October 28, 2006

Case Scores in Final Minute to Edge Chicago 10-9

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Corey Checkan scored on a 2-yard touchdown run with 24 seconds left in the game to give host Case Western Reserve University a come-from-behind 10-9 victory over the University of Chicago in University Athletic Association football action Saturday at Case Stadium.

Chicago (2-5 overall, 0-3 UAA) led 9-3 and had the ball at its own 33-yard line with 6:04 remaining in the contest. The Maroons drove 41 yards on nine plays before turning the ball over on downs at the Case 26-yard line with 2:08 on the clock.

Dan Whalen then led the Spartans (4-4, 1-2) on a 14-play, 74-yard drive capped by Checkan's 2-yard run. Case converted twice on third down and once on fourth down en route to the winning touchdown.

Chicago scored the only points of the first half. Four plays after the Maroons recovered a fumble deep inside Case territory, sophomore tailback Chuck Little (Plano, Texas/ St. Mark's) scored his fourth touchdown of the season on a 1-yard plunge on third-and-goal.

The Maroons added a safety in the second quarter. After a punt by freshman Ryan Verissimo (Skokie, Ill./ Niles West) pinned Case at its own 2-yard line, junior linebacker Tony Insalaco (Mokena, Ill./ Lincoln Way East) sacked Whalen in the end zone on third down to put the Maroons up 9-0.

Case got on the board on its first possession of the second half, a 12-play, 61-yard advance which concluded with a 24-yard field goal off the foot of Brian Calderone.

Chicago's defense produced six takeaways (three interceptions, three fumbles), but only one resulted in a scoring drive. The Maroons intercepted Whalen on three consecutive drives in the fourth quarter, but could not score. A missed 32-yard field goal marked the Maroons' best scoring chance in the final two periods.

Whalen connected on 13 of 31 attempts for 159 yards and three picks. James Rosenbury rushed for 99 yards on 20 attempts as Case snapped a four-game losing skid.

Senior quarterback Matt Rinklin (New York, N.Y./ Fordham Prep) was 11-for-24 for 77 yards. He was also the Maroons' leading rusher with 45 yards on 16 attempts.

The loss was Chicago's fourth in a row.

Box Score