Heading into Saturday’s penultimate contest of the season against Case Western Reserve University, the Yellow Jackets had a chance to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2014.

However, it didn’t go that way, as the Yellow Jackets lost 41-17 to the Spartans in Cleveland.

The Yellow Jackets (4-5, 4-4) played competitively in the first half and kept pace with Spartans (8-1, 7-1) as they headed into the locker rooms trailing by a touchdown, 17-10. Head coach Chris Smithley was satisfied with how the team played through the first 30 minutes.

“I thought we played a really good first half as a team,” said Smithley. “[In] all three phases we capitalized on our opportunities and special teams did their part – pinned them in there tight. Defense created a turnover and the offense scored a touchdown.”

The offense moved the ball well in the first quarter, chewing up some time on the clock before the Yellow Jackets took a 3-0 lead, early. Smithley liked what he saw from the Yellow Jackets on that first drive.

“Our first drive was a 12-play drive, had six minutes of the clock that finished in points, but obviously going up to Cleveland and playing a 20th-ranked Case team, we were really proud of our guys for how they did that,” said Smithley.

The Spartans answered with a field goal and a touchdown to take a 10-3 lead five minutes into the second quarter. The teams traded touchdowns later in the quarter, which included a 1-yard touchdown run by Zach Baughman and the Spartans lead was just seven at halftime.

Case Western Reserve opened up the scoring less than five minutes into the second half and didn’t look back, adding 31 consecutive points on the board giving the Spartans a 41-10 lead midway through the final frame.

The Yellow Jackets were able to stop the bleeding at the 7:19 mark of the fourth with an 18-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Tyler Perone to sophomore wideout Dorian Hardy. Smithley was pleased to see that Perone avoided interceptions Saturday, which is something Perone has struggled with throughout this season.

“The progression he’s made and there’s things he’s been doing that we’ve been working hard on to continue to improve,” said Smithley. “Getting the ball out quick and simplifying reads and making things easier to put the ball in guys hands that need it. He’s doing a good job of that and the guys play for him.”

The Perone touchdown rounded out the scoring as Waynesburg fell to sixth place in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference with the loss.

For the Yellow Jackets, Perone completed 16 of 20 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown. Junior running back Chad Walker had a game-high 66 yards rushing on 21 attempts, and junior wide receiver Nick Moretti caught six passes for 108 yards.

Case Western freshman quarterback Drew Saxton threw for 327 yards on 27-37 passing, adding five touchdown passes to five different receivers in the contest.

Now, the Yellow Jackets are in a must win situation to become bowl eligible, with No. 19 Washington & Jefferson College visiting this Saturday. Smithley and his staff don’t plan to make any changes in preparation for this week’s contest considering it’s a rivalry game.

“I think when you play W&J there’s always a little bit [more] incentive because of that relationship that we have there,” said Smithley. “But we aren’t going to prepare differently, we’re going to prepare to win this football game the same we do any other football game.”

Kickoff on senior day is set for 1:30 p.m. at John F. Wiley Stadium against the Presidents.