Grove City Knocks Off Case Western Reserve 30-20 On Senior Day

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Shane Lux | November 9, 2024

Grove City – Nico Flati rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns to lead Grove City past Case Western Reserve 30-20 at Robert E. Thorn Field.

Saturday’s game marked the first time since November 4th, 2006, that Grove City has hosted Case Western Reserve in the home finale.

On that day, current Wolverines head coach Andrew DiDonato threw three touchdowns, ran for a score, and caught a touchdown pass in a 40-33 victory.

Grove City improves to 8-1 on the season, and if they can defeat Westminster next Saturday afternoon, they will have an opportunity to be PAC Conference co-champions, at least.

“After that loss to W&J, we said that we have to be in playoff mode,” DiDonato said. “If we want any shot to win a share of the league and get back to the NCAA tournament, it has to be focusing on 1-0 each week. We have the playoff mindset. We’ve won three in a row and have one more to get.”

With the senior day festivities, their senior tailback Nico Flati and junior back Ian Demeri combined to rush for 204 yards and three touchdowns.

“We’re focused on being 1-0 each week,” said Flati. “We come into every game preparing the same way for each team. We’re excited to win the PAC if we win this game next week. Then, hopefully, we can make it to the playoffs. We got the ball rolling really quickly today. I wasn’t expecting it, but we’ll take it.”

The afternoon couldn’t have started much better as, defensively, the Wolverines forced a punt after three plays and drove 62 yards in seven plays, with Demeri scoring on a 32-yard run.

“Our defense has set the tone for us all season,” said DiDonato. “It was huge for them to go out and get that quick 3-and-out, followed by our running game. It doesn’t always go according to plan, but it was nice to see it. Getting the running game going early certainly paid off later in the game.”

Grove City extended their lead to 9-0 after a quarter when Daniel Sullivan booted a 38-yard field goal. Logan Pfeuffer connected with Scott Fraser on a 30-yard pass on the 12-play 52-yard drive.

Pfeuffer completed 13 of 25 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown, while Fraser had a team-high 70 yards on four receptions.

The Wolverines built a 16-0 halftime lead by driving 76 yards in eight plays, with Flati scoring on a 15-yard run with 1:55 to play. Pfeuffer connected with Fraser for a 33-yard gain on the drive.

“We always talk about going into the half and coming out,” said DiDonato. “We didn’t get what we wanted coming out, but going in to get those points was a huge part of this game.”

In the third stanza, the Wolverines defense forced another 3-and-out and took over at the Spartans 20-yard line following a 10-yard punt.

Six plays later, Pfeuffer connected with tight end Ryan Heckathorn for an 8-yard touchdown that put Grove City ahead 23-0 mid-way through the quarter.

Case Western Reserve got their offense in gear for the first time in the game. Led by quarterbacks Alex Fromberg and Aaron Filips, the Spartans drove 80 yards in 14 plays, with Filips tossing a 5-yard touchdown to Noah Coyne in the closing seconds of the third period.

Things got interesting after the Spartans held on downs at their 28-yard line with 10:39 to play. Grove City had a chance to put the game away following an interception by Jason Muench.

Case Western Reserve needed only two plays as Filips connected with Dylan Cave on a 67-yard pass before throwing a 5-yard touchdown to Cave a play later, pulling the Spartans to 23-13 with 10:07 remaining.

Grove City stopped Filips’ 2-point conversion pass to maintain the two-score lead.

“That 2-point play was huge,” DiDonato said. “They get that, and it’s a one-score game with them having the momentum. That’s huge for our defense to make that play.”

The Wolverines then went on the drive of the night and ate up 7:24 of the game clock. This time, they put the nail in the coffin when Flati scored on a 4-yard run with 2:37 to play.

“We wanted to punch the ball in there so we could end this game,” Flati said. “We were getting tired but knew we had to keep pushing. We did and broke them when we got that ball in the end zone. It’s all the offensive line. They make the holes, get the double teams, and make them easy to read. The coaches call the right plays, and we get it going.”

The drive was 12 plays, 80 yards, and Flati rushed for gains of 14 and 35 yards on the possession.

“We believe throughout the game that our running game will continue to have the effect,” said DiDonato. “We feel we can win games in the fourth quarter running the ball. That huge against a great opponent for our ground game to finish it off like that.”

The Spartans did drive 71 yards, scoring on Filips’ 10-yard touchdown pass to Alec Angello with 58 seconds on the clock.

Grove City then recovered the onside kick to preserve the victory.

Aaron Filips and Alex Fromberg combined to complete 22 of 36 passes for 304 yards, with Filips tossing all three touchdowns.

Dylan Cave had eight receptions for a game-high 160 yards and a touchdown. Case Western Reserve has dropped three consecutive games since their 6-0 start.

Grove City now has a chance to make the postseason and claim a share of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference title next Saturday against Westminster.

Game Highlights

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