Vasil Boots Overtime Field Goal to Lead Spartans Past Wooster in Baird Brothers Trophy Game
WOOSTER, Ohio – Senior Daniel Vasil (Erie, Pa./McDowell) booted a game-winning, 31-yard field goal in overtime as the Case Western Reserve University football team won its non-conference finale by a score of 24-21 versus The College of Wooster in the annual Baird Brothers Trophy game on Saturday, October 22, at John P. Papp Stadium.
The Spartans (6-1) have won five-straight games heading into their University Athletic Association opener and home finale versus the University of Chicago (Ill.) next Saturday, October 29, at Case Field in Cleveland.
Wooster drops to 2-5 overall and has lost five straight to CWRU.
Wooster opened the scoring in the first quarter when Brett Frongillo completed a 13-yard scoring strike to Cameron Daniels at the 5:53 mark. Dana Obery tacked on the extra-point attempt to cap a 10-play, 59-yard drive that took 4:19 off of the clock.
The next Case Western Reserve drive went 11 plays, but ended deep in Fighting Scot territory as a fourth-down pass by junior quarterback Erik Olson (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) was intercepted in the endzone.
However, the first play on the ensuing Wooster drive resulted in a 25-yard interception return for score by senior linebacker Jacob Adams (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) with 15 seconds remaining in the quarter. Vasil booted the extra point to tie the score at 7-7.
The Fighting Scots broke the tie early in the second period as Frongillo snuck into the endzone from one yard out on fourth-and-goal. Another Obery PAT, which capped a 12-play, 60-yard drive, made the score 14-7 with 10:12 left in the half.
Neither side managed another score throughout the duration of the half and the Scots led at halftime.
Case came out of the locker room and marched 70 yards on 14 plays, eventually tying the score with a five-yard TD run by Olson and a Vasil PAT with 7:56 remaining in the third quarter. Olson completed a pair of key passes on the drive – one on a fourth-and-six from the Wooster 33 to senior wide receiver Eric Street (Barberton, Ohio/Coventry) and another on third-and-12 from the 25 to freshman wide out Sean Lapcevic (Presto, Pa./Chartiers Valley).
After forcing the Scots three-and-out on the next possession, Case once again marched down the field and took its first lead when Olson hooked up with sophomore fullback Steven Magister (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) on a three-yard TD pass with 1:43 left in the third. Vasil's third PAT made the score 21-14. The drive covered 72 yards on 10 plays and was aided by four personal foul penalties on Wooster.
The Spartans dominated in time of possession in the quarter, leading 11:43 to 3:17.
Wooster answered on its first drive of the fourth quarter as Frongillo faked a handoff and bolted straight up the middle for a 23-yard TD. Obery's kick after tied the score and capped an eight-play, 57-yard drive.
After both teams were forced to punt, the Spartans drove deep into Scot territory, but a 37-yard field goal was missed, giving Wooster possession at its own 27 with 1:09 left to play. Several plays later, the Scots attempted a long field goal of their own – a 43-yarder – but it was missed left with 20 seconds left in regulation and the game went to overtime.
In the opening drive of OT, Wooster picked up a 14-yard pass on fourth-and-one to move the ball down to the Case one yardline. However, the Spartan defense came up huge on the next play when junior linebacker Wade Self (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Lake Zurich) popped the ball out of the hands of Frongillo – the loose ball was covered up in the endzone by sophomore safety Jordan Banky (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon).
Four plays later, Vasil booted the winner – his seventh field goal of the season.
Olson finished 20-of-31 for 161 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore RB Kenny Riordan (Spring Grove, Ill./Richmond-Burton) rushed for 47 yards on 18 carries and Lapcevic had four receptions for a game-high 74 yards. Defensively, Self and junior hero Ryan Ferguson (Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis) tied for the team-high with 10 tackles each.
Wooster linebacker Quinn Hood led all defenders with 13 tackles and a pair of sacks.
Prior to next Saturday's game versus Chicago, CWRU will honor its football senior student-athletes.
