GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Thiel Tomcats suffered a 41-6 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) loss Saturday to the Case Western Reserve Spartans at Alumni Stadium.
 
The Spartans scored first Saturday with five minutes remaining in the first quarter when Rob Cuda capped off an eight-play drive with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Luke DiFrancesco.
 
The Tomcats responded with a touchdown drive of their own on their next possession when Ryan Radke (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster Central) scored on a five-yard run to put the finishing touches on an eight-play march that ended with 11 seconds remaining in the first frame. Thiel's extra point try was no good, and the Spartans maintained a 7-6 lead.
 
Case Western went ahead 14-6 on its next drive on a one-yard touchdown run by Anthony Canganelli with 11:15 left in the second quarter.
 
Thiel drove down to the Case Western 14-yard line on the ensuing drive, but did not come up with any points after turning the ball over on downs. On their next possession the Tomcats drove down to the five-yard line, but the Spartans again forced them to turn the ball over on downs.
 
The Spartans went into halftime with a 21-6 lead after Cuda threw a 65-yard touchdown pass to DiFrancesco with no time remaining on the game clock.
 
Case Western Reserve added three more touchdowns in the second half and refused to allow another point to Thiel to earn the conference win.
 
Cuda completed 20-of-31 passes on the day for 250 yards. He threw three touchdown passes. He also led the Spartans on the ground with 91 yards on eight carries. Cuda also ran for a touchdown late in the third quarter.
 
DiFrancesco and Ethan Albers each caught two passes for the Spartans for 78 and 75 yards, respectively. Brendan Lynch led the Spartans with six receptions.
 
Radke completed 13-of-27 passes for 166 yards. Kevin Daly (Sharon, Pa./Oil City) led the Tomcats on the ground with 58 yards on nine carries. Tight end Ryan Rowland (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington) caught two passes for 57 yards.
 
Jake Elk (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) led the Tomcats on defense with 13 tackles, two of which were behind the line of scrimmage. Elk also recorded 1.5 sacks. Dayton Snyder led the Spartans with six tackles. Spartans Gavin Sandidge and Mike O'Donnell each picked off one pass.
 
The Tomcats will return to action Saturday, Oct. 3 when they travel to Latrobe, Pa., to take on the Saint Vincent Bearcats. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.