Football Ends Losing Streak With 63-28 Victory Over Colorado College

Oct. 1 - (COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) The Carnegie Mellon football team traveled to Colorado Springs, Co. Saturday, October 1 for their first ever meeting against the Tigers of Colorado College and came away with a 63-28 victory. With the win the Tartans move to 3-2 as the Tigers go to 1-3 on the year.

On the first possession of the game the Tartans where unable to convert, as the Tigers held them to a three and out. Carnegie Mellon’s sophomore punter Matt Adams (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Scioto) was able to pin the Tigers deep in their own territory with a 55-yard punt to the Tigers seven-yard line. After a short drive by the Tigers, the Tartans took over at the Tigers 39-yard line after a short punt.

Two plays later the Tartans drought of nine plus quarters without a touchdown came to an end, as sophomore fullback Travis Sivek (Traverse City, Mich./St. Francis) scored on a 29-yard run with 12:06 left in the first quarter. After an interception by junior defensive back Aaron Lewis (Englewood, Ohio/Northmont), the Tartans put together yet other drive ending on a nine-yard touchdown run by Sivek to give the Tartans the early 14-0 lead with 8:52 left in the first.

On the first play of the second quarter Sivek scored for the third time on the day on a two-yard run giving the Tartans a 21-0 lead, capping off a 5:44 drive. On the ensuing kickoff the Tigers freshman kick returner, Justin Alexander, returned it 93 yards for the Tigers touchdown cutting the Tartans lead to 21- 7.

The next two drives resulted in turnovers for both teams as Lewis recorded his second interception off a tipped pass by senior linebacker Tom Pfister (Springfield, Ohio/Tecumseh) setting the Tartans up on the Tigers 24-yardline. Four plays later sophomore Colby Whitman (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney) scored on a two-yard run extending the Tartans lead to 28-7.

On the Tigers next possession, Tartan defensive back Jon Menhart (Rices Landing, Pa./Carmichaels Area) intercepted the Tigers quarterback, Chris Neal, for his second INT of the game and Neal’s fourth in the first half. The Tartans were forced to punt on their next possession after the Tiger defense held them to a three and out. Carnegie Mellon’s Lewis would prove to make the big play again, as he recorded his third interception of the game and set up the Tartans on the Tigers 18-yardline.

Two plays later sophomore running back Robert Gimson (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./The Benjamin School) would put the Tartans ahead 35-7 on a two-yard run. The Tigers would answer the Tartans score on their next drive, as they went 88 yards on nine plays to cut the Tartans lead to 35-14 heading into the locker room.

On the Tigers first possession of the second half junior James Rogers (Battle Ground, Wash./Skyview) recorded the Tartans sixth interception of the game. On the next play Sivek wasted no time as he found the end zone for the fourth time on a 41-yard run giving the Tartans the 42-14 lead with 12:54 to play in the third.

The Tigers and Tartans would exchange scores on their next possessions as Gimson would score his second touchdown on a 14-yard run making the score 49-21 with 6:04 to play in the third.

Menhart would record his third interception on the afternoon for the Tartans, as it marked the seventh time on the day that Carnegie Mellon intercepted the Tigers quarterbacks, setting a single game team record, with just under two minutes to play in the third.

Three plays after the interception, Adams recorded a career long 64-yard punt for the Tartans. The Tigers would try a fake punt as they fell short turning the ball back over to the Tartans early in the fourth quarter. Five plays later, senior Joe Hurley (St. Cloud, Fla./Gateway) scored on a one-yard run to give the Tartans the 56-21 lead with 13:09 to play.

Each team would tack on one more touchdown to finish off the scoring and give the Tartans the 63-28 victory.

Leading the way for the Tartans was Sivek, as he recorded career highs with 156 yards rushing and four touchdowns. Gimson finished the afternoon with 104 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Carnegie Mellon out gained the Tigers 547-404 in total offense as the Tartans rushed for 494 yards.

The Tartans defense was led by Lewis and Menhart as they both recorded three interceptions. Lewis finished with a team high 10 tackles, nine solo.

Next week, Carnegie Mellon University will be idle. The Tartans will open up UAA play as they travel to the University of Chicago Saturday, October 15.