Oberlin, Ohio – The Oberlin College football team officially opens it season on Sunday, September 15, when local rival Case Reserve University invades Savage Stadium for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
 
What: Case Western Reserve University Spartans (1-0) vs. Oberlin College Yeomen (0-0)
When: Sunday, September 15, 1 p.m.
Where: Savage Stadium – Oberlin, OH
Radio: AM-1320 WOBL – Don Vincent (p-b-p) Bob Karlovic (color)
Online Coverage: Live Stats  Live Video  Live Audio 
 
Series: Oberlin trails in the all-time series 5-31.
 
Last Meeting Against the Spartans: Oberlin lost to Case Western 24-17 in overtime on October 20, 2012 at Savage Stadium.
 
Series Information …
The all-time series between Oberlin and Case has not been kind to the Yeomen over the years as the Spartans hold a 31-5 record against the Yeomen … Oberlin, which has dropped the last 28 meetings in a row to Case, nearly ended that streak last season as they missed a last-second field goal attempt at the end of regulation before ultimately falling, 24-17, in overtime …  The series dates back to 1972, a game in which the Yeomen fell to the Spartans 27-21 … The Yeomen's last triumph against the Spartans was in week one of the 1982 season when Oberlin pulled out a 17-6 victory.
 
Scouting the Spartans …
One of the premier teams in all of NCAA Division III, the Spartans enter Sunday's contest with a record of 55-10 debating back to the beginning of the 2007 season … During that span, they have won four UAA Conference titles (2007-09, '11) and made three appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2007-09) … Case started its season last week by defeating Marietta College, 37-16, with a balanced attack and swarming defense … The Spartans racked up 345 yards of offense and held the Pioneers to just 220 … Case used both junior quarterback Billy Beecher, who started the game, and senior Erik Olson in the win … The duo finished 15-fo-21 for 246 yards and one touchdown.
 
A Look at Last Year …
Oberlin had the Spartans on their heels after tying the game at 17-17 with 5:43 left to play … The Yeomen would later have a chance to win it at the end of regulation on a 39-yard field goal attempt, but it is was not converted, which ultimately allowed the Spartans to come away with a 24-17 victory in overtime … Statistically, the Yeomen dominated the football game, out-gaining the Spartans 389 to 258, while also earning a 24-16 margin in first downs.

Dynamic Duo …
Last year the Spartans struggled with slowing down the running back combination of Moses Richardson and Blake Buckhannon … Richardson, now a senior, rushed for 108 yards and a score on 20 carries … Buckhannon was also close to the century mark in to total yards, rushing for 38 yards on 12 attempts, while also adding 59 yards on six catches … Richardson, who will be the team's featured back, rushed for a career-high 620 yards last fall … In three seasons he has totaled 1,183 yards and eight TDs on the ground.
 
Starting Off on the Right Foot …
Oberlin will look to make it four straight season-opening victories on Sunday … In 2010 the Yeomen upended Kenyon on the road in a thrilling, 29-26, overtime victory … The next season they blanked the Lords at home 42-0 and last fall they downed Earlham College 33-3 in the opener … However, prior to 2010, the Yeomen's last week-one win came all the way back in 1997 when they defeated Thiel College 18-17.
 
Who is that Guy? …
With the departure of 15 seniors from last year's team, the Yeomen will have multiple new starters on both sides of the ball … Sophomore Gabe Edwards is slated to start at right corner, while first-years Adrian Kelly and Ben Venerdi will join him in the secondary at strong safety and left corner, respectively … Offensively, sophomore Stephen Hause is slated to start opposite of fifth-year senior Adam Niec at wide receiver, while rookies Larry Leggett and Justin Cruz will also factor into the wide-out rotation.
 
Replacing Clay …
Last season the Yeomen defense was blessed with having the nation's leading pass rusher in Clay Eaton, who finished with 17 sacks … The senior combination of Kirby Livingston and Jake Danko look to fill those shoes this year as the leaders of the front four … Last season the pair combined for 102 total tackles and eight sacks.
 
Second-Year Progress …
Head Coach Jeff Ramsey is hoping to see his second-year quarterback Lucas Poggiali blossom into one of the best signal callers in the NCAC … As a rookie he saw significant time at quarterback in five games, three of which were starts. However, he did not get behind center in last season's loss to the Spartans … In those five games he totaled 815 yards passing and three touchdowns. He also added 110 yards on the ground and one TD.
 
Sunday Funday …
In observance of Yom Kippur, the Yeomen and Spartans are playing on Sunday rather than the traditional Saturday of the college football season … With the change the Yeomen now have one less day to prepare for Wooster on September 21 … Overall, the Yeomen's schedule is the most unusual as it has ever been – drawing a week-one bye last Saturday – leaving them with 10 straight weeks of games.