Football Ends Four Game Skid With 21-0 Victory Over Chicago

Oct. 20 – (CHICAGO, Ill.) – The Carnegie Mellon University football traveled to the University of Chicago Saturday, October 20, for a University Athletic Association (UAA) showdown. The Cardinal and Gray rushing game lifted them to a 21-0 victory. With the win the Tartans snapped their four game losing streak and move to 3-4, 1-1 UAA, as the Maroons fall to 3-3, 0-2.

Chicago took the first drive 63 yards spanning over 7:35 ending on a missed 28-yard field goal by Maroon place kicker Ryan Verissimo. After the two teams exchanged a possession, the Tartans drove 64 yards on 11 plays to take the early 7-0 lead with 14:02 to play in the half. The drive was capped off with a four-yard touchdown run by senior running back Robert Gimson (Palm Beach Gardens., Fla./The Benjamin School). Gimson accounted for 39 yards on the drive, while senior fullback Travis Sivek (Traverse City, Mich./St. Francis) recorded the other 25.

With 4:15 remaining in the first half the Maroons lined up for another field goal attempt, this time from 40 yards away, but senior linebacker Trent Sisson (Novi, Mich.) blocked Verissimo’s kick keeping the score 7-0 Carnegie Mellon heading into the locker room.

On Chicago’s first possession of the second half they had their drive stopped by a Steve McGovern’s (Sunnyvale, Calif./Bellarmine Prep) interception. McGovern’s return and a personal foul penalty set the Tartans up at the Maroon 21-yard line. Five plays later Sivek took it in from one-yard out extending the Tartans lead to 14-0 with 7:47 to play in the third quarter.

On the last play of the third quarter Sivek added his second touchdown on the afternoon. This time he took it in from four yards out making the score 21-0 capping off an 11 play 60 yard drive spanning over 5:25.

Carnegie Mellon held the edge in total yards 279-258, with all 279 yards coming on the ground. The Tartan defense held the Maroons to 73 yards on the ground. For the Tartans, Gimson and Sivek finished the game both over 100 yards for the third time this season. Gimson led the attack with 113 yards and one touchdown, as Sivek finished with 111 and two scores.

The Tartan defense forced five turnovers, as the Maroons were able to force only one. Leading the way for the Cardinal and Gray defense was senior Jonathan Bodnar (Cheswick, Pa./Deer Lakes) junior Jim Sands (Windham, Ohio) with six tackles apiece.

The Tartans will continue UAA play next week, as they host Washington University. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. at Gesling Stadium.