Tartan Football Falls in Heartbreaker; Triple Overtime Defeat to #18 Thiel College 50-48

Nov. 12 - (PITTSBURGH, Pa.) In an intense match-up between Carnegie Mellon University and Thiel College in the final game of the regular season, the Carnegie Mellon Tartans were defeated by the #18 Thiel College Tomcats in triple overtime, with a final score of 50-48. The Tartans end their season with a record of 5-5, while the Tomcats secured their first undefeated season since 1950 with a record of 10-0.

From the start of the first quarter, the Tartan's score was matched or trailed closely by Thiel. At 7:58 in the first quarter, the Tartans were able to capitalize on a mistake made by Thiel's special teams – a fumble at the Thiel 32-yard line. On a four-play drive, Carnegie Mellon posted the first points of the day with a 23-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jarrod Highberger (Blairsville, Pa/Blairsville) to receiver Derek Wisnieski (Indiana, Pa./Indiana). Thiel quickly answered at 1:20 in the first quarter, with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Chambers from quarterback Darrell Satterfield.

Six minutes into the second quarter, Highberger completed his second touchdown pass on a two-yard completion to wide receiver Jon Kline (Greensburg, PA/Greensburg Central Catholic). This score was quickly matched following a 69-yard kick return by the Tomcats on their next possession, which started at the Carnegie Mellon 20-yard line. After a quick six-play drive, ending with an 11-yard pass to Chambers, Thiel knotted the score once again, 14-14. Following the Tomcat score, the Tartans battled down the field in a two-minute drive that resulted in a one-yard touchdown run scored by Travis Sivek (Traverse City, MI/St. Francis), giving the Tartans the 21-14 edge. Thiel attempted a final scoring drive which resulted in a missed field goal from the 38-yard line, leaving the score at the end of first half with Carnegie Mellon in the lead 21-14.

The third quarter remained scoreless, though Thiel attempted a second field goal from the 43. Due to injury, Highberger was replaced by Kevin Mulkern (Springfield, PA/Springfield). Mulkern would lead the Tartans down the field at the start of the of the fourth quarter setting up a nine-yard touchdown run by Sivek extending their lead to 28-14 with 14:04 to play in regulation. Still trailing behind the Tartans 28-14, the game's momentum seemed to swing in the favor of the Tomcats in the fourth quarter. After a seven-play drive ending in a one-yard touchdown run by Dan Hess making the score 28-21, the Tomcats recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. On the next play from scrimmage the ball was forced out of the Tomcat's possession by Tartan defensive back Aaron Lewis (Englewood, OH/Northmont) at the Carnegie Mellon 18-yard line. The Tartans were forced to punt a few plays later.

On the Tomcat's following possession, they scored on a nine-play, 68-yard drive matching the Tartan's score, 28-28, with 2:32 left on the game clock. The Tomcats held the Tartans to a three and out forcing them to turn the ball back over with 1:02 to play. Thiel compiled a seven-play drive down to the Carnegie Mellon 15-yard line setting up the Thiel kicker, Sammy Koyl, from 32 yards out. Koyl’s kicked went wide left for the third time on the afternoon sending the game into overtime.

In the first overtime period, the Tartans were on offense first. Three plays into the first OT Sivek found the end zone for the third time giving the Tartans the 35-28 lead. On an 18-yard touchdown pass to Chambers from Satterfield, the Tartan score was quickly answered, leading the teams into a second overtime exchange.

After a second score by the Thiel Tomcats, a one-yard pass to Tom McEntire, Carnegie Mellon was again successful in their scoring drive, this time on an 11-yard pass from Mulkern to running back Robert Gimson (Palm Beach Gardens, FL/The Benjamin School).

In triple overtime, Carnegie Mellon again scored a touchdown on a 13-yard pass to Kline, but failed to complete a 2-point conversion. In the final drive of the game, the Tomcats emerged victorious, 50-48, following a 21-yard touchdown pass and another pass for the two-point conversion in the corner of the end zone, both thrown to Chambers.

Carnegie Mellon's Lewis would end the game with a career high 22 tackles, with 12 solo and 10 assisted. Tartan quarterbacks Highberger and Mulkern both ended strong as well, with Highberger passing for 109 yards and nine completions and Mulkern with 82 yards with 11 completions.

Thiel was led by Chambers with a school record 15 receptions for 177 yards and four touchdowns. Satterfield was 29-52 passing for 306 yards and six touchdowns.

This game concludes the Tartan's 2005 regular season schedule.