Complete Game Notes (.pdf)

Waynesburg (0-3, 0-1) at #21 Case Western Reserve (2-0, 0-0)
 
When: Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, 7 p.m.
 
Where: Cleveland, Ohio (DiSanto Field)
 
Radio: WCYJ-FM - 99.5, Webcast can be heard at http://vp.telvue.com/player?id=T01595&video=23812
 
Live Video: https://case.edu/livestream/athletics/
 
Live Stats: http://athletics.case.edu/sports/fball/2017-18/boxscores/20170923_k53l.xml
 
Series Breakdown
All-Time Series: Case Western Reserve leads 2-1
First Meeting: 2014 (Waynesburg won 35-15)
Last Meeting: 2016 (Case Western Reserve won 35-7)
 
On paper, number-21 Case Western Reserve provides the sternest test for Waynesburg this season. They come into this weekend ranked in the top three of the PAC in virtually every major statistical category, including scoring offense, scoring defense and average margin of victory.
 
Case should be well rested, as the Spartans took their bye week during week two. They quickly shook off any rust in last week's win over Grove City, which saw them turn a 21-10 halftime advantage into a 42-10 victory.
 
Case Western's most recent win resulted in some extra accolades heading its way. Case Western Reserve University junior defensive lineman Ian Henderson was selected as the Defensive Player of the Week for both the Presidents' Athletic Conference and the University Athletic Association, while senior running back Jacob Burke was named the UAA Offensive Player of the Week
 
After going 3-7 in 2014, Case has been one of the most successful teams in the PAC over the past two-plus seasons. It's no coincidence that the Spartans' fortunes changed when Rob Cuda took over as the starting quarterback in 2015. Since Cuda won the job, Case sports an 18-4 record.
 
Though it ultimately didn't lead to victory, the Waynesburg offense completely dominated the time of possession battle against Carnegie Mellon on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets held the football for 38:35. A big reason for that success was efficiency on third down, where the Orange and Black converted 11-of-21 tries, as well as its only fourth-down conversion attempt.
 
The Jackets are wrapping up maybe the most difficult three-game stretch of its 2017 schedule. Including Case, their last three opponents, which also include Carnegie Mellon and Westminster, are a combined 6-1 overall. All three teams have been featured in either the D3Football.com or AFCA national polls.
 
Thanks to last week's four-sack performance, Waynesburg vaulted from last place in the PAC in the category to fifth. Seniors Drew Glotfelty and Brent Blacharczk logged two each on the day.
 
Both the Yellow Jackets and Spartans have done a good job of playing disciplined football. Case comes into Saturday as the least penalized team in the PAC (32.5 penalty yards per game). Waynesburg has surrendered just 43.3 yards per contest by way of the yellow flags.