Quarterback Eli Grant leads CWRU's offense.

The Spartans led the nation in the NCAA's Division III in total offense during the first four weeks of the season and, going into week five, were second. In four games they ran 295 plays for 2,146 yards, averaging 536.5 yards per game.

A key to their success has been execution from the people up front, the unheralded, unsung offensive line. It's made up of senior left tackle Nolan Spencer of Kalamazoo, Mich.; fifth-year senior left guard Farzod Mazloomi from Cincinnati, Ohio; junior center Jon Leonard from Bryan, Ohio; sophomore right guard Tom Bachey of Cincinnati; junior right tackle Steve Schindler of Concord, Ohio; and junior tight end Jacob Baker from Orrville, Ohio.

"What strikes me about our line is that when we had to run the ball, we ran it. And when we have had to throw the ball, we've been able to throw it," said Greg Debelak, who is currently in his second season as the team's offensive coordinator. "Usually you have a good run block or pass block, not both. We have guys that can do both. That's unusual but good."

OK, enough praise for the unappreciated, let's talk about the more high-profile guys.

On the ground junior running back Brandon McDowell from Cleveland has picked up where he left of a year ago. McDowell is currently 15th in the nation in rushing with 53 carries for 413 yards, a 137.7 average, and four touchdowns in just three games. He is second in all-purpose yards when his 289 receiving yards are added in for a total of 702, a 234.0 average, and is tied for 12th in averaging 13 points a game.

"Obviously Brandon makes a difference," said Debelak. "Once he gets out in the open field, he can make big, big plays. And that's something I don't think they have had here for a while."

In the air sophomore wide receiver David Kallevig from Brecksville and junior quarterback Eli Grant from Brooklyn, N.Y., are flying high. Kallevig is third in the nation in receiving yards per game with 32 catches for 600 yards, a 150.0 average, in four games and is tied for 13th in receptions per game, averaging eight. Grant is currently fifth in the nation in passing efficiency, completing 81 passes on 131 attempts for 1,236 yards (309 average), 11 touchdowns and only one interception (167.3 efficiency) in four games. He is also 12th in total offense with 158 plays for 1,198 yards, a 298.3 average.

"David is just a warrior. The kid just gets it done," said Debelak. "He goes after the ball. He wants it, he just takes it away from people and he's just tough. Eli is probably the most accurate passer I have been around, and he just doesn't let things affect him."

CWRU jumped out to a 2-0 start for the first time in almost two decades (not since 1985) but lost their last two games by a combined eight points.

"The first two games we just overwhelmed our opponents and put up big numbers," said Debelak. "The last two games we did it by out-executing them, and that's more pleasing."