CLEVELAND, Ohio – Junior linebacker Jacob Adams (Cincinnati, OH/Princeton) blocked the potential game-tying extra point in overtime as the Case Western Reserve University football team earned a 24-23 victory versus Allegheny College (PA) on Homecoming Saturday, October 2, at Case Field.

With the win, the Spartans improve to 4-0 overall and have now won 35 consecutive regular season games. Case returns to action on Saturday, October 9 at Oberlin College at 1:00 p.m. With the loss, Allegheny falls to 2-2 for the season.

For the game, the Spartan defense forced two turnovers, recorded a season-high six sacks, and blocked a pair of kicks. In addition to the defensive effort, senior quarterback Joey Baum (Dalton, OH/Walsh Jesuit) completed 31-of-40 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Zach Homyk (Chicago, IL/St. Ignatius Prep) recorded a career-high 14 receptions for 130 yards and a score.

The Spartans took the opening drive 65 yards on 15 plays and capped a seven-minute drive when Baum connected on a 10-yard touchdown pass to Homyk.

The Gators got on the board with 3:02 left in the first half when Andy Zipf connected on a 29-yard field goal to cap an eight-play, 43-yard drive that took 3:23 off of the clock.

Case added to its lead right before half when it marched 65 yards on seven plays and scored when Baum hooked up with senior wide receiver Shaun Nicely (Willoughby, OH/South) for a four-yard TD with 1:19 left on the clock. Senior Sam Coffey's (Middletown, OH/Lakota East) point after made the score 14-3 heading into the half.

Allegheny threatened to cut into the lead in the third quarter, but was turned away when the six-foot, two-inch Homyk blocked a Zipf 24-yard field goal attempt with 7:30 left in the period. The Gators were able to redeem themselves two possessions later when Zipf hit a 36-yard field goal to cap a six-play, 34-yard drive and make the score 14-6 with 1:17 left in the third.

The Spartans added some insurance in the fourth quarter when Coffey connected on a 35-yard field goal to make the score 17-6 with 11:06 left to play. The score ended a six-play, 13-yard drive that was set up by an interception by senior defensive back James Wodicka (West Lafayette, IN/West Lafayette).

With Case looking to put the game away, Allegheny forced a fumble deep in its own territory and safety Sid Facaros returned it 76 yards to bring the score to 17-15. The Gators then converted a two-point conversion when quarterback T.J. Salopek hooked up with wide out David Strawser.

Both sides then failed to score on their following possessions and Case went into overtime for the first time since 2007.

In the extra frame, Case received the first possession and found the end zone when Baum and Nicely hooked up for a second time on a third-and-two from the six yard line to make the score 23-17. Coffey added the PAT to make the score 24-17.

On the next possession, Allegheny answered with a third-and-goal score when Salopek found wide out Terry Hartford on a five-yard TD pass. However, the Spartans broke through the Allegheny line on the PAT try and Adams sealed the deal with his first career block.

For Case, Nicely totaled eight receptions for 83 yards and two key TDs. Defensively, Adams totaled 12 tackles and a forced fumble while senior linebacker Lucas Sasala (Kittaning, PA/Kittaning) recorded 12 stops and a half sack. Sophomore defensive end Adam Watson (Mentor, OH/Mentor) racked up 10 tackles and a pair of sacks.

For Allegheny, Salopek completed 23-of-38 passes for 249 yards. Strawser totaled seven catches for 78 yards and running back Brian Tambulin also recorded seven receptions for 80 yards. Defensively, Facaros totaled a game-high 15 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, and the overtime-forcing fumble recovery.