Case Western Reserve University senior running back Stefan Lopez scored four touchdowns in the first half and the Spartan defense held Allegheny College scoreless until late in the third quarter as CWRU rolled to a 62-21 win over the Gators in front of a boisterous Homecoming crowd at DiSanto Field in Cleveland on Saturday afternoon.
The Spartans have now won three consecutive games, improving to 3-2-1 on the season, including a 3-1 PAC record. CWRU is now tied for second place in the conference standings, half a game behind first-place Washington & Jefferson, which holds a 3-0 in league play. Allegheny dropped to 2-4 on the year with a 2-2 PAC mark.
Stats and Standouts
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Lopez fell just one touchdown shy of the program's single-game record, despite not seeing the field in the second half with the team holding a large lead. He carried the ball 10 times for 44 yards with two scores on the ground and added a pair of catches for 11 yards, with both resulting in touchdowns.
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Junior quarterback Sam DeTillio was the team's leading rusher in the game with 74 yards on the ground. He also completed seven-of-12 pass attempts for 78 yards and two scores.
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As a team, CWRU totaled 302 rushing yards and ran for six touchdowns, the most rushing yards in a game by the team since October 27, 2016, when the Spartans ran for 435 yards against WashU. It was also the last time that CWRU broke 300 rushing yards in a game.
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CWRU outgained Allegheny 439 to 214 in the game, including a 302-67 edge in rushing yards.
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Sophomore safety Jake Kavcic notched his second interception of the season in the game and returned it for a touchdown while also adding a sack.
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Junior linebacker Bidinga Kapapi tallied a sack for the third consecutive game, forcing a fumble on the play.
First Quarter
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CWRU did not allow a first down during the first quarter, jumping out to a 14-0 lead after the first 15 minutes of play. The Spartans held the Gators to eight yards during the period while amassing 130 of their own.
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Lopez got the Spartans on the board with 8:50 left in the frame, capping off a nine-play, 55-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown catch from DeTillio.
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Later in the quarter, Lopez ran the ball in from two yards out, putting CWRU in front 14-0 with 4:55 left in the period.
Second Quarter
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Lopez added his third touchdown of the day early in the second quarter, catching an eight-yard pass from DeTillio to give the Spartans a 21-0 advantage with 11:29 to go in the half.
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CWRU added to its lead with a four-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Andy Kavcic with 2:08 left in the period to go ahead 28-0.
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Jake Kavcic intercepted a Nick Barker pass on Allegheny's next possession, returning it 52 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 35-0 with 1:44 to play in the period.
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Kapapi forced a fumble with a strip sack on the Gators' next drive, giving CWRU the ball back on the Allegheny four-yard line with 1:27 left in the half. On the next play, Lopez ran the ball into the end zone for his fourth score of the period as CWRU carried a 42-0 lead into halftime.
Third Quarter
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Despite most of the team's offensive starters sitting throughout the second half, the Spartans were able to add to their lead in the third quarter as senior running back Matthew Bittel ran for a 14-yard touchdown on the team's first possession of the second half. After first-year linebacker Jack Griffiths forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff that was recovered by senior linebacker Shane Schwartz, first-year running back Aaron Alexander notched his first career touchdown, running for a one-yard score to give CWRU a 55-0 lead.
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Allegheny got on the board with a 46-yard touchdown pass with 4:09 left in the third and added a touchdown later in the third with a one-yard scoring run following a CWRU interception to cut the advantage to 55-14 by the end of the third.
Fourth Quarter
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First-year running back Joel Hancock notched dashes of 33 yards and seven yards on the next drive, the latter resulting in his first career touchdown, putting the Spartans ahead 62-14.
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Allegheny would score again to cut the Spartans' lead to 62-21, but with the game well in hand, the Spartans were able to run out the majority of the rest of the period to hold on for the 41-point win.
Spartan Notes
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Saturday's win was the Spartans' sixth straight win against Allegheny, dating back to the 2010 campaign. CWRU now stands at 12-20 all-time against the Gators.
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CWRU has now won 15 of its last 18 Homecoming games, including victories in 10 of the last 11 years. It was the 13th homecoming win in the last 15 that was decided by two touchdowns or more.
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The Spartans matched a program record for points in a quarter with their 28-point showing in the second frame, the ninth time in program history the team has achieved the feat.
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CWRU improved to 3-0 this season when rushing for 150 or more yards in a game and has won 12 consecutive games when rushing for at least 150 yards, dating back to the 2023 campaign.
Up Next
The Spartans will have their bye week next week before returning to action on Saturday, October 25, on the road against Thiel College.