Derek Bush scored three touchdowns as Case Western Reserve extended its regular-season winning streak to 34.
Norm Weber
Special to The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Derek Bush scored three touchdowns as Case Western Reserve extended its regular-season winning streak to 34 with a 37-7 triumph over previously unbeaten Denison.
Bush had two touchdown runs in the first six minutes of the game, the first from seven yards out and the next from the Denison 1.
Bush's second touchdown came after Case successfully pulled of a flea flicker for a 24-yard gain. QB Joey Baum handed to Shaun Nicely on an apparent end around but Nicely flipped the ball back to Baum who passed the ball to Brian Webster.
"Our defense and special teams did a great job in getting the turnovers and giving us the opportunities to get the short drives," Bush said. "Naturally after getting that second [touchdown], I was hoping to get the chance for a third one."
Case (3-0) held a 7-0 lead just 38 seconds into the game. Denison (3-1) fumbled the opening kickoff and Steve Magister recovered at the Big Red 19. Two plays later Bush was in the end zone.
Baum, who threw an 18-yard touchdown pass Zach Homyk in the second quarter, had more than 200 yards passing at halftime, when the Spartans led, 20-0. Homyk caught six passes in the first half for 65 yards.
The Spartans' Dale English had two sacks, two passes defensed and three tackles for loss to lead the defense. Adam Murray (one sack, two tackles for loss) and Dan Calabrese (five tackles) also played a large role in the near shutout.
The Spartans were up, 37-0, when the Big Red got on the board.
"The other guys did a good job on their blockers to open the holes to allow me to get back there and makes the tackles," English said.
"We would have liked to have gotten the shutout, but at least we got the 34th win in a row so there is no letdown from letting up that late TD," Calabrese said.
Bush scored his third touchdown of the game in the third quarter on a four-yard run, about three minutes after Trevor LeBarge ran in from two yards out to put Case up, 27-0.
Norm Weber is a freelance writer in Lakewood.