Football destroyed by Case Western Reserve

Anthony Johnson is lone bright spot despite the tough defeat

One week after a near victory against Earlham College, the Oberlin football team surrendered a season-high 70 points at Finnigan Field in Cleveland in a loss to Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) 70-12. The loss put the Yeomen at 0-8 on the season and extended their losing streak to 17 games.

For the second straight week, however, there was personal consolation for wideout senior Anthony Johnson. Johnson caught six passes for 116 yards, his second straight 100-yard-plus game.

After staying close the entire game two weeks ago against the Quakers of Earlham, Oberlin fell into an all-too familiar pattern last week against CWRU's Spartans. The Yeomen went three-and-out on their first possession after receiving the opening kickoff. Punter first-year Bob Montag's punt went 36 yards and was returned 17 yards to the OC 38 yard line.

The Spartans needed only four plays to push the ball across into the end zone, with the final effort a 1 yard scoring rush from running back Ted Otero. Otero would push across all of the first three touchdowns, all from 1 yard out. He finished the day with only 5 carries for 15 yards, but three of those were for touchdowns.

The Yeomen again went three-and-out after receiving the ball following the first score. On the very next play from scrimmage, the Spartans aired it out to the tune of 53 yards, down to the Oberlin 1 yard line. The connection of quarterback Ryan Crumbaugh to wideout Will Bryant was followed directly by Otero's second score.

Oberlin, obviously frustrated by their so far inefficient offense and a 14-0 deficit, yet again fell in three downs, with three incomplete passes.

Case needed only four plays to cover the 50 yards for a a score, with Otero again providing the capper.

The Yeomen fared little better on their next effort, getting their initial first down of the day but failing to move the ball afterwards.

The Spartans again capitalized on OC's stumbling offense, though they started with their worst field position of the day. After a 10 yard illegal blocking penalty on the punt, Case started with the ball on their own 29 yard line. In seven plays the Spartans traversed the 71 yards to the end zone, and Oberlin found itself down 28-0 and not yet out of the first quarter.

Oberlin again went three and out, and the next Case drive brought the first quarter to an end. The drive stalled, however, and a Spartan field goal attempt from 36 yards failed, giving the Yeomen new life on their own 20 yard line.

Combining solid rushing, passing and capitalization on Case mistakes, the Yeomen drove the 80 yards in 14 plays, as running back first-year J.J. Gilmore capped the drive with a one-yard scoring run. On the two-point conversion attempt, quarterback sophomore Geno Walker's rush failed to break the plane of the goal, leaving the score at 28-6 in favor of Case.

The Spartans came right back, however, after a short OC kickoff and good return gave them the ball on their own 39 yard line. Case covered the 61 yards in 8 plays, putting them in front 35-6.

Oberlin was again unable to move the ball with time running out in the first half, and Case took a knee after a season-high 62 yard punt by first-year Bob Montag.

The Spartans came out and went right back to work in the 3rd quarter. Following yet another short kickoff and good return, Case started with the ball on the Oberlin 48 yard line. They needed only 4 plays to put them in front 42-6.

After getting the ball back, the Yeomen fared little better. A 1 yard rush by running back sophomore Adisa Chaney was followed by an interception of a Geno Walker pass. The pick was Walker's first of three on the day, and first of four for the team.

Case did not dissapoint the hometown crowd, grinding out the 29 yards in 7 plays and capitalizing on the OC turnover. Crumbaugh ran the last 13 yards himself on three successive carries, and the point after touchdown made the score 49-6. The quarterback would see no more action on the day, being replaced by Tom Kauffman.

Oberlin's offense remained stuck in neutral, going three and out. But the defense was able to hold the inexperienced Kauffman to 19 yards on 8 plays, eventually forcing a turnover on downs.

OC's offense came close to rewarding the defense's efforts, with the first play a 34 yard Walker pass to Johnson down to the Case 11 yard line. The Yeomen could not convert on the golden opportunity, however, with a Johnson catch on fourth down falling two yards short of the first down, at the Case 3 yard line.

It did not take Kauffman long to adjust, however. Starting with the ball on their own 3 yard line, Case drove out to the 30 in 5 plays. From there, Kauffman connected with Chuck Arnold for the 70 yard touchdown pass. The extra point was once again succesful, and Case led 56-6.

Oberlin again showed a spark of hope upon getting the ball back. Walker connected with Johnson for 24 yards following a 3-yard Chaney run, but was again picked off on the third play of the drive.

Three Case runs brought the third quarter to a close. The Spartans began to sputter on offense as the fourth quarter began, turning the ball over on downs at the OC 40 yard line.

Oberlin this time was able to keep hold of the ball, with Walker passing for 39 yards and rushing for 8 in the 12 play 58 yard drive finished by an 11 yard touchdown pass to tight end junior Jason Ross. Walker was once again unsuccessful, however, in his attempt to rush for the two-point conversion, leaving the score at 56-12.

Case could once again not convert on offense, and Oberlin got the ball back on their own 21 yard line. Following a 2 yard Gilmore rush, however, Walker suffered his third and final interception of the game, this one returned for a touchdown by Joseph Mohner.

With the score 63-7, Montag came in at quarterback. After two OC first downs, Montag was picke off on a downfield pass at the Case 37, and Tom Minillo returned the pick all the way, 63 yards for the touchdown, putting the game at its final score of 70-12.

Oberlin returns to Dill Field for its final home game of the season tomorrow at 1:00. The Yeomen go up against 3-5 Kenyon in the Senior Appreciation Day battle.