On Oct. 12, returning to DiSanto Field after two away games against Geneva College and Allegheny College, the Case Western Reserve University football team faced off against St. Vincent College, earning their first shutout of the season. The Spartans continued to dominate the following weekend when they bested Thiel College on Oct. 19, further extending their win streak to six with Saturday night’s win and taking sole possession of first place in the PAC.
On Oct. 12, the first points of the game came from first-year running back Andy Kavcic, who rushed 3 yards down the middle to put the Spartans on the scoreboard with the first drive. The Spartans then proceeded to force a three-and-out on the Bearcats’ first drive. On the next drive, the Spartans doubled their advantage. Third-year quarterback Aaron Filips passed to fifth-year quarterback Alex Fromberg after taking the snap which Fromberg then connected back with Filips for the touchdown. The Spartans forced a second three-and-out on the Bearcats and followed with a third touchdown after Fromberg connected with fourth-year wide receiver Noah Coyne. For the remainder of the second quarter, the Spartan defense kept St. Vincent off the scoreboard, while adding 2 more touchdowns and bringing CWRU up 35-0 into halftime. Fromberg rushed 1 yard down the middle for the fourth touchdown of the game and connected with Coyne in the endzone for the fifth touchdown in the following drive.
The Spartans ended the night with a 49-0 shutout after a touchdown was made in both the third and fourth quarter. Following an unsuccessful drive, the Spartans increased their lead after Fromberg connected with fourth-year wide receiver Ethan Dahlem. The final touchdown of the night came from Filips who passed to open second-year wide receiver Jake Otto at the 40-yard line. Otto notched his first career touchdown with the play.
Defensively, third-year linebacker Henry Busch led with 6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and 1 sack. Graduate student linebacker Gabe Troch contributed 5 tackles, with 2 tackles for loss. The Spartan defense held the Bearcats to a total of 97 yards, and the win marked CWRU’s first shutout of the season.
On the first day of fall break, the Spartan football team beat Thiel 52-7. With their win against Thiel and Grove City College’s loss against Washington and Jefferson College, CWRU took sole possession of first place and is the only remaining undefeated team in the PAC.
The Spartan defense made program history by holding the Tomcats to only 74 yards, the fewest in a single game. They were led by graduate student defensive lineman Kaden Tong who recorded 8 tackles, with 1 sack and 1.5 for loss. Another key contributor to the Spartans record breaking defensive squad was fourth-year linebacker Brody Roth with 6 tackles, 1 sack and 2 tackles for loss. Roth also recorded his first career interception during the third quarter.
Offensively, the Spartans made 7 touchdowns, with Fromberg completing 13 out of 17 passes for a total of 243 yards and notching 4 touchdown passes. The first points on the board came after Fromberg connected with third-year wide receiver Alec Angello, and the Spartans forced a three-and-out on the Tomcats’ drive and followed up with another touchdown as Dahlem received a 29-yard touchdown pass from Fromberg. Kavcic successfully rushed 1 yard for CWRU’s third touchdown, bringing them up 21-0. For the following 2 touchdowns, Fromberg connected with Coyne, completing a 30-yard and 43-yard touchdown pass, giving CWRU a 35-0 lead going into halftime.
During the Spartan’s first drive of the second half, CWRU added another touchdown after Filips connected with Coyne in the endzone for Coyne’s third touchdown of the night, bringing the Spartans up 42-0. Despite fumbling on three straight drives after their third quarter touchdown, the Spartans bounced back with a field goal and a final touchdown during the fourth quarter, solidifying CWRU’s 52-7 win. The Tomcats were able to score a touchdown after an 18-yard touchdown pass.
The Spartans will be on the road for their game against Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 2. This game will open their four-game stretch against the other top PAC teams, including No. 21-ranked Washington and Jefferson, No. 15-ranked Grove City and No. 18-ranked Carnegie Mellon University.