Game Notes
 
Waynesburg (1-4, 1-4) at Case Western Reserve (5-1, 5-1)
 
When: Saturday, Oct. 21, 2 p.m.
 
Where: Cleveland, Pa. (DiSanto Field)
 
Live Video: https://athletics.case.edu/sports/2023/7/31/cwru-football-live-video.aspx
 
Live Audio: https://us7.maindigitalstream.com/3943/
 
Live Stats: https://athletics.case.edu/sidearmstats/football/summary
 
LAST TIME OUT
Both Waynesburg and Case Western Reserve come into Saturday's game off wins that featured impressive defensive efforts this past Saturday. The Yellow Jackets logged their first shutout in nine years by blanking Saint Vincent 24-0. Waynesburg allowed just 138 yards of total offense, including 23 on the ground, while Saint Vincent converted just two-of-12 third down attempts. Case stymied Westminster to the tune of a 31-6 victory that featured the Titans gaining just 104 yards of total offense (53 rushing, 51 passing).
 
LAST TIME THEY MET
Offense was the name of the game in 2022, as Case won a 45-31 shootout with Waynesburg. The Yellow Jackets never led, but back-to-back touchdowns on a 26-yard reception by Dakota Romantino (Charleroi, Pa. / Charleroi) and a 17-yard run by Justin Flack (Derry, Pa. / Derry) pulled the home team to within four points of tying things up at 21-17 with 12:40 remaining in the third quarter. However, the Spartans outscored the Jackets 24-14 to close out the victory. Flack rushed for 80 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries, while also pulling in four catches for 54 yards. Romantino hauled in seven receptions for a game-high 104 yards and a score. The Waynesburg offense threw for 310 yards and rushed for another 91. Case, on the other hand, threw for 259 yards and rushed for another 211 on a very productive outing.
 
KEEP AN EYE ON
Waynesburg's offense, which is coming off its most productive showing of 2023, will face its stiffest test of 2023 in the Case Western Reserve defense. The Spartans have allowed a total of eight touchdowns and 52 total points over six games played. Not only are their 8.7 points per game allowed tops in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC), but seventh in all of Division III. Case's 233.2 yards per game given up are good for 16^th in D3.
 
NEWS AND NOTES
Case Western Reserve's Henry Busch was named PAC Defensive Player of the Week after helping lead one of the best defensive efforts of the season for the Spartans during the team's 31-6 win over Westminster on Saturday. Busch finished the game with a career-high eight tackles (five solo) including 2.5 tackles for loss for five yards and a quarterback hurry. His effort helped the Spartans' defense hold Westminster to just five first downs and 104 total yards in the game.
 
Waynesburg senior Chase Nicomatti (Port Vue, Pa. / South Allegheny) enjoyed his best day as a Yellow Jacket during Waynesburg's 24-0 win over Saint Vincent on Saturday. He tallied three sacks and forced a fumble as the Yellow Jacket defense posted its first shutout in nine years and held the Bearcats to 138 yards of total offense.
 
Balance has been key for Case Western Reserve as it has built its 5-1 record, with its only loss coming against undefeated and PAC-leading Grove City. The Spartans are second in the league in total offense (375.0 yards per game) and total defense (232.8).
 
Flack enters Saturday's game with 3,142 collegiate rushing yards and is 155 yards shy of tying Mike Stout (1996-99) for second place in Waynesburg history.
 
Case comes into Saturday riding a seven-game winning streak against Waynesburg. The Yellow Jackets' last victory over the Spartans was a 35-15 triumph in 2014, which was the Spartans' first year as an associate member of the PAC.
 
Waynesburg faces one of the best running quarterbacks in the PAC in Alex Fromberg. Fromberg leads all PAC quarterbacks in terms of rushing yards per game (57.2), which puts him seventh amongst all conference players. He's also tallied five touchdowns on the ground. Fromberg has also thrown for 187.3 yards per contest, which is third-best in the league, and tossed 12 touchdowns to just four interceptions.