Spartans cap perfect 10-0 regular season

Since this year's senior class has stepped on campus, they have had tremendous success. In their first year, the team won 5 games. Winning half of your games is considered average by most standards, but for Case football at the time, it was an improvement. That year the Spartans won their last regular season game, and have not lost a regular season game since. 31 straight regular-season wins later, the team finds themselves in the playoffs for the third consecutive year, after topping WashU (4-6), 28-8 on Saturday.

Despite some miscues, the Spartans made extending their streak and their season look easy.

Case jumped out to a 7-0 lead after Greg Meyer legged in a seven-yard touchdown on the game's first drive. Meyer scored his second touchdown of the half, this time from 12 yards out, with 3:11 remaining in the second quarter. Running back Derek Bush ran for two second-half TDs.

A bad snap by the Spartans resulted in a first-half safety for the Bears. Quarterback Dan Whalen was intercepted twice.

The Bears didn't get into the endzone until the fourth quarter.

It is not hard to figure out why the Spartans have had so much success. The team has a nationally recognized quarterback, wide receivers and running backs who are all upperclassmen, and a linebacking corps that could match up against most in the country. Part of the Spartans' success however, lies behind the scenes and out of the spotlight.

There is one player in the senior class that defines what it truly means to be a Division III athlete. At the Division III level, there are no athletic scholarships. Students that play at this level play because they love the game. It takes true passion to practice every day and lift a few times a week and then not see much of the field on Saturdays. Most would have quit by now, but one man decided the team was more important and has accepted his role: Kevin Street.

Street is a senior safety and has an essential role in preparing the offense for the upcoming opponent. Quarterback Dan Whalen said, "The harder the scout team works the better they make us. The fact that Street is out there says a lot about his character. Every good team needs players like that".

Wide receiver Ryan Kolesar said, "Street always comes out and gives 100%, no matter what else is going on. I go against Street everyday and he is definitely my favorite player on the scout defense because of his effort and he is always in good spirits. Plus, he makes me step up my game just so I can beat him".

"It's very unreal because I came from a school district where losing was a tradition," said Street. "When the coaches came and recruited me it was a big deal. I chose Case for the academics, but to be able to take my career in sports to the next level was a great opportunity. At the time Case was a mediocre program, so I figured it would be a great way to extend my passion for athletics while focusing on academics. It still hasn't hit me that I'm playing for a team that is ninth in the nation and won back-to-back-to back UAA titles and playoff appearances. This is kind of like living a dream come true for me."

"My favorite part of being on this team is the camaraderie and closeness we all share. We come to school two weeks early and do everything together, from practicing to eating to playing video games in spare time. We really become a family away from home. That has carried with me throughout the last four years. It's the glue that keeps everyone together."

Win or lose, the senior class will likely play their last game ever on Case field. Hopefully for Street and company, their last memory here will be a lasting positive one.