CASE 18, OBERLIN 15 ...
CLEVELAND , OH (September 4, 2004) - The Case Spartans opened up the 2004 season with a thrilling 18-15 victory over the visiting Oberlin College Yeomen. Down 15-12 in the fourth quarter, the Spartans battled back to set up Joseph Brenner for a 21-yard field goal with only 34 seconds left on the clock. Brenner was perfect with his foot on the day as he made good on all four of his field goal attempts, which proved to be the difference today.
Case's first score was setup in the when a Brenner punt bounced off the back of a Yeomen blocker and was recovered by Case's Santo Maimone on the Oberlin 26 yard line. The Spartans then went into the end zone as starting quarterback Alex Harvey completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to David Kallevig. The ensuing extra point was blocked and the Spartans led 6-0. A Case field goal in the second quarter made it 9-0 and it looked like the Spartans were going to cruise into halftime with the lead. But the Yeomen struck quickly with a 60-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Squatrito to Cassius Harris. A bad snap on the extra point attempt left Oberlin trailing by four with time winding down in the first half. Case fumbled on their next position and with six seconds left in the first half the Yeomen scored on another Squatrito touchdown pass. The swing at the end of the half found the Spartans trailing 13-9 as they headed to locker room.
Brenner's second field goal brought the Spartans back to within one point in the third quarter. An Oberlin punt pinned Case back on their own 4-yard line to start their next possession. Two plays later Oberlin tackled James Rosenbury in the end zone resulting in a safety for the Yeomen. That was the last time the Yeomen would score as the Case defense kept the Spartans in the game. Oberlin drove down to the Case 5 yard line, but penalties and tough Spartan defense kept the Yeomen out of the end zone. The Spartans then made a huge play as Tom Brew was able to get a hand up and block a 26-yard Oberlin field goal attempt. A 39-yard Brenner field goal then tied the game with 7:53 to go in the fourth quarter. On their very next possession, the Spartans embarked on a mammoth 13 play, 76-yard drive resulting in Brenner's game-winning field goal.
The victory was a monumental one for first year Head Coach Greg Debeljak as he got his first career win as a head coach. Sophomore quarterback Marshall Hampton came off the bench to go 9 of 16 for 83 yards passing along with racking up 86 yards on 14 rushes. James Rosenbury was the workhorse for the Spartans as he carried the ball 25 times for 77 yards in the game. Also contributing was David Kallevig who had six catches for 67 yards and completed a 33-yard pass to Matt Skolnicki on a reverse pass play that helped set up Brenner's first field goal. On the defensive side of the ball Adam Heath and Adam Bonsiewich led the way with nine and a half and eight tackles respectively. Cornerback Santo Maimone picked off two Oberlin passes and impressively returned one interception 36 yards.
Case travels to Denison University this Saturday for another non-conference game at 1:30 p.m. Box Score
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