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles — the entire community.

For first-time subscribers, click the button below to claim your special offer.

You can claim that offer through Sept. 8.

Lake Forest opens its home 2025 schedule Friday night when it hosts Carmel Catholic. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm.

The Corsairs are in the Central Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic White Division and are coming off a 52-13 win over Grayslake Central.

In this podcast, publisher Jon Kerr breaks down the keys to this game and path to victory for the Scouts.

Photo Credit: Joel Lerner Photography

For story ideas, article comments/feedback, drop note to [email protected], or @scoutsfootball1 on Twitter.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theathleticscout.substack.com/subscribe

A special offer for Scouts Football family members: a 50% discounted price for all first-time subscribers through Sept. 8.

That’s $25 for a full season of Scouts Football coverage.

That discount covers all first-time paid subscribers and members of the Scouts Football family. That’s former players, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles — the entire community.

For first-time subscribers, click the button below to claim your special offer.

You can claim that offer through Sept. 8.

Lake Forest opens its 2025 season Friday night when it travels to Deerfield. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 pm.

In this podcast, publisher Jon Kerr breaks down the keys to this game and path to victory for the Scouts.

For story ideas, article comments/feedback, drop note to [email protected], or @scoutsfootball1 on Twitter.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theathleticscout.substack.com/subscribe

The 2025 Lake Forest Scouts kicked off the pre-season portion of their season Monday.

One of the more experienced returning players for the Scouts is senior safety Aedan Cassidy. A 6-3, 185-pound safety, Cassidy was a sophomore call-up to the varsity and starter on last season’s nine-win Class 6A quarterfinalist team.

Cassidy joins the Slants and Arrows podcast.

Topics discussed:

* Expectations for the upcoming 2025 season

* Why he applied for a captain’s spot and how he defines leadership

* His career trajectory from wide receiver to defensive player

* What his college plans are and if he intends to pursue football

* How playing lacrosse has helped him with the physical and mental side of football

OBTW… Cassidy was named one of five captains earlier this week, along with seniors Braden Hoskins, Sufyan Hussain, Jimmy Scheidler, and James Elliott.

Hope you enjoy this conversation with Aedan. I know I did.

For story ideas, article comments/feedback, drop a note to [email protected], or @scoutsfootball1 on Twitter.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theathleticscout.substack.com/subscribe

Entering his fourth season with the Vanderbilt Commodores is senior wide receiver Richie Hoskins.

Richie is a former Scouts football and lacrosse player. As a senior in the spring of 2021, Hoskins led the Scouts to an undefeated season and was named North Suburban Conference Player of the Year.

Thursday, Hoskins and I had a wide-ranging conversation about his athletic career, preparing for life after football, and the state of the sport in 2025.

Topics discussed:

* Rebounding from an injury and his return to the field.

* Growing into a new mentorship role with the Commodores

* Going from a walk-on to captain in 2024

* Starting as a Division 3 athlete and transferring to Vanderbilt

* How Vanderbilt has evolved in the era of the transfer portal and NIL

* Remaining passionate about football at a time when players are paid

In 2024, Hoskins was nominated for the Bulsworth Award, given to the nation’s top player who began his career as a walk-on

A graduate student working on a master’s in finance, Hoskins made the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll for the 2022-23 campaign and was named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll in 2023 and 2024.

I went long with Richie, and we covered lots of topics. I hope you enjoy this extended conversation. I know I did.

You can watch the captaincy video clip here.

For story ideas, article comments/feedback, drop note to [email protected], or @scoutsfootball1 on Twitter.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theathleticscout.substack.com/subscribe

The 2025 Lake Forest Scouts kick off their summer camp period Monday (June 30).

One player who emerged as a key contributor to last season’s 9-3 Class 6A quarterfinal team joins the Scouts after an active June camp season.

Jack Burger, a 6-1, 170-pound rising junior, caught 31 passes, seven for touchdowns, in a breakout 2024 sophomore season. He’s decided to pursue football at the college level and has been active on the camp circuit this spring.

Burger joins the Slants and Arrows podcast.

Topics discussed:

* Experience attending four different camps in June

* Feedback from the camps and how he applies it to his position

* How he uses social media to get his name out there

* How running track this past spring makes him a better football player

* What he thinks of the NIL era in football

Hope you enjoy this conversation with Jack. I know I did.

You can follow Jack on TwitterX: @jackburger_2027.

For story ideas, article comments/feedback, drop a note to [email protected], or @scoutsfootball1 on Twitter.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theathleticscout.substack.com/subscribe

Thursday through Saturday, the NFL holds its annual draft. This year’s site is Green Bay. One name that may be called will be very familiar to Lake Forest Scouts football fans.

South Carolina punter Kai Kroeger is projected to be a potential late-round selection. Kroeger was a two-time All-SEC punter and All-American. He is a 2020 Lake Forest High School graduate, a punter, kicker, and wide receiver for the Scouts in 2018 and 2019.

Kroeger visited with the Slants and Arrows podcast in the days leading up to the draft.

Topics discussed:

* Going through the NFL draft process and where he expects to be taken

* The feedback he received at the February NFL Combine

* How his versatility as a holder and fake punt specialist has boosted his stock

* Who his punting idols are in the NFL

* How growing up in Lake Forest and the football community helped shape his career

Hope you enjoy this conversation with Kai. I know I did.

You can watch the NFL Draft Thursday through Saturday on ESPN.

You can find Kai’s official merchandise at kaikroegershop.com.

Video on Kai’s epic 2022 games vs Clemson:

For story ideas, article comments/feedback, drop note to [email protected], or @scoutsfootball1 on Twitter.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theathleticscout.substack.com/subscribe

Lake Forest plays its quarterfinal playoff game Saturday afternoon when it hosts Geneva at Varsity Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 pm.

In this podcast, publisher Jon Kerr breaks down the keys to this game and path to victory for the Scouts.

Photo Credit: Marge Braun

For story ideas, article comments/feedback, drop note to [email protected], or @scoutsfootball1 on Twitter.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theathleticscout.substack.com/subscribe

Lake Forest plays its second-round playoff game Saturday afternoon when it travels to Libertyville High School to face the Wildcats. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 pm.

In this podcast, publisher Jon Kerr breaks down the keys to this game and path to victory for the Scouts.

Photo Credit: Marge Braun

For story ideas, article comments/feedback, drop note to [email protected], or @scoutsfootball1 on Twitter.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theathleticscout.substack.com/subscribe