Four Tartans Tab Double Digit Tackles in Setback at Bethany

(BETHANY, W.Va.) – The Carnegie Mellon University football team traveled to Bethany, West Virginia for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) contest and dropped a 19-7 decision to the Bison on Saturday, October 11.  The loss moves the Tartans record to 2-3, 2-3 while the Bison are now 5-1 and remain perfect in PAC play at 4-0.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Tartans were the first to strike in the second frame.  Junior quarterback Andrew Hearon (Tulsa, Okla./Metro Christian Academy) capped off a six-play, 65-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown run with 10:36 to play in the half.  The Bison responded on their next drive, as Chris Ray booted a 23-yard field goal to pull the score to 7-3. With 1.3 seconds left in the half, Ray connected on his second field goal of the half.  His 34-yard kick made the score 7-6 at the half.

With nine minutes to play in the third quarter Bethany took its first lead of the game.  Eric Blinn scored on a two-yard shovel pass from Nick Greer and with the converted extra point; the score was 13-7 in favor of the Bison.  Blinn received his second touchdown of the third quarter with a minute left to play when Brian Vales found him on a six-yard strike.  A bad snap on the point after attempt left the score 19-7 as the third quarter came to a close.

Bethany out gained the Tartans 486-198 including 301 yards on the ground.  Freshman Sam Benger (Hingham, Mass./Hingham) led the Tartans rushing game with three carries for 51 yards.  Hearon ended the game completing 12-of-24 passes for 142 yards.  Senior wide out Tim Swanson (Millburn, N.J.) led Carnegie Mellon with four receptions for 28 yards and now has 1,288 yards for his career ranking seventh all-time. Junior Chris Herrera (Miami, Fla./Christopher Columbus) finished with two catches for 52 yards.

The Tartan defense recorded 10 tackles for a loss of 21 yards in the setback while sophomore defensive lineman Jacob Bartel (North Newton, Kan./Newton) recorded three of them and totaled a career-best 12 tackles. Sophomore safety Augie Luptak (Sewickley, Pa./Kiski Prep) led the Cardinal and Gray with a career-high 17 tackles. Junior linebacker Nico Comsa (Connellsville, Pa.) along with fellow junior safety Malcolm Guya (Whitehall Pa.) also turned in double digit tackles both tying a career-best with 12 and 11, respectively.
 
Bethany was led on the ground by Jelen Holmes' 160 yards on 26 carries.  Vales finished passing for 183 yards on 19-of-29 while Blinn was his favorite target catching 15 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns.  The Bison defense had seven sacks with Naddar Raddar tabbing three and Eric Campbell tallying two.  Campbell also led Bethany with seven total tackles, five solo.

Carnegie Mellon will be back on the gridiron on Saturday, October 18 when they host Grove City College.  Kick is slated for 1:00 p.m. of the turf at Gesling Stadium.