From Case Western Reserve University Athletics
Behind another stellar outing from sophomore quarterback Rob Cuda and a strong defensive effort, the Case Western Reserve University Spartans picked up their first win of the season on Saturday night, defeating Saint Vincent College 49-14 in its home opener under the lights at DiSanto Field.
The Spartans' 49 points were the most by the team since the squad put up 63 against Hiram on October 4th, 2009. CWRU improved to 1-1 (1-0 PAC) on the year with the win, while Saint Vincent dropped to 1-2 (0-1 PAC) with the setback.
Cuda finished the night 23-30 for 236 yards and four touchdowns, while running for another 145 yards in just three quarters of action, marking his second-straight four-touchdown game. Senior fullback Adam Hochman added a pair of touchdowns on the day as well.
Meanwhile, the Spartans defense held Saint Vincent to just 27 yards on the ground and 285 total, while forcing three turnovers and sacking the Bearcats' quarterback five times, en route to the victory.
CWRU wasted little time taking control of the game, taking a 21-0 lead after the first quarter. After junior Nick Kwon recovered a fumble to give Case Western Reserve possession on the Saint Vincent 41 yard line, the Spartans started the scoring with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Cuda to Ethan Albers, the tight end's second score of the season. CWRU's defense forced a three-and-out on the next Saint Vincent possession, and sophomore Anthony Canganelli capped off a drive keyed by a Cuda 52-yard run with a one-yard touchdown. The Spartans would then recover an onside kick, and later score on an 18-yard pass from Cuda to sophomore Luke DiFrancesco, extending the lead to three-touchdowns.
The Spartans offense continued to roll in the second quarter, scoring again with 13:35 left to play in the half on a 13-yard pass to senior Bryan Erb. Saint Vincent threatened in the frame, driving to the Case Western Reserve goal line, but the Spartans made a defensive stand, preventing the Bearcats from getting into the end zone with a 15-yard sack from junior Zach Lyon on fourth and goal from the two-yard line. CWRU then drove down the field, capping off a 12-play, 83-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown catch for Hochman
Hochman added touchdown on a one-yard run in the third quarter, and sophomore Jacob Burke put the Spartans up 49-0 with an 11-yard run into the end zone with under a minute left in the quarter. The Bearcats would strike back quickly with their first score of the game on a 65-yard pass from Tyler Donahue to Damon Black with time expiring in the third.
Donahue would find Black in the end zone again late in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to 49-14 to end the scoring for the day.
Through two games this season, Cuda has thrown for 575 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception, while completing 67.7% of his passes. He is also the Spartans leading rusher with 210 yards on the ground through two games.
Brendan Lynch led all Spartans on Saturday with eight receptions and 85 yards receiving, as the junior was one of eight players to catch a pass for CWRU on the day. Case Western Reserve totaled 467 yards of offense against the Bearcats, including 229 on the ground.