Tartans Score 34 Unanswered Points to Defeat Allegheny 37-7

(MEADVILLE, Pa.) – The Carnegie Mellon University football team traveled to Allegheny College on Saturday, September 8 and scored 34 unanswered points to come away with a 37-7 victory over the Gators.  Junior wide receiver Tim Kikta (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) had 158 receiving yards and two touchdowns to lead the charge for the Tartans, as they start the season 2-0 for the 10th time since 1999 and 16th time under Head Coach Rich Lackner.

The Tartans struck first after putting together an eight-play, 55-yard drive to open the game that culminated with a 27-yard field goal off the foot of freshman place kicker Connor Young (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central).  Young's kick gave the Tartans a 3-0 lead with 10:35 remaining on the clock in the first quarter.

On Allegheny's next possession, the Gators put together a 77-yard drive that resulted in a 1-yard touchdown run by senior Taylor O'Brien to give the home team a 7-3 edge.

With 12:18 remaining in the half, Carnegie Mellon senior running back Patrick Blanks (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) gave the lead back to the Tartans on a 9-yard scamper around the left side.

The Tartans extended the lead before the end of the half when junior quarterback Rob Kalkstein (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) found Kikta on a 39-yard touchdown reception with 1:29 left in the half to make the score 17-7.

On the opening play of Carnegie Mellon's second possession of the third quarter, the junior tandem of Kalkstein and Kikta struck again.  This time the duo hooked up on an 82-yard touchdown.  Young's point-after attempt sailed wide right, leaving the score 23-7.

It didn't take the Tartans long to extend their lead, as Blanks found the end zone for the second time of the game.  Blanks' 14-yard score with 5:44 left in the third quarter gave the visitors a 30-7 lead.

Early in the fourth quarter, Blanks found the end zone for the third time on the afternoon to push the lead to 37-7.  The senior running back ended the game with 52 yards on 14 carries and three scores.

Carnegie Mellon totaled 461 yards – 261 on the ground and 200 through the air. The Gators had 207 yards of total offense.  Kalkstein finished the game with a career-high 200 yards passing and two touchdowns.  

Defensively, junior safety Jack Butler (Kennesaw, Ga./North Cobb) and junior linebacker AK Brefo (Lawrenceville, Ga./Central Gwinette) led the way for the Tartans with eight tackles apiece. Brefo added two sacks for a loss of 12 yards.

The Tartans will host Catholic University on Friday, September 14.  Kick is set for 7:00 p.m. on the turf of Gesling Stadium.