The Observer, November 16, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 11
Perfect 10
The Spartans were catching every bad break. Their starting quarterback was out with a knee injury, and their top receiver, Tim Cowdrick, broke his leg the week before. With eight seconds left in the half, Ohio Wesleyan's Zack Dennis caught a Hail Mary for a touchdown. Wesleyan's freshman tight end Montell Scott caught a 29-yard pass laying on the ground on a ball that was nearly intercepted, resulting in a first down at the Case one-yard line. Fortunately, the Spartans overcame the bad luck and a good Ohio Wesleyan team for a 20-17 win that secured a 10-0 record, but more importantly, a spot in the playoffs.
The first half was a defensive battle and each team played its part, not allowing a single point to flash on the scoreboard until late in the second quarter. The Spartans scored on a 1-yard touchdown by running back Greg Meyer with 1:09 left in the first half, but a great return by Ohio Wesleyan's special teams unit gave the Bishops good field position. They flew down the field and scored on a 50-yard Hail Mary to receiver Zach Dennis. The point after was missed by kicker Chris Kras, and the Spartans went to the locker room up 7-6.
The third quarter started off just as the game had begun, with both defenses playing well. It was going to take a big play to score, and Case's Mike Tuertscher gave the Blue and White just what they needed. When Ohio Wesleyan's quarterback Mike Fisher fumbled the ball at the 15-yard line, Tuertscher picked up the football and ran it in for the score. After a Sam Coffey field goal, the Spartans were up 14-6.
The next score came in the fourth quarter when the Spartans held the Bishops to a field goal after a 69 yard drive that stalled on Case's four-yard line. The Spartans battled back in their next possession. Lee Sasala's 14-yard run on the kickoff gave Case the ball at their own 47-yard line. Using the short field, the Spartans capitalized with a 42 yard field goal from their 25-yard line and Sam Coffey once again had given Case a comfortable lead.
Both defenses buckled down in the ensuing drives and held the other offense to thee-and-outs, but Ohio Wesleyan was able to strike first on their second possession after the Coffey field goal. Driving all the way from their own 17-yard line the Bishops ran the ball in on a one-yard touchdown run by Fisher that was set up by Scott's incredible reception.
Down 17-15, the Bishops knew they had to go for two points. Fisher threw a pass to wide receiver Steven Brown for the two point conversion. The score was tied 17-17 all and it was time for senior quarterback Angelo Mirando to march his team down for a score.
After another great kickoff return, this time a 27-yard run by Bobby Bott, placed the ball at the Case 48 yard line, the Spartans began their game winning drive. Mirando had a 12-yard pass to Shaun Nicely for a first down, then fullback Corey Checkan came through with an 18-yard rush up the middle on a draw play that set up Coffey's game winning field goal with 1:34 left in the game. "I think Sam is unreal in those situations, he just stays calm and takes care of business,"? said Checkan. "It seems like he enjoys the pressure and likes the challenge."? The Bishops made the final minute interesting, driving to Case's 35-yard line with 19 seconds to play. Two Fisher passes fell incomplete and the game ended when Tom Brew tackled Fisher as he scrambled to the 28-yard line.
The Spartans are the second seeded team playing in the second best quarter of the bracket. Tomorrow afternoon, the Spartans will begin the postseason against the eighth seeded Widener University Pride. Despite the pressure, the team is relaxed. "We are going to come out there and do what we have been doing all season,"? said Luiz Goncalves. "Take care of the ball, create turnovers and play solid team football."
