Kalkstein Passes for 305 Yards in Setback at Westminster

(NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.) – The Carnegie Mellon University football team traveled to New Wilmington, Pennsylvania to play the Titans of Westminster College on Saturday, October 12.  The Tartans dropped a 27-24 decision to the Titans despite 305 yards passing from senior quarterback Rob Kalkstein (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway). Carnegie Mellon is now 3-3 on the season while Westminster is now 2-3.

Westminster struck first, as the Titans turned a Tartan mishap into seven points.  On the opening drive of the game, Carnegie Mellon drove 75 yards on nine plays before sophomore running back Troy Witt (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) coughed up the football and Titan Joe Glennon recovered.  The Titans then marched 79 yards on five plays, resulting in a 41-yard touchdown scamper by Tyler Banks to give the home team a 7-0 edge 5:31 into the contest.

Carnegie Mellon responded to the Titans' score, marching 90 yards on the ensuing possession to even the score at 7-7 with 4:41 to play in the first quarter.  On fourth down, Kalkstein found senior tight end Bryce Pardoe (Muncy, Pa./East Lycoming) on a 32-yard touchdown strike.

The Titans reclaimed the lead with 7:47 to play in the half when Dak Britt hooked up with Collin Wallace on a 26-yard touchdown toss.  The point-after attempt made the score 14-7.

Once again, the Tartans answered the Titans' score on their next possession.  Kalkstein tossed his second touchdown of the day when he found a wide open Witt out of the backfield for a 44-yard score to knot the game at 14-14 at the 5:13 mark of the second quarter.

On the Titans' second drive of the third quarter, Britt passed for his second score of the afternoon when he found Taran Sifontes-Lavine for a 31-yard strike.  The touchdown made the score 21-14 Westminster at the 7:37 mark.

For the third time, Carnegie Mellon struck on the following drive after a Westminster score.  Kalkstein connected with senior wide receiver Tim Kikta (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) on a 62-yard flea flicker touchdown to tie the score, 21-21.

Early in the fourth quarter, senior safety Jack Butler's (Kennesaw, Ga./North Cobb) interception set up the Tartans' first lead of the game.  Butler's pick led to a 28-yard field goal by sophomore place kicker Connor Young (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central), giving the visitors a 24-21 edge with 11:26 to play.

Banks gave Westminster a 27-24 lead with 2:57 to play, as the back capped off an 11-play, 50-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.  Carnegie Mellon's freshman Brian Khoury (Davenport, Iowa/Bettendorf) blocked the point-after attempt, leaving the score 27-24.

Carnegie Mellon compiled 457 yards of total offense to Westminster's 329.  Kalkstein finished 18-of-25 for 305 yards and three touchdowns.  It marked the second time in his career the signal caller surpassed the 300-yard mark. Kikta led all receivers with six receptions for 102 yards and a score.  The 102 yards receiving was the third career 100-yard game for the wide out.  

Senior linebacker Akwasi Brefo (Lawrenceville, Ga./Central Gwinette) led the Tartans' defense with nine tackles while Butler ended the game with seven tackles and an interception.  

The Tartans will head to Macon, Georgia Saturday, October 19 to play Division I Mercer University, a member of the non-scholarship Pioneer League, at 1:00 p.m.