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The Saint Vincent football team fought hard throughout the day, but fell to #19-ranked Case Western Reserve University by a score of 34-26.

SVC had an opportunity with 10 seconds remaining in the game and the ball deep in Spartan territory, but an interception at the 1-yard-line ended the threat, allowing Case Western to hold on for the victory.
 
The game's first 4 possessions ended in punts, as both defensive units played well.  Late in the first quarter, a Bearcat pass was intercepted by Case's Patrick Crossey near midfield, and the visitors took advantage of the opportunity.  Five plays later, Drew Saxton completed a 5-yard pass to Colt Morgan for a touchdown, putting Case in front, 7-0.  Morgan helped to set up the score with a 31-yard diving reception earlier in the drive.

Early in the second quarter, the Spartans doubled the lead, scoring on another Saxton-to-Morgan 5-yard pass, making the score 14-0 with 11:13 remaining in the half.

With just over six minutes left, SVC started a drive at its own 12 following a punt.  Mike Stasko ran for 13 yards on the opening play of the drive.  Lorenzo Cota then connected with Phil Harding, who made a tough catch for a 39-yard gain to the Case 36.  On the next play, the Bearcats ran a flea-flicker, with Cota finding Keith Kalp behind the defense.  Kalp hauled in the pass at the 5-yard-line and ran into the end zone for the score.  The point after hit the right upright, leaving the score at 14-6.

In the closing seconds of the half, the Spartans added a 32-yard field goal from Robertson Albrecht, making it a 17-6 game at the half.

The third quarter would prove to be a high-scoring one, with the teams combining for 34 points. 

After the SVC defense forced a Case punt to open play, Cota eluded a defender, stepped up in the pocket, connected with Braden Hone for a 36-yard touchdown pass to make it 17-13.  Case answered back just 1:21 later, with a Saxton pass to Donald Day III, who came out of the backfield to grab a 28-yard pass into the end zone for a score.

Down 24-13, SVC wasted no time, scoring just over two minutes later.  Cota hit Harding for a 42-yard pass play to move the ball to the 12, then Stasko did the rest, carrying the ball into the end zone on the next play to make it 24-19.  The Bearcats attempted a 2-point conversion, but Stasko's jump pass attempt fell incomplete.

After Travis Johnson returned the kickoff 55 yards to the Bearcat 30, Saxton hit Chase Witte for a touchdown pass on the first play of the drive, increasing the lead to twelve, 31-19, but once again, just over two minutes later, the Bearcats responded.  David Marshall Jr broke free for a 21-yard run to start the drive, and three plays later, Cota dropped a pass right over a defender, into Stasko's arms.  He caught the ball at the 25 and took it the rest of the way.  Nick Srnka's point after made it a 5-point game, 31-26, with 4:14 left in the third quarter.

The tempo then settled, as the defense once again took over on both sides.  After Cota had a pass intercepted, the SVC defense stopped Case and forced a punt early in the fourth quarter.  Stasko broke through the line and blocked the punt, which was recovered by Dowry Snyder at the Case 33.  The Bearcats drove the ball as close as the 22, but were unable to convert a fourth-and-11 play, turning the ball over on downs with 9:26 to go.

Case quickly moved the ball to the Bearcat 3-yard-line, but on a third down play, Cam Norris sacked Saxton for a loss back to the 12.  Albrecht came on to hit a 29-yard field goal to make it an 8-point game with 3:34 remaining.

After a touchback, SVC took over at its own 25.  Cota completed a pass to Stasko on first down, good for 12 yards, but the drive then seemed to stall.  However, on a 4th-and-6 from the 41, Cota scrambled and kept the drive alive with a 12-yard run.  Later, on a key third down play, Stasko took a delayed draw and ran for 19 yards, moving the ball to the Case 24 with less than a minute remaining.

Cota was able to move the ball to the 16 with an 8-yard rush, giving the Bearcats a 2nd-and-2 with just 13 seconds remaining.  Cota then threw a pass toward the end zone, but Kevin Chrissis intercepted for the Spartans, with just five seconds left on the clock.  The game ended on a kneel-down by Saxton.

For the day, both teams recorded 21 first downs.  SVC gained 220 yards on the ground, compared to just 20 for the Spartans.  Case Western held a 435-239 advantage through the air, but SVC still out-gained Case by a 459-456 margin on the afternoon.

Stasko led the way on the ground, carrying the ball 21 times for 95 yards.  Cota kept the ball 11 times for 80 yards, while Marshall had 8 carries for 41 yards.  Cota was 13-for-25 passing for 239 yards and three touchdowns.  Harding caught 3 passes for 111 yards, while Stasko had four catches for 54 yards.  Defensively, Norris had 5 tackles, as did Gianni Gonzalez.  Nazaiah Barber also had five tackles, along with an interception, while breaking up two passes.  Izaak Gray and Cody Henry each recorded a sack, while Henry had two tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

For Case, Saxton attempted 50 passes, completing 30 for 416 yards and four scores.    Mario Robaina was his favorite target, with 11 catches for 139 yards.  

Case is now 6-0 on the season, 5-0 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference.  The Bearcats fall to 1-5 overall, 1-4 in the PAC.  Saint Vincent will be in action next Saturday, October 26, at Waynesburg.  Kickoff will be at 1:30PM.