WAYNESBURG, Pa. – In its first-ever meeting with Waynesburg University (Pa.), the Case Western Reserve University football team fell by a score of 35-15 on Saturday afternoon at John F. Wiley Stadium.

With their second loss in a row, the Spartans slip to 2-3 both overall and in the Presidents' Athletic Conference. The Yellow Jackets improve to 5-1 (3-1 PAC).

The Spartans led in yardage (408-333) and time of possession (35:15-24:45), but a special teams score and four passing touchdowns from Waynesburg quarterback Carter Hill were too much to overcome.

CWRU senior quarterback Billy Beecher (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area) was an efficient 21-of-31 for 154 yards with a touchdown, but an interception and a fumble led to 14 points for Waynesburg.

Hill finished 17-of-29 for 173 yards, and two of his passing scores went to Bernie Thompson.

The Spartans got on the board first as time ran out in the opening quarter. Sophomore kicker Nick Bavaro (Medina, Ohio/Medina) capped a nine-play, 34-yard drive with a career-long 40-yard field goal. The 3-0 lead was short-lived, however, as Bavaro's ensuing kickoff was returned 86 yards for a score by Willie Leavell.

On the very next drive, CWRU marched 70 yards on nine plays and reclaimed the advantage when Beecher hooked up with junior wide out Bryan Erb (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day) for a 20-yard touchdown. Bavaro's extra point attempt was blocked as the score sat at 9-7 with 10:51 left in the second quarter. Erb, who hadn't played since 2012 due to injury, finished the game with three receptions for 28 yards.

From that point, it was all Waynesburg. The hosts' next possession lasted 11 plays and covered 64 yards as Hill connected with Thompson for a 24-yard TD pass on 4th-and-6. Scott Lewis hit the PAT, and the Yellow Jackets led 14-9 with 6:30 remaining before halftime.

An interception deep in home territory short-changed the next CWRU drive, and three plays later, Hill found Thompson from seven yards out to cap a 54-yard scoring drive. Another Lewis extra point bumped the lead to 21-9 with 19 seconds standing on the first half clock.

The Spartans were shutout until the final minutes, while Hill threw two more touchdowns of 22 and 15 yards to Andrew English and Zac Capan, respectively.

CWRU's final score came on a 34-yard pass from freshman Connor Simpson (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Windward) to sophomore tight end Zech Medved (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) with 2:30 remaining.

Simpson, who didn't attempt a pass in his only other appearance as a rookie, was 3-for-3 for 49 yards. On the ground, freshman running back Anthony Canganelli (Mayfield Village, Ohio/Mayfield) rushed for a season-high 82 yards on 18 carries. The Spartan defense was led by junior linebackers KJ Pederson (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) and Aaron Weisberg (Plantation, Fla./American Heritage) with eight tackles apiece.

The Spartans now return home to host Geneva College (Pa.) for Homecoming on Saturday, October 18 at 1:30 p.m. at DiSanto Field.