The Case Western Reserve Spartans shut down the Bearcats, posting a 42-0 victory in Cleveland.

The Spartans scored two touchdowns in each of the first three quarters, gaining 509 yards of total offense, including 339 on the ground, compared to 263 total yards by the Bearcats.

Case got on the board quickly, gaining a 7-0 lead four minutes into play on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Dan Whalen to Ryan Kolesar. 

The teams then traded scoreless possessions until Case running back Cory Checkan scored the second Spartan touchdown of the day on a one-yard plunge with two minutes left in the first quarter.

SVC answered with a lengthy drive of its own to start off the second quarter, accumulating three first downs and taking the ball to the Spartan 12.  The drive stalled, however, after a Bearcat penalty and two short gains.  Facing a fourth and 12 on the Case 13, the Bearcats decided to go for it, but quarterback Mike Speal was sacked at the 17. 

Case cashed in on the turnover on downs, as 10 plays later, Checkan scored his second touchdown of the day, once again from one yard out, to open up the Spartan lead to 21-0.  A 15-yard touchdown scramble by Whalen in the waning moments of the second quarter gave Case a 28-0 halftime lead.

Checkan scored his third touchdown of the day, again on a one-yard plunge, 10 minutes into the third quarter to give the Spartans a 35-0 lead, and teammate Billy Deitman ended the day's scoring on a three-yard touchdown run with just over 10 seconds left in the third quarter.

With four minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Bearcats looked to end Case's shutout bid.  Quarterback Jimmy Nagle made three straight completions, taking the ball to midfield.  A Spartan personal foul moved the ball to the Case 35, and on the next play, Nagle scrambled 15 yards for another first down.  He then completed two more passes, one to Rob Minjock and another to Anthony Sacco, to set up a first and goal on the seven with just under a minute left in regulation.

The drive again stalled, however, as Nagle was unable to find a receiver on fourth down, ending the game.

Speal finished 14-30 through the air for 140 yards, while Nagle completed six of 10 passes for 58 yards, while leading the team with 26 rushing yards on three carries.

Freshman receiver Mike Wampler enjoyed a career day, hauling in five passes for 71 yards.  Minjock, Sacco, Jake Gabelt, Rob James, and Sheldon Loughner each made a pair of grabs for SVC.

Defensively, linebacker Justin Blatnik made 7.5 tackles, including two for a loss.  Sean Hufgard added 6.5 stops, while Garrett Hazlett and Kyle Knepshield each had quarterback sacks.

Whalen completed 13 of 17 passes for 155 yards for Case, while Deitman had 90 yards on the ground and Checkan 69 to go with his three scores.

With the loss, the Bearcats fall to 0-7 on the year, while Case Western has won seven straight to open the season.  SVC will be back in action next Saturday night, traveling to Geneva for a 6:30pm contest.

PHOTO: The Bearcats line up on offense against the Spartans of Case Western Reserve University