Case Scores Last 21 to Spoil Wooster's First Home Night Game, 53-32

WOOSTER, Ohio – After The College of Wooster fought back from a 15-point deficit, taking 25-24 and 32-31 leads during the third quarter, Case Western Reserve University scored the final 21 points to spoil the Fighting Scots' first night game at John P. Papp Stadium Saturday, as the Spartans prevailed 53-32 in the northeast Ohio rivals' annual tussle.

An over-capacity crowd (4,500) witnessed the official dedication of Ed and Edie Andrew Turf Field pre-game and then a back-and-forth affair before Case Western Reserve (5-0), ranked No. 10 by D3football.com and No. 11 by the American Football Coaches Assoc., walked away with the Baird Brothers Trophy for the third year in a row.

Following a Spartans' touchdown midway though the third quarter that gave them back the lead (31-25), Bryan Albani returned a kickoff for a score for the second time this season, this time covering 93 yards as he bounced off a couple of would-be tacklers, then made a one-on-one move to get past the kicker, and sprinted down the right sideline. The 93 yards marked the longest kickoff return in school history.

The defense for Wooster (3-2) followed with a three-and-out, capped by a Steve Custenborder sack, and the Scots appeared to have all the momentum at that point. However, Case Western Reserve's defense answered with a three-and-out and then Dan Whalen directed the offense to a six-play, 42-yard drive, concluding with a nine-yard touchdown throw to Zach Homyk. The Spartans also converted a two-point play, thus going up by seven (39-32) late in the third quarter.

Wooster's offense was again held to a three-and-out, and on the ensuing possession, the Whalen-Homyk connection proved to be too tough. On a 3rd-and-11 play from the Scot 34, Case Western Reserve's quarterback tossed it up in the air to a streaking Homyk, who outstretched the defender for the ball while staying in-bounds and reaching out for the pylon and the score. That made it 46-32.

Another three-and-out followed and then the Spartans sealed their 26th consecutive regular season win by grinding out a 70-yard touchdown march. They ran the ball six of the eight plays, with Corey Checkan eventually crossing the end zone from two yards out.

Prior to Case Western Reserve's 21-0 closing run, the match-up had been evenly played as expected. The Spartans exploded out to a 24-9 cushion, highlighted by a 94-yard touchdown pass up the left sideline from Whalen to Tim Cowdrick on 3rd-and-30. Cowdrick also had the game's first score via a more conventional 12-yard reception from Whalen.

Wooster would respond to Cowdrick's second touchdown with a quick four-play, 73-yard march, keyed by two long runs by Austin Holter as the senior quarterback went for 23 and 41 yards on the first two plays. He later hit Mike Francescangeli for an eight-yard score, pulling the Scots within 14-9 as they did not convert the PAT due to a bad snap.

Ninety seconds later, though, Case Western Reserve was back in the end zone as Whalen leaped over the pile from one yard away after guiding his squad down the field 84 yards in just five plays. That put the score at 21-9, and there was still :17 left in the first quarter.

The Spartans would tack on a 22-yard field goal from Sam Coffey early in the second (24-9), but then Wooster would make its charge. The Scots scored a safety for the first time since Oct. 9, 1999, at Oberlin College, thanks to a high snap on a punt deep in Case Western Reserve's end.

Right after the safety, Wooster would pull within a touchdown. Holter finished the 10-play, 65-yard drive by faking as a run up the middle, pulling back, and then jumping over the line to throw the ball to a wide open Cameron Daniels in the back of the end zone for a five-yard touchdown pass and a 24-18 deficit going into halftime.

With possession to start the second half, the Scots steadily moved the ball for a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown march, with Holter hitting Francescangeli from eight yards out and a 25-24 lead. That marked the first time the Spartans have been behind in a game during the regular season in two years.

Case Western Reserve responded with a nine-play, 58-yard scoring drive, as Checkan plowed through the middle for the one-yard touchdown to give his team back the lead at 31-25, only to see Wooster take it back 14 seconds later on Albani's kickoff return.

Overall, the Spartans outgained Wooster 557-383. Whalen, who entered the game leading the nation in pass efficiency, was near flawless, completing 26-of-37 for 396 yards and four touchdowns. Cowdrick was on the receiving end eight times for 159 yards, while Homyk was equally impressive with six for 119.

Holter nearly matched his counterpart as he put up 309 yards of total offense. He led all runners with 88 yards on just 10 attempts and added 221 on 23-of-42 passing. Robert Flagg was heavily involved in the game plan with 12 rushes for 68 yards and eight catches for 61.

The Scots are at Washington University-St. Louis (2-3) next Saturday afternoon.