Tartans and Tomcats Again Meet In Finale with Much on the Line

Nov. 9 - (PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – In a season filled with celebrations, the Tartans can add one more special memory with a win at Thiel College this Saturday at 1 p.m. to complete their first perfect season in 16 years.

The 9-0 Tartans, who climbed to 23rd in the AFCA Division III Coaches' Poll after last Saturday's 44-6 win over Bethany College, travel to Alumni Stadium in Greensville, Pa. to take on the 5-4 Tomcats in their last regular season game of the year.

In an ironic twist, these same two teams met last season in the final week of the regular season, but it was Thiel who took their undefeated record on the road and defeated a 5-4 Carnegie Mellon squad 50-48 in a triple overtime thriller.

"It's kind of an interesting scenario, but I don't put a whole lot of stock in last year," Head Coach Rich Lackner said. "It's over, it's done, they beat us. This is a new year, a new season, a new team, and we'll see what happens Saturday."

Although last season's face-off turned out to be an offensive outpouring, both squads combining for 810 total yards from scrimmage, two tough defenses will be on display for the Tomcats' senior day.

Carnegie Mellon's sixth-ranked defense in Division III (8.3 points per game) features the UAA's interception leader, senior defensive back Aaron Lewis (Englewood, Ohio/Northmont) and four of the conferences top eight tacklers: junior defensive back Jonathan Scholl (Coraopolis, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic), Lewis, senior linebacker James Rogers (Battle Ground, Wash./Skyview) and junior defensive end Trent Sisson (Novi, Mich.). Lewis ranks 32nd in the nation with five interceptions and 22nd in the nation with three forced fumbles.

Thiel boasts two of the Presidents' Athletic Conference's (PAC) top defenders. Senior corner back Steve Boyle shares the conference lead with five interceptions and junior defensive end Chris Lorber is tied for second with nine sacks. Both are part of the 29th ranked rushing defense, as Lorber ranks 17th in pass sacks.

"Probably for the player who's running the pattern, the quarterback who's throwing the ball and the player who is trying to block that great pass rusher, those have got to be their focus," Lackner said. "But there are nine other athletes on that defensive side of the ball that do a great job. And they run to the football and they're very good tacklers and they’re well coached."

The Tartans will likely attack that strong Tomcat defense with the fourth-best rushing offense in Division III. Junior running back Travis Sivek (Traverse City, Mich./St. Francis), who has won the UAA offensive player of the week award the last two weeks, leads the conference with 1,000 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns. Junior running back Robert Gimson (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./The Benjamin School) also shoulders many of the carries for the 274 yards per contest Tartan ground-game.

Thiel counters Carnegie Mellon's high-scoring rushing duo with an effective balance of pass and run. Senior quarterback Billy Blankenship has completed 60.2% of his passes for 10 touchdowns and 179 yards per game, while junior Steve Minton and sophomore Dan Hess have combined for 919 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.

"They have a good offensive team," Lackner added. "Their offensive line is well-schooled. The receivers do a nice job of catching the ball. They're well balanced. They have two great running backs and the quarterback seems to make good decisions."

Despite the 5-4 record, Thiel is no stranger to playing quality opponents. Last season the Tomcats advanced to the second round of the Division III playoffs and 16 starters return from that 11-1 squad. In 2006, Thiel has battled to a 4-2 conference record in the strong PAC.

"They have played some good competition," Lackner said. "Geneva is an NAIA team and certainly very good. Washington & Jefferson is an 8-1 football team, and has a reputation of a football power and they took them right down to the wire. I’m sure they’re ready for what is going to face them. They’ll be prepared."