Tartans to Battle Grove City This Saturday

Sept. 7 - (PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – After an impressive 27-6 victory in last Saturday's season opener at Hiram College, Carnegie Mellon will look to continue their early season momentum as they travel to Grove City College to take on the Wolverines this Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Carnegie Mellon's defense held the Terriers to just 167 total yards of offense with Hiram's only points coming on a rushing touchdown late in the third quarter. In addition to yielding just 98 rushing yards on 37 carries (just over 2.6 yards per attempt) the defense recorded four tackles-for-loss, one sack by junior defensive lineman Mike Reggie (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles Prep), and a fumble recovery by senior defensive back Nat Scarmazzi (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon McMillan). As the Tartans outlasted Hiram on a wet and sloppy terrain, senior inside linebackers James Rogers (Battle Ground, Wash./Skyview) and Jamie Ploetzner (Rathdrum, Idaho/Lakeland) each turned out nine tackles to lead the unit.

While the defense held the Terriers in check, the Tartans' running game produced three touchdowns, two in the fourth quarter, to secure Carnegie Mellon's eighth consecutive season opening victory. Junior fullback Travis Sivek (Traverse City, Mich./St. Francis) led a Tartans' ground game that racked up 204 yards on 49 carries. Sivek's 104 yards on 22 carries helped the Tartans' offense score on all five trips inside the Terriers red zone (three rushing touchdowns and two field goals).

Carnegie Mellon's special teams also contributed to the victory when senior defensive back Jonathan Menhart (Rices Landing, Pa./Carmichaels) returned a Hiram punt 36 yards to the Terriers 44 yard line. Menhart's third return of more than 20 yards provided the offense with great field position as the running game burned almost three minutes off the clock in the fourth quarter on the way to their final scoring drive.

The Tartans will again look to use all three phases of the game to defeat a Grove City team that returns 15 starters for the 2006 season. The Wolverines, who had a bye last week, feature a very experienced offensive line that lost only one starter from last season's team which rushed for nearly 150 yards per game. The passing game figures to be much improved with the addition of freshman quarterback Andrew DiDonato, a South Fayette High School product who threw for over 6,000 yards to break a WPIAL record.

Grove City's defense will also be well-seasoned in the trenches as four of the unit’s front seven return. Despite their 3-7 record in 2005, the Wolverines yielded 15 points or less in half of the team's ten games and will look to continue their strong run defense (2.9 yards per carry in 2005) against Carnegie Mellon's efficient ground attack.

Last season the Tartans defeated the Wolverines at Robert E. Thorn Stadium in Grove City, Pa. 20-16 in a non-conference, week two match-up. After falling behind 13-0, Carnegie Mellon rallied with 10 unanswered points in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter to push their early season record to 2-0.

Sivek, who had been held to just 22 yards in the first half sparked the Tartans' comeback, breaking through for over 100 yards and two touchdowns in the second half alone.

But the key deciding factor in that victory may have been special teams, and like last season this year's match up could hinge on who avoids mistakes in the kicking game.

"Last year, I think the key factor in the game was the kicking game," Head Coach Richard Lackner said. "They had a punt that was a short punt that was shanked, they fumbled a kickoff after we went ahead with the go-ahead field-goal. So I think the kicking game was a deciding factor last year and we have to be sound in our kicking game."

Because both teams have similar philosophies, establish a running game while shutting down the opponent's ground attack, versatility may help decide the outcome.

"I think like anything else, balance is critical," Lackner said. "When you have the ability to run the ball, they're going to put nine people up there and challenge you to pass so you have to have the ability to pass and the ability to run the football and hopefully we’re able to do that on Saturday."