CASE 20, CARNEGIE MELLON 17 OT...
CLEVELAND, OH (October 13, 2007) -
The Academic Bowl trophy will be in back in Cleveland by early evening as Case Western Reserve University defeated Carnegie Mellon University 20-17 in overtime in Pittsburgh today to claim the coveted crown and its University Athletic Association season opener.
Case Western Reserve freshman place kicker Sam Coffey (Middletown, OH) powered through a partially blocked 30-yard field goal to win it for the Spartans as their defense held Carnegie Mellon in the first series of overtime.
 The Spartans are off to their best start [6-0] since 1984 when they finished 9-0. They host Saint Vincent College Saturday at Case Field [1:00 p.m.].
Case Western Reserve, who entered the game with the seventh-ranked scoring offense [42.6 ppg.] in the country, had a 10-play, 87-yard touchdown drive in the opening possession. Sophomore quarterback Dan Whalen (Willoughby, OH) put the Spartans up 7-0 at 10:23 in the first with a three-yard touchdown pass to freshman receiver Brain Webster (Southfield, MI). Whalen completed 23-of-40 passes for 191 yards in the game. The two teams traded field goals in the second quarter. Coffey put the Spartans up 10-0 at the 13:29 mark with a 37-yarder. The three-time UAA Athlete of the Week is 8-of-10 in the field goal attempts this season. Junior place kicker Colin Marks answered with a 26-yarder a little over five minutes later [8:06] for the Tartans only points of the first half.
Carnegie Mellon (2-4) capitalized on two Case Western Reserve turnovers at the start of the second half. Sophomore safety Josh Kresge intercepted a Whalen pass and returned it 71 yards for the Tartans first touchdown of the game at 11:29. Case Western Reserve blocked the point after. Carnegie Mellon then recovered a Whalen fumble and senior running back Travis Sivek finished off a five-play, 21-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run at 9:23. The Tartans converted on the two-point conversion and took a 17-10 lead. The Spartans, who trailed 17-10 to begin the fourth quarter, tied the game at 17-17 with 5:26 left in the game. Sophomore running back Greg Meyer (Clearwater, FL-pictured) scored his second touchdown of the season on an 11-yard run. Meyer finished with eight carries for 46 yards and a touchdown.
The Spartans defense forced four turnovers [two fumbles, two interceptions], including junior defensive end Brain Calderone’s forced fumble inside the Case five late in the third quarter. Calderone also had 11 total tackles while senior Tom Brew led Case Western Reserve with a career-high 21 [7 solo, 14 assists]. He also blocked an extra point. Sophomore wide receiver Tim Cowdrick (Mentor, OH) added seven catches for 62 yards.
Box Score
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