THE MATCHUP
The Case Western Reserve University football team closes out the 2012 campaign versus University Athletic Association-rival Carnegie Mellon University in the 27th Annual Academic Bowl and the Billy Deitmen Memorial Game on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. at Case Field.  The Spartans (5-4, 1-1 UAA) lost by a score of 10-7 versus Washington University is last Saturday and will need a win coupled with a Bears loss to gain a share of the UAA Championship. Carnegie Mellon (6-3, 1-1 UAA) defeated the University of Chicago, 31-14 at home, to keep its hopes alive for a shared title.

BILLY DEITMEN MEMORIAL GAME
The Case versus Carnegie Mellon game has been designated as the Billy Deitmen Memorial Game with all proceeds going to benefit an endowment in celebration of former Spartan captain Billy Deitmen ’11, who passed away unexpectedly at the age of 23 on October 18.

SERIES NOTES
The Spartans and Tartans have met annually since 1970, but the matchup wasn’t designated as the “Academic Bowl” until 1986. Carnegie Mellon owns a 26-15 lead in the all-time series, but Case has won the last five meetings, including a 38-24 triumph in Pittsburgh last season. CMU owns the longest win streak in the series, having won seven-straight from 1975 to 1981.

LAST MEETING
Then sophomore running back Kenny Riordan rushed for 108 yards with two touchdowns as Case Western Reserve defeated Carnegie Mellon in the 26th Annual Academic Bowl on Nov. 12, 2011 at Gesling Stadium. The Spartans’ eighth-straight victory in 2011 clinched a fourth UAA Championship in five seasons.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
Through nine games, the Spartans average 21.2 points, 136.3 yards rushing, 184.1 yards passing and 320.4 total yards. Case opponents average 15.7 ppg, 82.1 yards rushing, 222.3 yards passing and 304.4 total yards per game. The Spartans have a -10 turnover ratio after leading the UAA at +12 last season.

SPARTAN LEADERS
Offensively, senior quarterback Erik Olson has completed 123-of-221 passes (55.7%) for 1,512 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Sophomore running back Manny Sicre has a team-high 618 yards rushing on 165 carries (3.7 ypc) with four touchdowns. Sicre also has 25 receptions for 313 yards and two scores. Sophomore wide receiver Sean Lapcevic has a team-high 35 receptions and has 461 yards (13.5 ypc) and three TDs.

Defensively, senior outside linebacker Ryan Ferguson has recorded a UAA-high 100 tackles with a forced fumble, an interception and six pass break-ups. Senior linebacker Kevin Nossem has 80 tackles, a team-high two forced fumbles, and a blocked field goal attempt. Senior cornerback Cary Dieter has an interception and is tied with senior safety Dan Calabrese with eight break-ups.

SCOUTING THE TARTANS
Through nine games, the Tartans average 30.6 points, 193.4 yards rushing, 204.8  yards passing and 398.2 total yards. Carnegie Mellon opponents average 23.3 ppg, 163.0 yards rushing, 220.2 yards passing and 383.2 total yards per game. The Tartans have a +7 turnover ratio.

TARTAN LEADERS
Junior QB Rob Kalkstein has completed 110-of-167 passes (65.9%) for 1,787 yards with 13 TDs and four INTs. Senior RB Patrick Blanks has rushed for a team-high 661 yards on 114 carries (5.8 ypc) with 10 TDs. Blanks also has 228 yards receiving on 18 receptions (12.7 ypc) with two scores. Junior WR Tim Kikta leads the team with 737 yards receiving on 35 catches (21.1 ypc) and five TDs.

Defensively, junior inside linebacker Akwasi Brefo leads the team with 85 tackles, including a UAA-high 12 for loss, with 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Junior safety Jack Butler has 63 tackles with two INTs, four pass break-ups and two forced fumbles. Senior CB Liam McGrath leads the UAA with six interceptions to go along with eight break-ups.

BLOCK PARTY 
The Spartans picked up a pair of blocks versus Washington-St. Louis with one on a punt by senior defensive end Adam Watson and the other on a field goal by senior linebacker Kevin Nossem. The team has a combined eight blocks this season (3 field goals/3 punts/2 extra points), while Watson leads the team with a combined four (1 field goal/2 punt/1 extra point).

RUN STUFFERS
The Spartans rank 12th in Division III in rush defense, allowing just 82 yards per game. The team finished last season with the nation’s seventh-best rush defense (75.7 ypg) and has only allowed one 100-yard rusher in the last 20 games.