Box Score
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Senior safety Sid Facaros capped a career day with a 76-yard fumble recovery return for a touchdown that enabled Allegheny to force overtime at Case Western Reserve on Saturday. Despite the late rally, the Spartans, who are just outside the top 25 in this week's national polls, sneaked past the Gators in the extra session, 24-23.
It was a disappointing defeat for a gritty Allegheny (2-2) squad. The team stayed in contention behind the strength of a solid defensive performance and orchestrated a superb comeback late in the fourth quarter to push its second consecutive nationally-prominent foe to the brink. Unfortunately, the Gators endured two blocked kicks, including a diving lunge by Case junior Jacob Adams on an overtime PAT try that would have extended the game.
Facaros delivered a stand-out performance for the Allegheny defense, making a career-high 15 tackles, in addition to scooping up and running back the overtime-forcing score with 1:46 left in regulation. He was involved on a third-down sack in the first quarter that resulted in a long missed field goal, while closing with 2.5 tackles for loss.
Trailing 17-6 midway through the fourth quarter, Allegheny scored 11 straight points to tie the game. Ryan Zipf capped a 14-play, 59-yard drive with a 34-yard field goal at the 6:01 mark to close the deficit to eight.
Starting at their own 37 on the ensuing series, the Spartans (4-0) manufactured what appeared to be the perfect drive to close out the game. Two completions by Case quarterback Joey Baum to Zach Homyk provided the bookends for a drive that chewed up over four minutes of clock while putting Case at the Allegheny 14. On a first-and-10 rush to the left side, Eddie Blacka forced a fumble that Facaros picked up and returned for the improbable six. TJ Salopek's two-point conversion solidified the comeback as he hooked up with David Strawser on a slant in the endzone.
Baum and Homyk, who hooked up a career-high 14 times throughout the day, connected on the first three plays of overtime to push the Spartans inside the Gator 15. Three plays later from the six, Baum completed a pass to Shaun Nicely in the back of the end zone. Case went in front, 24-17, following the point after.
Facing second-and-16 on the Gators opening possession, Salopek delivered a 17-yard strike to Matt Griffith. Three plays later, Terry Hartford hauled in the senior quarterback's first touchdown pass of the day. The excitement for the Allegheny faithful was short-lived as Adams dashed the Blue and Gold's hopes by blocking the extra point.
Salopek completed a season-high 23 passes (23-of-38) for 249 yards, but was sacked six times. Brian Tamburlin finished with seven catches for 80 yards, while Strawser also made seven grabs for 78 yards.
Williams closed with nine tackles and a forced fumble, while John Douglas made three tackles for a loss including a sack for the Allegheny defense.
Case Western Reserve, which won its 35th-consecutive regular-season game, blocked a 24-yard field attempt on Allegheny's second possession of the second half.
