Football Wins Third Straight Defeating Bethany 42-19

Nov. 3 – (BETHANY, W.Va.) – The Carnegie Mellon University football team traveled to West Virginia Saturday, November 3 to take on the Bison of Bethany College. The Tartans came away with a 42-19 victory and guaranteed their 33rd consecutive non-losing season. Carnegie Mellon moves to 5-4, as Bethany is now 4-5.

On Carnegie Mellon’s first possession of the game they drove 66 yards on nine plays taking a 7-0 advantage. The drive ended on a 33-yard touchdown strike from sophomore quarterback Phil Pantalone (Camp Hill, Pa./Cedar Cliff) to senior wide out Jeremy Doo (Cambridge, Mass. Phillips Exeter Academy) with 8:41 to play in the first quarter. The Tartan drive started after the defense stopped the Bison on two straight plays on a third and inches turning the ball over to the Tartans on downs.

The Bison answered the Tartans score, as they went 59 yards on the en suing possession ending with a 16-yard touchdown reception. Senior quarterback Milton Joyner hooked up with junior Brad Zink on the ninth play of the drive. Following a missed extra point the Tartans held the 7-6 lead at the 4:28 mark in the first quarter.

On the second play of the second quarter, Carnegie Mellon extended their lead to 14-6 on a three-yard touchdown run by senior fullback Travis Sivek (Traverse City, Mich./St. Francis). Sivek capped off a 12-play 62-yard drive taking 5:03 off the clock.

Senior linebacker Jonathan Bodnar (Cheswick, Pa./Deer Lakes) gave the Tartans a 21-6 lead on a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown just under four and a half minutes into the second quarter. Bodnar’s pick marked his third straight game with an interception.

The Cardinal and Gray struck again before the half. Sivek found the end zone with 3:57 to play in the half for his second score, taking it in from 20 yards out. The drive went for 59 yards on ten plays, as Sivek accounted for 45 yards.

The Bison cut into the Tartan lead, as they drove 92 yards on ten plays to make the score 28-13 at the half. Joyner tossed his second touchdown of the afternoon, this time to sophomore Matt Cruse from 11 yards out.

Sivek added his third touchdown of the game on the fifth play of the second half ending a 75-yard drive. On Sivek’s 30-yard scamper the Tartans took a 35-13 lead. On Bethany’s next possession Carnegie Mellon senior corner Jon Scholl (Coraopolis, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic) put a stop to the Bison drive, as he intercepted Joyner in the end zone.

Six plays following the Tartans third interception, senior running back Robert Gimson (Palm Beach Gardens., Fla./The Benjamin School) gave the Tartans their biggest lead of the game, 42-13, with 7:39 to play in the third on a 15-yard run.

Bethany made the score 42-19 with 9:35 left in regulation, when Joyner connected with Cruse for the second time. With the reception Cruse tied a Bethany school record with his ninth touchdown reception of the season.

Carnegie Mellon held the edge in total yards 399-354, with 355 yards coming on the ground. For the Tartans, Gimson and Sivek finished the game both over 100 yards for the fourth time this season. Gimson finished with 140 yards and one score, as Sivek totaled 131 yards on the ground with three touchdowns. With Sivek’s three scores he moves into 20th place on the NCAA Division III scoring list with 348 points for his career. He also needs 24 yards to reach the 4,000 yard milestone for a career.

Defensively, the Tartans were led by Scholl’s ten tackles, eight solo, and one interception. Sophomore Stanley Onyimba (Columbia, Md./Altholto) was the Tartans next highest tackler finishing with seven.

Foe Bethany, Joyner was 19-of-35 for 206 yards and three touchdowns. Cruse led all receivers with 10 catches for 81 yards. Senior linebacker Chance Kildow led the Green and White with 12 tackles.

The Tartans will conclude their 2007 regular season next Saturday, November 10, as they entertain the Generals of Washington and Lee. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Gesling Stadium.