After losing 15 straight years to Washington University, Case Western Reserve University football erupted for a 35-27 win and its first outright UAA title. Wash. U. gained more total yardage and held the ball for more time, but the #21 ranked Spartans capitalized on two Buck Smith interceptions and a Kyle Gray fumble, all three of which resulted in Spartan touchdowns. The game began with both offenses appearing unstoppable. After a Case three and out, the Bears ran a five play 75 drive featuring a 48-yard pass from Smith to Matt Koenigsknecht. Matt Glenn ran the ball in for his first of three touchdowns four plays later, making the score 6-0. Koenigsknecht finished with five catches for 118 yards and a touchdown.

Smith’s first interception a drive later gave the Spartans the ball at midfield, and Case quarterback Dan Whalen connected Shaun Nicely for a 50-yard touchdown to put Case ahead 7-6. After Glenn gave the Bears a 14-7 lead, Whalen and Nicely connected again for a 33-yard touchdown on third down and seventeen.

The lead would alternate back and forth for most of the game, with Wash. U. leading 27-21 with 3:33 left in the third quarter. However, Whalen threw to Nicely again for the game-winning 22-yard touchdown to put Case ahead 28-27.

Despite the big passing touchdowns, Wash. U. head coach Larry Kindbom felt that the defense played well.

“It was a game of big plays. Three long passes. Whalen is a good quarterback, but we held them well under their averages,” said Kindbom.

For the second straight week, the Bears relinquished a second-half lead. Furthermore, after Nicely’s third touchdown, the Bear’s fumbled on first down, and Spartan defensive end Brian Calderone returned the football 32 yards for the final score of the game with 3:24 left in the third quarter. The Bears fought until the end, but a punt return which featured two laterals fell 12 yards short of the end zone.

Wash. U., which had been one the best teams in Division III football in turnovers gained/lost ratio, played a second straight game in which the opponent forced more turnovers, leading to a second straight loss.

“The turnover margin was the difference. I can’t say they controlled the tempo, but we cannot afford to give them the ball three times and expect to beat them,” added Kindbom.

Wash. U. (6-3, 1-2 UAA) ends its season on Nov. 10 on the road against Greenville College (5-4). Even though UAA play is over, Kindbom views this game as very important for the Wash U. football program.

“We just had two tough losses, but I am expecting the fellas to come back with a game effort,” said Kindbom. “A win would also give us a better record than the previous year, so it points us in the right direction at this time of the year.”

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