Posted: Friday, October 3, 2008 12:00 am
The Case High School football team did everything but win its Southeast Conference game against South Milwaukee Friday night.
Eagles' senior quarterback Dirk Jansen passed for more than 300 yards and senior wide receiver Ian Lutfiyya had one of the biggest receiving performances in Case history, but they just came up short in a 41-34 loss to the Rockets at South Milwaukee.
Lutfiyya caught 17 passes for 261 yards, both possibly school records, Case coach Jerry Kupper said, and Lutfiyya caught two touchdown passes as the Eagles (0-6 overall and SEC) were a late fumble away from winning their first game of the season.
"The kids put their hearts out," Kupper said. "They became a team tonight - everyone was doing what they were supposed to do and I'm proud of the effort by the kids."
South Milwaukee (1-5 overall and SEC) led 28-12 at halftime with three second-quarter touchdowns, but the Eagles scored twice in the third quarter on a 4-yard pass from Jansen to senior wideout Andy Garcia and an 8-yard run by senior fullback Dustin Davitz, adding a 2-point conversion on each one, to tie the game at 28-28 going into the fourth quarter. Jansen went 28-for-54 for 333 yards.
The teams traded scores early in the final period, but Rockets sophomore quarterback Sam Oliden, who ran for four touchdowns and passes for another, scored on a 16-yard run to give South Milwaukee a 41-34 lead.
The Eagles were driving for a potential game-tying score late in the game, but lost a fumble on the Rockets' 25-yard line and South Milwaukee ran the clock out.
"We were right there and we were competing," Kupper said. "It's a sign we're going in the right direction.
Junior running back Keith Paap ran for 126 yards on 19 carries for Case. Oliden ran for 101 yards and passed for 81.