Box Score The Case Western Reserve University football team suffered its second-straight setback on Saturday night, suffering a 37-14 loss to the 11th-ranked Washington and Jefferson College Presidents at DiSanto Field in Cleveland, Ohio.
The loss dropped the Spartans to 2-2 overall on the year, while the Presidents remained undefeated for the campaign with a 4-0 record.
After a scoreless first quarter, CWRU junior running back Antonio Orsini capped off a nine-play 47-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run on the second play of the second quarter to put the Spartans ahead 7-0 with 14:51 remaining in the half. It was Orsini's third-straight game with a touchdown, and his fourth overall this season.
However, the Presidents quarterback Justin Heacock responded with a pair of touchdown passes later in the half to give his team the lead, including a 19-yard throw to Payton Skalos with 12:57 left in the half and a 35-yard catch and run by Joey Koroly with 7:52 remaining.
The Spartans would even the score in the final minute of the half on a six-yard catch by junior wide receiver Lucas DeCaro with 49 seconds left on the clock. But, the Presidents would regain the lead quickly with a five-play 55 yard drive, capped off by a Skalos' second touchdown grab of the day with four second left to give the Presidents a 21-14 lead heading into the halftime break.
The Presidents added to their lead with a 34-yard field goal with 6:43 to play in the third quarter, and a pair of rushing touchdowns by Koroly in the fourth, putting the contest out of reach for the Spartans.
Sophomore defensive lineman Kaden Tong collected a pair of sacks in the game and now leads all CWRU players with four this season. Junior defensive end Jacob Scheponik added two sacks on his own, and first-year linebacker Nate Cikalo recorded his third double-digit tackle effort with 12 to go along with 1.5 tackles for a loss and a quarterback hurry.
Offensively, Saxton completed 21-of-44 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown with first-year wide receiver Ethan Dahlem catching a season-high six passes for 38 yards and DeCaro adding four grabs for 62 yards.
Case Western Reserve will be on the road next weekend, as the Spartans will wrap-up the first half of their season against St. Vincent College on Saturday, October 2 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
