Case Western Reserve University senior quarterback Pierce Olsen threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns, and the defense shut down a potent Hiram College offense, as the Spartans (6-1, 3-1 Presidents' Athletic Conference) shut out the Terriers (4-3, 1-3 PAC) 38-0 on Saturday at Henry Field at Malmisur Stadium in Hiram, Ohio.

Stats and Standouts

• The Spartans' defense limited the Terriers to 239 yards of offense, including 39 rushing yards, after Hiram entered the game averaging 26.2 points, 402.2 total yards, and 139.0 passing yards per game this season.

• Sophomore Dominic Ghilani had a sack, three quarterback hurries, and recorded four tackles (three solo).

• CWRU matched its season high with 490 yards, including a season-best 362 passing and 128 rushing.

• Olsen completed 22-of-33 passes (66.7%) for a career-high 299 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.

• Senior Garrett Pavlick caught a career-high five passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns.

• Senior Beau Wolf added seven catches for 95 yards and a touchdown.

• Pressed into duty at running back, first-year Dom Manicioto carried the ball 18 times for a team-high 60 yards and a score.

First Quarter

• CWRU was able to outgain Hiram 71-59 in the first quarter and held a 5-2 edge in first downs, but neither team was able to score in a fast-moving period, as the game moved to the second in a scoreless tie.

Second Quarter

• In a drive that started on the Spartans' three-yard line with 5:47 left in the first quarter, CWRU was able to meticulously drive down the field, going 97 yards on 16 plays over an eight-minute, 29-second stretch. First-year running back Dom Manicioto capped off the drive with a six-yard touchdown run, the first of his career, putting the Spartans ahead 7-0 with 12:18 left in the half.

• After the Spartans forced a turnover on downs on defense, Olsen completed a 35-yard pass to graduate student Sergio Beltran and a 23-yard scoring strike to Pavlick to extend CWRU's lead to 14-0 with 6:29 on the clock.

• Hiram nearly scored at the end of the first half, but junior Jake Kavcic broke up a pass in the end zone on fourth down with 1:43 left on the clock to keep the shutout intact.

• Following the turnover on downs, the Spartans were able to drive 61 yards in just 1:43, and senior Gabriel Petrozzi kicked a 42-yard field goal as time expired in the half to give CWRU a 17-0 lead heading into halftime.

Third Quarter

• The Spartans extended their lead on the first drive of the second half, as Olsen found Pavlick open in the middle of the field on the run with a 35-yard touchdown pass, putting CWRU in front 24-0 with 12:06 on the clock.

• A 65-yard touchdown pass from Olsen to Wolf less than three minutes later made it 31-0 with 9:23 to play in the third.

• Senior Phil LaVerde forced a fumble late in the third quarter, as the Spartans' defense held strong in the third quarter, holding the Terriers to just 69 yards in the frame and taking the 31-point lead into the fourth. 

Fourth Quarter

• The Spartans added a late touchdown, as senior Sam DeTillio found sophomore Michael Veon with a 61-yard touchdown pass with 3:01 left to cap the scoring at 38-0.

Spartan Notes

• The shutout was the 36th in program history and the first by the Spartans' defense since a 55-0 win over Bethany on September 27, 2025.

• The Spartans improved to 3-0 in road games this season, while handing the Terriers their first home loss in three games this season.

• CWRU improved to 12-11-1 all-time against Hiram, including wins in each of the last seven meetings. Three of the last four Spartan wins in the series have been a shutout. This was the first matchup between the two teams since 2012.

• With his sack on Saturday, Ghilani leads all Spartan players with 9.0 sacks this season. He has at least half a sack in each of the team's last six games, including 6.5 sacks in the last three. He entered the game ranked second among Division III players in sacks per game.

• Pavlick has caught touchdowns in back-to-back games and has totaled 14 catches for 290 yards and four touchdowns this season.

• Jake Kavcic added another pass breakup in the game and now has 11 through seven games. He is on pace for 16, which would break the program record of 15 set by Mark Elder in 1997. 

• The Spartans have gone 121 consecutive games without being shut out. During that time, CWRU has been held under 10 points just three times while scoring 30 or more points on 79 occasions.

Up Next

The Spartans will return home to host Thiel College on Saturday, October 31 at 1:00 p.m., in the team's final regular season home game of the year. Before the game, the Spartans will hold their annual Senior Day ceremony to celebrate the 22-player graduating class.