UAA Champion Tartans Host Bethany in Home Finale

Nov. 2 - (PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – A week after clinching their first league title in nine years, the 2006 University Athletic Association (UAA) Champion Tartans close out their home schedule against Bethany College with a 1 p.m. kickoff, November 4 at Gesling Stadium.

Fueled by a smothering defense that last week held Washington (Mo.) University to just 136 yards of total offense, Carnegie Mellon prevailed over the Bears in a 10-7 overtime nail-bitter at Francis Field to capture their first UAA crown since 1997.

Five sacks, two by defensive lineman Trent Sisson (Novi, Mich.) and a clutch interception late in the fourth quarter by senior linebacker Jamie Ploetzner (Rathdrum, Idaho/Lakeland) helped send last weeks championship battle into overtime. After the defense held Wash U. scoreless in their first overtime possession, the offense delivered the knockout blow with a seven-play, 19-yard drive that set up the game-winning field goal courtesy of senior Nathaniel Greenstein (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.).

While the defense, ranked eighth in Division III in points allowed per game (8.9), dominated the Bears last Saturday, the Tartan offense has matched their counterparts step-for-step all season long. Juniors Travis Sivek (Traverse City, Mich./St. Francis) and Robert Gimson (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./The Benjamin School) lead the way for Division III’s eighth ranked rushing attack (280 yards per game), paving the way for a budding passing game. Sophomore Doug Facemyer (Eastlake, Ohio/Eastlake North) stepped in for injured quarterback Kevin Mulkern (Springfield, Pa.) three weeks ago and the offense continues to lead the UAA with 28.6 points per game.

Next up for the 8-0 Tartans are the Bethany Bison (4-4), fresh off an impressive comeback victory over Thomas More College. Senior quarterback Brent Owens erased a 14-0 halftime deficit by tossing back-to-back touchdowns on the Bison’s first two drives of the second half. Then, after falling behind 17-14, Owens again brought the Bison back when he connected with receiver Matt Cruse for the winning score in the game’s final minute.

“They throw the ball pretty well. They have struggled on the ground somewhat. And again, they’re young, they’re playing some freshmen,” said Tartan head coach Rich Lackner. “But the quarterback last week threw for well over 200 yards against Thomas More and they have some very nice receivers that catch the ball well and the quarterback makes good decisions.”

Although Bethany’s 23.3 points per game ranks second in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC), in part because Owens shares the lead with 13 touchdown passes, the 33 points per game allowed by the Bison defense remains the worst in the PAC.

Bethany has struggled to stop their opposition from scoring, but their defensive unit has created turnovers and harassed quarterbacks. Senior defensive back R.J. Faldowski leads the team with four interceptions, while his fellow defensive back Brandon Zemon has returned two interceptions for touchdowns. Pressure by defensive lineman, senior Josh Long and freshman John Gyure, each of whom have recorded four sacks so far this season, has contributed to the Bison’s 14 forced turnovers.

“They are giving up a good amount of points a game,” Lackner said. “But they are playing some young kids and they’re getting better every week.”

Bethany’s kickoff unit also poses a threat in Saturday’s game. Senior Taylor McNeil returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown earlier this season, and his 25.3 yards per return is second in the PAC.

“He does a very nice job,” Lackner said of McNeil. “They do a very good job on special teams and we’re going to have to cover them.”

Bethany will test the Tartans in several facets of the game this week, but remaining focused after their emotional championship game victory last week will be equally challenging.

“In the old days we used to call it a let-down. You can’t let your guard down,” Lackner said. “The thing that our players have done, no matter who the opponent is, no matter what the situation, no matter where we are playing, no matter who we are playing, we have come to play each and every week.”