Blanks’ Three Touchdowns Lifts Tartans to a 31-14 Victory Over Chicago

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The Carnegie Mellon University football team used a complete team effort to beat the University of Chicago on Saturday, November 3, as the Tartans picked up a 31-14 victory over their University Athletic Association (UAA) foe. Senior running back Patrick Blanks (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) had three touchdowns to propel the Tartans, who moved to 6-3, 1-1 while the Maroons fell to 4-5, 0-2.    

The visitors struck first on the scoreboard, as Ben Clark returned a Vincent Beltrano blocked punt 10 yards for the Maroon touchdown.  The converted point-after attempt gave Chicago a 7-0 lead two minutes into the contest.

Carnegie Mellon wasted little time responding to the mishap.  The Tartans needed nine plays on the ensuing drive to knot the score at 7-7.  The 69-yard drive ended on a 2-yard run by junior running back Michael Trentalange (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Lower Moreland).  On the drive, Blanks accounted for 62 yards, 50 coming on the ground.
    
The Tartans claimed a 14-7 lead when Blanks added a 2-yard scamper around the right side with 9:24 to play in the half.  Before the end of the first half, the Maroons evened the score at 14-14 when Vincent Cortina found Dee Brizzolara on a 26-yard catch and run score.

Freshman place kicker Connor Young (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central) put the Tartans back on top (17-14) with a career-long 45-yard field goal halfway through the third quarter.  Blanks added another 2-yard touchdown run before the end of the third quarter, extending the home team's lead to 24-14.  His score came one play after a fumble recovery by senior linebacker Nick Karabin (Ruffs Dale, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic).
 
With 6:54 to play in the game, Blanks added his third rushing touchdown to seal the game for the Tartans.  It marked the fifth time in his career he has rushed for three touchdowns in a contest and third time this season.  

Carnegie Mellon outgained Chicago 321-295, with 235 of the Tartan yards coming on the ground.  Blanks led the attack with 159 yards on 27 carries and three scores while Trentalange ran 10 times for 58 yards and a touchdown. Blanks moved into 6th on the school's all-time rushing list, as he now has 2,064 yards for his career.

Junior linebacker Akwasi Brefo (Lawrenceville, Ga./Central Gwinette) tied a career-high with eight solo tackles and finished the contest with 10 total. Senior Liam McGrath (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) recorded nine tackles while also tying a career-high with seven solo.  Junior safety Jack Butler (Kennesaw, Ga./North Cobb) and Karabin each ended with eight tackles, as Butler recorded his second interception on the season. Junior defensive lineman Ryan Jok (Novi, Mich.) tallied a career-high seven tackles in the win.
 
Cortina was 20-of-32 for 193 yards while Brizzolara caught eight passes for 74 yards and a score.

The Tartans will conclude their regular season schedule on Saturday, November 10 when they travel to Cleveland, Ohio to play Case Western Reserve in the 27th Annual Academic Bowl.  Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m.