CASE 27, CHICAGO 23...
CLEVELAND , OH (November 6, 2004) - In one of the most exciting games in Case history, the Spartans came from behind to top the University of Chicago Maroons 27-23 this afternoon at Korb Field in South Euclid, Ohio. Robert Gavlak (Brunswick, OH) completed 86-yard touchdown pass to David Kallevig (Brecksville, OH) on an improbable fourth down and 23 with just 2:19 remaining to put Case ahead for good. With wins in their last two games Case improved their record to 5-5 on the year, now the fourth straight year with a .500 record or better. The Spartans 2-1 mark in the UAA is their best finish in the UAA since 1996, when they went 3-1. The Maroons moved to 2-6, and 0-3 in the UAA.
The roles were reversed this week as this time it was the freshman Gavlak who came into relieve fellow freshman quarterback Jason Bodart (Fostoria, OH) who struggled going only 4 of 14 for 40 yards passing. A week ago Bodart brought the Spartans to victory with his play, this time it was Gavlak who came into the game in the second half and finished 6 of 8 passing for 162 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, senior wide receiver David Kallevig showed why he is one of the best receivers in Division III football, catching eight passes for 156 yards and three touchdowns.
The first half was just a warm up for the fireworks that would explode in the fourth quarter as Case took a 7-3 lead into the locker room at halftime. The only scoring consisted of a Chicago 39-yard field goal by place kicker Mike Morzenti and a 16-yard touchdown pass from Bodart to Kallevig.
In the second half, the Maroons scored on their opening possession as they quickly drove 70 yards in five plays with a 10-yard Dawson touchdown reception capping the drive. Chicago held a 10-7 advantage as the game entered the exciting fourth quarter.
Chicago added another touchdown, to take a 17-7 lead, when Pat Conway returned a Bodart interception 33 yards to the end zone. Case answered right back as Gavlak came off the bench to lead the Spartans 69 yards on 8 plays, including an 8-yard touchdown pass to Kallevig. The Case defense forced a Chicago punt on the next series and the Spartan offense moved quickly again, as running back James Rosenbury (Draper, UT) scampered 21 yards to the end zone to put Case up 21-17.
The lead didn't last long as Chicago came right back with a clock-draining, nine play, 76-yard drive completed by a 17-yard touchdown pass from Marc Zera to Micah Dawson. A key block on the extra point made the score, Chicago 23, Case 21, with only 3:26 remaining in the game. Starting at their own 27-yard line, Case was driven backward on three straight plays to set up a fourth down and 23 yards to go from their own 14-yard line. Gavlak then dropped back to pass, fired deep to Kallevig who was in one-on-one coverage and Kallevig snared the ball, racing down the field for the game winning 86-yard touchdown catch.
Chicago tried to come back as they marched down to the Case 26, needing a touchdown to take the lead. However, sophomore defensive back Chris Kerr (Cambridge, OH) ended the scoring threat when he intercepted a pass at the three yard line.
Rosenbury was the leading rusher for Case as he carried the ball 25 times for 55 yards and a touchdown. Leading the offense for the Maroons was quarterback Marc Zera as he completed 21 of 36 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns.
Leading the way on defense was sophomore linebacker Tom Brew (Mentor, OH) with his 12 total tackles including 10 solos, five tackles for a loss of 29 yards, and two sacks. Defensive lineman Joe McCrackin (Tallmadge, OH) was all over the field as well as he came up with 8 tackles.
In a side note, offensive lineman and backup place kicker Thomas Bachey (Cincinnati, OH) came into the game to kick two extra points for Case. Regular place kicker Joseph Brenner (Lititz, PA) was injured in the third quarter on a roughing the kicker penalty and the senior Bachey came on to make the only two kicking attempts of his career.
Box Score
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