Tartans Fall 33-13 to Allegheny College
(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The Carnegie Mellon University football team committed four critical turnovers in its 33-13 loss to the visiting Allegheny College Gators Saturday at Gesling Stadium.
Allegheny jumped out to an early lead on Carnegie Mellon, as they used up just short of eight minutes to drive down the field. The 17-play, 80-yard drive was capped by a 1-yard run from Allegheny running back Taylor O'Brien. O'Brien carried the ball 26 times for 88 yards on the day with the one touchdown.
Ben Perko added 83 yards on 15 attempts for the Gators. Allegheny's rushing attack got them 184 yards on 46 carries against the Carnegie Mellon defense led by junior Nick Karabin (Ruffs Dale, PA) and sophomore Robert Winkelman (Chagrin Falls, OH). The two Tartan linebackers led the team with 11 tackles which ties the career-high for Karabin and is a career-high for Winkelman.
Following a career-long 55-yard punt by Carnegie Mellon senior punter Patrick Garrett (Glenshaw, PA), Allegheny began their second scoring drive from their own two-yard line.
The Gators' first year quarterback, Jordan Fowler, completed a 49-yard pass to wide open receiver, Sean Griffin, which brought Allegheny to the Carnegie Mellon 24-yard line. The drive stalled out for the Gators at the 21-yard line, but Allegheny kicker Ryan Zipf's field goal attempt was good from 38 yards giving the visiting team a 10-0 lead. Fowler finished the day 15-22 for 189 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Tartans fought back as they put together a 9-play, 69-yard touchdown drive capped with a 9-yard scamper by junior Patrick Blanks (Cincinnati, OH). Carnegie Mellon failed to convert the extra point leaving the score at 10-6 with 1:47 to play in the half. Blanks had another good day for the Cardinal and Gray, as he carried the ball 11 times for 65 yards and a touchdown.
A 40-yard kickoff return for Allegheny's Blake Lyle set the Gators up in good field position. Looking to add three points, Allegheny sent out Zipf to attempt a 31 yard field goal with three second showing on the clock in the half.
Zipf's field goal was blocked by Carnegie Mellon sophomore defensive lineman Dallas Hartman (New Wilmington, PA). The blocked ball was picked up by Sam Thompson (Alcoa, TN) and returned to the Allegheny 40-yard line before he pitched the ball to junior Philip Nicolaides (Exton, PA) who moved the ball eight more yards to the 32-yard line.
After 10 minutes of scoreless play in the second half, Allegheny found their way into the end zone again with 3:57 remaining in the third quarter. Fowler connected on his second 49-yard pass of the day to Griffin. The extra point gave the visiting Gators a 17-6 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, Allegheny dropped a kickoff between the Carnegie Mellon return team at the 40-yard line. The Gators recovered the ball and began their drive from the Tartans' 40-yard line working on their 11 point lead. Allegheny's Zipf would convert a 32-yard attempt to give his team the 14 point edge, 20-6.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, junior Jake Nardone (Beaver, PA) fumbled the ball at the Carnegie Mellon 44-yard line on a crisscross scissors play, and Allegheny's Doug Williams returned the ball for a touchdown. The Gators failed to convert their extra point, but still lead the home Tartans 26-6.
The turnover bug would bite Carnegie Mellon on the next drive once again. Sophomore quarterback Rob Kalkstein (Monroeville, PA) completed a pass for nine yards to the 50 yard line before junior wide out Alex Lum (Whitehouse Station, NJ) coughed up the fumble that was recovered by Allegheny's Mike Brown.
Kalkstein completed 15 passes on 24 throws Saturday for 128 yards with one interception. The lone interception came on an apparent completed pass to Blanks before a jarring hit from an Allegheny defender popped the ball into the air. William Devlin was in position for the Gators to pick off the throw.
In the fourth quarter, senior running back Chris Garcia (Albuquerque, NM) plowed into the end zone to continue the balanced rushing attack for the Tartans. The 11-play, 80-yard drive capped by Garcia's touchdown and ensuing extra point brought Carnegie Mellon within 13 points, 26-13.
The rushing attack for the Cardinal and Gray ended with totals of 40 carries for 150 yards and both touchdowns came through the ground attack. Seven different Tartans got at least one attempt .
Fowler completed his second touchdown of the day when he connected with Griffin again for the second time for both players. Griffin ended the day with six receptions for 133 yards.
The Tartans' 33-13 loss to Allegheny continues the Gators' recent success over Carnegie Mellon, as they have been on top four of the last five meetings between the two schools.
Carnegie Mellon falls to 1-1 on the season as they prepare for a big three game road stretch starting next Friday night at 7:00 p.m. against Catholic University in Washington D.C.