Case Western Reserve Spartans (3-5, 3-4 PAC, 1-1 UAA)
Thomas More Saints (7-2, 6-1 PAC)
Saturday, November 8, 2014 - 1:00 p.m.
The Bank of Kentucky Field - Crestview Hills, Kentucky
LIVE VIDEO: http://athletics.case.edu/sports/fball/2014-15/boxscores/20141108_kwc5.xml
LIVE AUDIO: http://foxsports1360.com/
LIVE STATS: http://athletics.case.edu/sports/fball/2014-15/boxscores/20141108_kwc5.xml
Download the complete CWRU game notes in .pdf format by clicking HERE.
THE MATCHUP
The Case Western Reserve University football team plays on the road for the final time in 2014 with a 1:00 p.m. matchup versus Thomas More College on Saturday, November 8 at The Bank of Kentucky Field in Crestview Hills. The Spartans are 3-5 overall, 3-4 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference and 1-1 in the University Athletic Association after a 28-17 loss at Washington University in St. Louis. The Saints are 7-2 overall and 2-1 in the PAC following a 21-14 win at Waynesburg University (Pa.).
SERIES NOTES
Saturday's meeting will mark the first on the gridiron between Case Western Reserve and Thomas More. In its history, CWRU has only played one other game in the "Bluegrass State", a 16-10 win at Centre College in 1979.
THE COACHES
Case Western Reserve is coached by Greg Debeljak, who is in his 11th season in 2014 with a record of 75-36 (.676). Debeljak has led the Spartans to four UAA Championships in the last seven years with three consecutive undefeated (10-0) regular seasons and NCAA Playoff berths from 2007-09. Since the beginning of the 2007 season, Case Western Reserve has posted an outstanding overall record of 62-19, earning Debeljak and his assistants the UAA Coaching Staff of the Year award four times (2007-09, '11). In addition, CWRU has been ranked in the AFCA Top 25 in four of the past seven seasons (2007-10).
Thomas More is coached by Jim Hilvert, who is in his eighth season in 2014 with a record of 66-19 (.776). A three-time PAC Coach of the Year, Hilvert has led the Saints to five PAC Championships and four NCAA Playoff appearances.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
Through eight games, the Spartans have averaged 22.0 points, 118.2 yards rushing, 215.2 yards passing and 333.4 total yards per game. CWRU opponents have averaged 22.5 points, 111.6 yards rushing, 250.0 yards passing and 361.6 total yards per game. The Spartans have a -8 turnover ratio.
CWRU STATISTICAL LEADERS
Senior QB Billy Beecher (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area) has completed 163-of-284 passes (57.9%) for 1,604 yards with 14 TDs and eight INTs. Beecher has also rushed for 120 yards and two TDs. Freshman RB Anthony Canganelli (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/Mayfield) has rushed for 275 yards on 59 carries (4.7 ypc) with one TD, while sophomore RB Anthony Bianco (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) has 240 yards rushing on 73 carries (3.3 ypc) with one TD. Junior FB Adam Hochman (Austin, Texas/Anderson) has 174 yards rushing on 28 carries (6.2 ypc) with five total TDs (three rushing/two receiving). Freshman WR Luke DiFrancesco (Johnstown, Pa./Bishop McCort) has 24 receptions for 228 yards (9.5 ypc) with one TD, while junior TE Ethan Albers (Oviedo, Fla./Hagerty) has hauled in 21 catches for 267 yards (12.7 ypc) and five scores.
Defensively, junior OLB KJ Pederson (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) leads the team with 70 tackles, including two sacks, to go along with a forced fumble and three pass break-ups. In less than five full games, fellow junior OLB Everett Dishong (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Chagrin Falls) has 49 tackles with team bests of 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. Junior CB Mike O'Donnell (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) has 34 tackles and a team-best two interceptions.
SCOUTING THE SAINTS
Through nine games, the Saints have averaged 42.6 points, 270.4 yards rushing, 261.1 yards passing and 531.5 total yards per game. The Saints rank fourth in the nation in total offense and 10th in rushing. Thomas More opponents have averaged 18.4 points, 91.6 yards rushing, 188.9 yards passing and 280.5 total yards per game. The Saints have a -4 turnover ratio.
THOMAS MORE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Offensively, junior QB Jensen Gebhardt has completed 134-of-230 passes (58.2%) for 2,057 yards with 15 TDs and eight INTs. Senior RB Domonique Hayden leads the PAC with 1,251 yards rushing on 183 carries (6.8 ypc) with 21 TDs. Hayden ranks fourth in the nation in rushing and first in rushing TDs. Freshman RB CT Tarrant has 645 yards rushing on 90 carries (7.2 ypc) with eight scores. Junior WR Goose Cohorn has team highs of 43 receptions for 835 yards (19.4 ypc) and nine TDs.
Defensively, junior DL Erick Butler has team highs of 55 tackles, 8.0 TFL and 6.5 sacks. Sophomore LB Austin Copeland has 50 tackles with a forced fumble. Junior DB Kyle Fuller has 37 tackles with team bests of four INTs, five break-ups and two forced fumbles.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN…AND AGAIN
Saturday's game will mark the third in a row on the road for CWRU. The three-game road stretch is the first for the program since 2005. Overall, the program has played at least three in a row on the road five times since 1992.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
CWRU's offense features five freshmen starters. Three of the starters are on the line; center Gage Blair (Elyria, Ohio/St. Edward), left guard Ryan DeMarinis (Clarendon Hills, Ill./Westwood, Mass.) and left tackle Ryan Merlau (Arcade, N.Y./Pioneer). The other two rookie starters are at skill positions; running back Anthony Canganelli (Mayfield Village, Ohio/Mayfield) and wide out Luke DiFrancesco (Johnstown, Pa /Bishop McCort).
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
For his efforts in the game at Washington U., junior WR Bryan Erb (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day) has been named UAA Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career. Erb posted career highs of 10 receptions for 122 yards receiving and caught his second TD in just his fourth game back from injury. After a 22-catch rookie season, Erb missed all of 2013 and the first three games of 2014 due to injury.
IMPACT PLAYER
Junior OLB Everett Dishong (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Chagrin Falls), who has played less than five full games because of injury, ranks amongst the leaders in Division III in sacks per game (1.2) and tackles for loss per game (2.1). In just 14 career games, Dishong has 124 tackles, 22.5 TFL, 10.5 sacks and 12 pass break-ups.
30-9…
During its past 39 road games dating back to 2007, CWRU has compiled an overall record of 30-9.
62-19...
CWRU is 62-19 overall since the beginning of the 2007 season.
