Box Score The Case Western Reserve University football team concluded its 2021 season on Saturday with a 24-6 loss to Carnegie Mellon University in the 35th playing of the Academic Bowl in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
With the loss, the Spartans wrap up the campaign with a 6-4 record, including a 5-4 mark in Presidents' Athletic Conference play, good for fifth-place in the final league standings.
Junior running back Antonio Orsini led the Spartans with 15 carries for 111 yards, while adding an addition three catches on the day for 17 yards. Junior wide receiver Aidan Cain finished the contest with nine receptions for 99 yards, both season highs. Senior quarterback Drew Saxton completed 20-of-39 passes for 221 yards but was hurt by five interceptions on the day.
Sophomore linebacker Sean Torres led the Spartans with 13 tackles, while junior defense back D.J. Wolf and senior linebacker Michael Amadio each added nine.
CWRU's lone touchdown in the game came on a season-long 57-yard run by Orsini that trimmed the Tartans' lead to 7-6 with 14:20 to play in the second half. However, Carnegie Mellon added a touchdown and a field goal late in the second half, taking a 17-6 lead into the break.
Carnegie Mellon scored another touchdown with 9:08 left in the fourth quarter, helping to cement its victory.
Despite the loss, CWRU outgained Carnegie Mellon 346-296, including a 221-82 edge in passing yards.
With the win, the Tartans claimed a share of the 2021 PAC Championship and the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Playoffs.
The Spartans finished the season with a winning record for the sixth-consecutive year.
