Tartans Down Hiram 24-7
(HIRAM, Ohio) – The Carnegie Mellon University football team traveled to Hiram College Saturday, October 1 and won career game 498, as they forced six turnovers and defeated the Terriers 24-7. The win improves the Tartans record to 3-2 while the Terriers drop to 1-4.
Freshman place kicker Dylan Munoz (Houston, Texas/Langham Creek) gave the Tartans an early 3-0 lead with a 23-yard field goal on the visitor's second possession of the game. Munoz's points were setup following a fumble recovery by sophomore safety Jack Butler (Kennesaw, Ga./North Cobb), as Hiram's Brandon Hanna fumbled on the Terriers first offensive play.
Carnegie Mellon extended its lead to 10-0 two plays after Hiram's third muffed punt snap of the game. On the scoring drive, sophomore quarterback Rob Kalkstein (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) connected with sophomore wide receiver Tim Kikta (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) on a 26-yard reception before Kalkstein found junior wide receiver Alexander Lum (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) on the next play for a 1-yard touchdown reception with 10:45 to play in the half.
The Terriers fourth turnover of the first half led to a 17-0 lead for the Tartans. Four plays following a fumble recovery by senior defensive lineman Andrew Medenbach (Muskegon, Mich./Mona Shores), Kalkstein connected with Lum on a 15-yard pass for their second touchdown reception of the game, this time coming in the closing seconds of the half.
In the closing minute of the third quarter, sophomore offensive lineman Nathan Cheek (Lancaster, Ohio) jumped on top of a loose ball in the end zone after junior running back Jared Delello (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) was stripped of the ball at the 1-yard line that scurried into the end zone. The score pushed the Cardinal and Gray's lead to 24-0 and ended a 12-play, 85-yard drive.
Carnegie Mellon gained 372 yards with 300 coming by way of the ground game while Hiram totaled 369 yards. Junior running back Patrick Blanks (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) led the Tartans with 116 yards as he broke the 100-yard barrier for the third time this season. Junior running back Jake Nardone (Beaver, Pa./Beaver Area) had 82 yards. Kalkstein was 6-of-13 for 72 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Lum had three catches for 30 receiving yards and two scores. Lum's touchdowns marked the first of his career.
Defensively, junior linebacker Nick Karabin (Ruffs Dale, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) led the way with 11 tackles, three for a loss of five yards, and added an interception. Senior cornerback Dan Miller (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) recorded six tackles and had two pass break-ups and an interception. Both his break-ups came on back-to-back plays that resulted in a turnover on downs for the Terriers.
The Tartans will return home next Saturday after three straight road contests, as the entertain Ohio Wesleyan at Gesling Stadium. Kick is set for 6:00 p.m.
Take a look back at our football history as we celebrate a run to 500 wins. The team now sits at 498 wins.