The Observer, October 13, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 7
Blocked punt, errant snap haunt Spartans in loss to Ursinus
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Take two plays out of Case's football game against Ursinus last Saturday, and the Spartans might have won, 7-6. However, a blocked punt and a botched snap helped the Bears get 10 more points en route to a 16-7 victory. The outcome was reminiscent of Case's previous game against Wooster, in which any chance of victory was erased by mistakes on special teams.
The blocked punt occurred very early in the fourth quarter, when the Spartans were clinging to a 7-6 lead. The Bears recovered the ball all the way back at the Case 11-yard line. Even though the Case defense stopped Ursinus from scoring a touchdown, the Bears kicked a 25-yard field goal to take the lead.
"We were punting in the direction from where the rush was coming, and that played a role," coach Greg Debeljak said regarding the play. "[The defender] did not get in untouched, but he put up a hand and got it."
The errant snap happened on Case's next possession. Before the snap, an Ursinus defensive lineman jumped up and crossed the line of scrimmage, pointing at the Case offensive line as if to signal a false start penalty. He then returned to his position. The ball was then snapped. Expecting a penalty flag, no one on the Spartan offense immediately went for the ball. However, no penalty was called, and Chris Frank of Ursinus pounced on the loose ball in the Case endzone for a touchdown.
"There is no real excuse for not going after the ball," Debeljak said. Debeljak did accept some of the blame, noting that, since the coaching staff usually stands behind the offense during practice, players do not typically rush for the ball on an errant snap during practice. Coupled with the fact that there was an expectation for a penalty flag, it is easy to see why the play occurred in a state of confusion.
That play gave Ursinus a 16-7 lead, and with the way the Bears' defense was playing in the second half, it could have been 36-7. Freshman quarterback Dan Whalen, after having a string of four consecutive solid performances, struggled for the first time. Whalen completed nine of 27 passes for 80 yards and took his worst beating of the year, as he was repeatedly rushed by the Ursinus defense while being sacked three times.
Whalen did engineer one successful drive in the first quarter, one that Debeljak referred to as the team's best drive of the year. An 18-yard completion to Josh Dudek on third and 11 gave the Spartans their initial first down of the game, and a nine-yard pass play on fourth and eight at the Ursinus 35-yard line helped prolong the drive. James Rosenbury finished it with five-yard run to give Case an early 7-0 lead. The Spartans gained 71 yards of total offense on the drive; they would gain only 68 the rest of the game.
The Spartan defense continued to be a bright spot. Linebacker Tom Brew had another good game, recording 12 tackles and a sack. Freshman Jeff Brown had nine tackles and an interception. Debeljak praised the play of Brown, starting in place of injured linebacker Nick Decesare, and safety Chris Kerr, replacing the injured Scott Madden, for helping the defense continue its solid play despite injuries.
"Brown has tremendous athletic ability," Debeljak said of his linebacker. "He'll be as good as he wants to be. For him, it's all about learning the position. He was a little apprehensive playing there due to his size and inexperience, but he has all the tools."
The schedule does not get any easier for Brown and the Spartans. Next on the docket are the Tartans of Carnegie Mellon, who will be in town tomorrow for the annual Homecoming game. Carnegie Mellon's record currently stands at 5-0.
"They're much more balanced than in the past, which makes them that much more difficult to defend," Debeljak said. "They are a very highly ranked team both offensively and defensively. However, they are the same group of guys that we played last year when we lost on a last-second FG."
The Spartans will be hoping to avenge last year's close loss. They'll have a shot as long as they can avoid the critical mistakes that have cost them their last two games.
