Box Score CLEVELAND, Ohio – In a game that went back-and-forth for 60 minutes, the Case Western Reserve Spartans earned a 23-16 Presidents' Athletic Conference victory over the Thiel Tomcats Saturday at DiSanto Field in Cleveland, Ohio on a late fourth quarter touchdown drive.
Trailing by a field goal,
Jon Fennick (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock ) tied up the contest for the Tomcats 16-16 with 2:54 remaining in regulation when he booted a 25-yard field goal that capped off a 9-play, 61-yard drive.
The Spartans scored what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown on the ensuing drive on a 23-yard pass from Billy Beecher to Luke DiFrancesco.
Thiel's offense still had a chance to force another tie. Starting at their 23-yard line with 63 seconds left on the clock, the Tomcats drove all the way down to the Spartan 40-yard line, but Scott Suren ended the threat when he intercepted a Thiel pass.
The Tomcats scored first Saturday on a splash defensive play when
Chris Jones (Waterford, Conn./Waterford) recovered a fumble and ran 10 yards to the end zone.
Nick Bavaro kicked a 35-yard field goal late in the second quarter, but the Tomcats led 7-3 at halftime.
The Spartans went on to take their first lead in the game with nine minutes remaining in the third quarter when Adam Hochman scored on a 35-yard run. Bavaro's point after failed, but the Spartans held a 9-7 lead.
Beecher threw his first touchdown pass of the game early in the fourth quarter, a 12-yarder to Zach Medved. Bavaro's extra point was good, and the Spartans led 16-7.
Thiel responded with a touchdown drive of its own its next possession, which ended with a 3-yard pass from
Ryan Radke (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster Central) to fullback
Rich Smallwood (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell). Radke completed 5-of-5 passes on the drive. Fennick's extra point was no good, however, setting the stage for his game-tying 25-yard field goal.
Radke completed 22-of-49 passes for 240 yards with one touchdown pass. He also led the Tomcats with 61 yards rushing on 14 attempts. Beecher completed 16-of-29 passes for 174 yards. He threw two touchdown passes and two interceptions.
Tim Walker (Cleveland, Ohio/Warrensville Heights) caught eight of Radke's passes for 137 yards. DiFrancesco was Beecher's top target with four receptions for 75 yards.
Jack Sindlinger (Linesville, Pa./Linesville) led Thiel's defense with 11 tackles, 1.5 of which were behind the line of scrimmage. He also recorded an interception, a pass breakup and a half-sack.
Wes Schmidt (Kittanning, Pa./Kittanning) made 10 tackles for the Tomcats and forced one fumble.
Martae Hainesworth (Warren, Ohio/Warren JFK) made nine tackles, recorded an interception and forced a fumble. In all, Thiel's defense forced two fumbles and came up with two interceptions.
Tim Briercheck and K.J. Pederson led Case Western's defense with nine tackles apiece. Pederson also recorded three quarterback hurries.
The Tomcats will host the Saint Vincent Bearcats at Alumni Stadium next Saturday during homecoming. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.
