Tartans Head to Delaware for Second Round Playoff Showdown

Nov. 21 - (PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – In a clash of top-notch defenses and high-powered offenses, 11-0 Carnegie Mellon travels to Dover, Del. this Saturday for a 12 p.m. kickoff with the 11-0 Wesley College Wolverines.

Last week in their first playoff game since 1990, the Tartans, ranked 22nd in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division III poll, posted their third shutout of the season, blanking Millsaps College 21-0.

Boasting five first team All-University Athletic Association (UAA) selections, the defense surrendered just 7.5 points per game over 11 games, the third lowest average in Division III. Over the last five games, Carnegie Mellon has allowed only three scores on the way to earning a conference championship and their first playoff win since 1979.

The Tartans superb defense faces its toughest challenge this week when they travel to the Wolverine’s home field to take on the AFCA's third-ranked team. A phenomenal Wesley unit that averages 40 points per game dominates opposing teams both on the ground and through the air. Freshman tailback Jeremy Robinson shares the team-lead with 13 rushing touchdowns while fellow freshman Aaron Jackson has toted most of the load with 994 yards on 167 carries.

The Wolverine passing attack has been even more potent this season. Senior quarterback Chris Warrick tossed an Atlantic Central Football Conference (ACFC) best 27 touchdowns and 230 yards per game. Warrick's two favorite receivers, junior Michael Clarke and sophomore Jason Schatz, each have 49 catches with Clarke leads the ACFC in yards (952) and touchdown grabs (13).

Sporting a different, but equally productive style of offense, the Tartans will rely on a tandem of runners that pilot the nation's third-ranked rushing attack. UAA Offensive Player of the Year junior Travis Sivek (Traverse City, Mich./St. Francis) and junior Robert Gimson (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./The Benjamin School) became the first duo in school history to each top 1,000 yards rushing in the same season as the offense churned out 271 yards on the ground per game.

Wesley's defense has made big plays (forcing 27 turnovers) and kept rushing offenses in check by yielding just 78 yards per game but teams have experienced success in the running game. Last week in their 49-21 first round victory over Dickinson College, the Red Devils grabbed a quick 13-0 edge on two rushing touchdowns before relinquishing their lead. After finishing the regular season ranked 10th in rushing yards allowed, Wesley surrendered 201 yards to Dickinson in the victory.

Carnegie Mellon and Wesley share a recent history of battles against one another. In 2004 the Wolverines traveled to Gesling Stadium and 88 yards and a touchdown run from Sivek, a freshman then, propelled the Tartans to victory. Although Carnegie Mellon allowed 243 rushing yards, the defense intercepted Warrick three times as the sophomore and his offense only managed one touchdown in a 24-10 loss.

In 2003 at Wolverine Stadium, the sight of this week's game, the Tartans jumped out to a 13-0 lead, but 545 total yards of offense and four second half touchdowns passes by Warrick, led Wesley to a 47-28 comeback win.