Tartans Improve to 3-0 With 35-17 Win Over Catholic

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The Carnegie Mellon University football team hosted Catholic University on Friday, September 14 and led from start to finish claiming a 35-17 victory.  The Tartans remain perfect on the season at 3-0 while the Cardinals fall to 1-2.

Senior running back Jared Delello (Whitehouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) gave the Tartans an early 7-0 lead on a 1-yard plunge on the opening possession of the game.  Two plays prior, Delello broke loose for a 42-yard run setting up his score.

Catholic's Timbo McGarry got the Cardinals on the scoreboard on their first possession as well. His 24-yard field goal sailed through the uprights making the score 7-3 with 7:31 to play in the first quarter, capping an 11-play, 53-yard drive.

Two plays into the Tartans' next possession junior quarterback Rob Kalkstein (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) connected with sophomore wide out  Timothy Swanson (Millburn, N.J.) for a 65-yard touchdown.  The score marked Kalkstein's third straight game with a touchdown toss of 50 yards or more and made the score 14-3 in favor of the home team.
    
Before the end of the first quarter, the Cardinals cut into the Tartans' lead.  Nick Cortese finished off another long drive (12-play, 63-yard) for Catholic with a 1-yard rushing score. After the converted point-after attempt the score was 14-10 Carnegie Mellon heading into the second period.

Halfway through the second quarter the Tartans extended the lead on another touchdown strike from Kalkstein.  This time the junior found the team's leading receiver Tim Kikta (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) for 28 yards, marking the third straight game the tandem hooked up for a score.

The Tartan defense held the Cardinals to a three-and-out on their next possession.  On the first Tartan play following the punt, junior wide receiver Colin Lang (Little Silver, N.J./Red Bank Regional) found senior running back Jake Nardone (Beaver, Pa./Beaver Area) on a double pass for 43 yards setting the stage for Kalkstein's third touchdown strike of the game.  The signal caller found senior running back Patrick Blanks (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) on a 19-yard crossing route, pushing the home team's lead to 28-10 heading into the break.

Delello, who ended the game with 74 yards rushing on 12 carries, scored his second 1-yard rushing touchdown in the closing minutes of the third quarter to give the Tartans a 35-10 advantage.

A late score by the Cardinals made the score 35-17 when Greg Cordivari tossed a 32-yard pass to Tucker Hubbell.

Carnegie Mellon ended the game with 453 total yards to the Cardinals' 396.  The Tartans had 333 yards through the air with Kalkstein finishing with a career-high 290 yards on 10-of-12 passing and a career-high three touchdowns.  Swanson led all receivers with a career-high 128 yards on three catches and a score while Kikta caught three passes for 85 yards and a touchdown. Nardone also recorded a career-high with 70 yards receiving.

Defensively, junior linebacker Robert Winkleman (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) and AK Brefo (Lawrenceville, Ga./Central Gwinette) recorded career highs in tackles.  Winkleman tallied 13 tackles and Brefo had 10 with both totaling six solo each.  Senior Liam McGrath (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) had his third interception of the season and also recorded a career-high seven solo tackles.

Catholic was led by Mike Pitsenberger's 127 yards rushing on 12 carries.  Cordivari attempted 55 passes and completed 26 for 179 yards.  His favorite target on the night was Alonzo Clark, who finished with seven catches for 35 yards.  Hubbell ended the contest with six receptions for 81 yards.

The Tartans will host the Tigers of DePauw University on Saturday, September 22 with kickoff slated for 1:00 p.m.