CHICAGO, Ill. – Senior wide receiver Zach Homyk (Chicago, IL/St. Ignatius Prep) broke a school-record for receptions in a season and the Spartan defense forced four turnovers, but it wasn't enough as the 23rd-ranked (AFCA) Case Western Reserve University football team lost by a score of 24-20 at the University of Chicago in its University Athletic Association opener on Saturday, October 30 at Amos Alonzo Stagg Field. The loss snapped Case's 38-game regular season win streak.

With the loss, the Spartans fall to 7-1 overall and will return to action next Saturday, November 6 versus Washington University (MO) at 12:00 p.m. at Case Field in Cleveland. With its win, Chicago improves to 6-2 and gets its first-ever win versus a ranked opponent.

The last Spartan regular season loss came on November 4, 2006 at Grove City College (PA) by a score of 40-33.

Homyk (pictured right) totaled eight receptions for 142 yards and now has 72 for 964 yards this season. The previous record of 71 receptions was set by David Kallevig in 2004.

Case took its opening drive 45 yards on five plays and scored when senior quarterback Joey Baum (Dalton, OH/Walsh Jesuit) rushed in on a third down from the six yard line for his first rushing touchdown of the season. The point after by senior kicker Sam Coffey (Middletown, OH/Lakota East) made the score 7-0 at the 11:37 mark.

The ensuing Maroon possession ended quickly when junior linebacker Jacob Adams (Cincinnati, OH/Princeton) intercepted a Marshall Oium pass and returned it 15 yards to the UC 23 yard line. However, Chicago was able to force the Spartans out on downs to keep its deficit at seven.

Later in the quarter, the Spartan defense forced another turnover when senior cornerback James Wodicka (West Lafayette, IN/West Lafayette) - pictured below - intercepted an Oium pass attempt in the endzone, keeping the score at 7-0 to end the period.

Chicago answered on its following drive when Oium hooked up with tight end Brandon Meckelberg for a two-yard TD pass on fourth and goal to cap an eight-play, 45-yard drive. The PAT was missed and the score stood 7-6 with 11:36 remaining in the first half.

The Maroons threatened again on their following possession but had a nine-play, 66-yard drive thwarted by an Oium fumble in the endzone, which Adams recovered for a touchback.

The score remained the same until late in the third quarter when Baum eluded pass rushers and connected on a 32-yard TD strike to senior wide out Shaun Nicely (Willoughby, OH/Willoughby South) to cap a seven-play, 74-yard drive. The drive featured a reverse-pass from Nicely to Homyk that totaled 33 yards. Coffey's PAT was blocked and the score remained at 13-6 with 4:58 left in the third.

Chicago cut into the lead in the fourth quarter when Emmett Carrier intercepted a Baum pass attempt and returned it 43 yards for a TD. Case was able to hold onto the lead with a blocked PAT by Homyk with 11:16 left to play.

The Spartans responded on their following possession and marched 65 yards on seven plays and found the end zone when senior running back Billy Deitmen (Mentor, OH/Mentor) rushed in from eight yards out. Coffey's PAT made the score 20-12 with 7:52 remaining.

The Maroons came right back on the ensuing drive when Oium connected on a 52-yard TD pass to Dee Brizzolara to bring the score to 20-18. UC attempted to tie the score with a two-point conversion, but junior defensive tackle Dale English (Middleburg Heights, OH/Holy Name) was able to stop Oium short of the goal line.

Case's next drive went three-and-out and nearly resulted in a special teams turnover, but junior punter Daniel Vasil (Erie, PA/McDowell) was able to save a low snap and kick the ball to the Case 44 yard line and the next Chicago drive ended on downs.

However, the Maroons held the next Spartan drive in check and took over possession at the visitor 48. Four plays later, Oium hooked up with Dee Brizzolara for a 46-yard TD pass to put UC ahead 24-20.

Case was unable to generate a comeback on its next possession and the Chicago ended the contest with a kneel.

For the game, Baum totaled 259 yards on 19 completions. Nicely totaled five receptions for 91 yards and is now just two scores shy of tying the Case career touchdown receptions record (31).

Defensively, English totaled eight tackles, Adams recorded seven stops with an interception and a fumble recovery, and Wodicka grabbed a career-high two interceptions.