SPORTS STORIES:
SPORTS INFORMATION—2008
football to host wabash in round one of ncaa playoffs...
CLEVELAND, OH (November 16, 2008) - Case Field on the campus of Case Western Reserve University will play host to a first round NCAA Division III football playoff game for the second straight year Saturday [November 22] when the Spartans (No. 11) host Wabash College (No. 15) at 12:00 p.m.
“I think it [playoff home game] does help,” Head Coach Greg Debeljak explained. “Playing in front of our fans again in that type [NCAA postseason] of atmosphere will be great. They [fans] did such a great job last year in coming out and supporting us.”
The NCAA announced its 32-team field on ESPNews this afternoon and Case Western Reserve (Pool B birth) received the No. 3 seed and Wabash the No. 6 seed in the North Central bracket. The victor will face the winner of Wheaton College (#7 seed, 8-2) and Trine University (#2 seed, 10-0) November 29.
The Spartans defeated Widener University (21-20) in the first round a year ago and lost to Wabash (38-23) in round two. Both games were played at Case Field and were Case Western Reserve’s first NCAA playoffs' appearances ever.
“This is a very exciting match-up for our kids,” Debeljak said. “We played well against Wabash a year ago at home and I believe we are a better team this year.”
With Saturday’s 17-0 win at Washington University, the Spartans claimed their second straight University Athletic Association (UAA) title, posted their first back-to-back 10-0 seasons in school history and extended their regular season win streak to 21 games, also a school record.
“I think the guys felt some pressure against Washington,” Debeljak explained. “They felt all their hard work the rest of the year could have been erased with a loss. I tried to take that pressure off by saying ‘the sun is going to come up tomorrow no matter what the outcome is’.”
The sun has definitely shined on the Case Western Reserve’s gridiron team during the 2008 season. The Spartans averaged 39.3 points per game while holding their opponents to just 13.3. The defense forced an astonishing 27 turnovers and never allowed the team to trail in a game once during the season.
“The key to this past season was replacing the guys we lost,” Debeljak explained. “We lost all of our leadership and I wondered who would fill those voids. I felt the younger guys, not necessarily seniors, stepped up as leaders and filled the voids.”
Junior linebacker Jeff Brown (North Olmsted, OH) and junior defensive back Bobby Bott (Grafton, OH) had big seasons for the Spartans. Brown recorded team-highs in tackles [79] and tackles for a loss [14] while Bott had a career-high seven interceptions and finished sixth in tackles with 49.
Offensively, junior quarterback Dan Whalen (Willoughby, OH) lived-up to the hype from his sensational sophomore season. Whalen, who only played two full games, completed 142-of-229 (4 interceptions) passes for 1,973 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also ran the ball 77 times for 278 yards and four touchdowns.
“Dan just wants to win and I don’t think he cares if he throws for 50 yards or 350 yards,” Debeljak said. “I think he just wants to win!”
THE COMPETITION … Wabash couldn’t wrestle the Monon Bell away from the DePauw Tigers Saturday, falling 36-14 on a cold and damp Saturday afternoon. The Tigers picked off four passes and dominated the first half to close their season at 8-2 in the 115th battle for the Monon Bell. Wabash, who received an automatic bid by winning the North Coast Athletic Conference for the fourth consecutive season, finished the year 9-1 (7-0 NCAC). Click here for more information on the Little Giants.