Kalkstein Becomes Tartans All-Time Passing Leader; Tartans Fall to Case Western Reserve in 28th Annual Academic Bowl

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – Senior quarterback Rob Kalkstein (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) of the Carnegie Mellon University football team set the school's career passing yard mark as the Tartans hosted University Athletic Association (UAA) foe Case Western Reserve University in the 28th Annual Academic Bowl on Saturday, November 16. Despite Kalkstein's career-high 327 yards passing and three touchdowns, The Tartans dropped a 35-32 decision.  The senior signal caller ends his career with 5,519 yards passing.

The Tartans jumped out to an early lead when Kalkstein connected with junior Tim Swanson (Millburn, N.J.) on a 72-yard touchdown strike.  Freshman place kicker Gabe Renna's (Carlsbad, Calif./La Costa Canyon) point-after sailed through the uprights, making the score 7-0 with 11:33 to play in the first quarter.

Case Western Reserve scored 14 straight points with its first touchdown coming after a converted fake punt.  Three plays following the fake, Billy Beecher knotted the score at 7-7 with a 2-yard rush.  On the ensuing kickoff, Spartan Scott Suren recovered a fumble to set the stage for Case's second score.  It took one play following the Tartan mishap as Erik Olson connected with Sean Lapcevic on a 32-yard score.

Carnegie Mellon pulled within 14-10 following a 32-yard field goal by Renna on the first play of the second quarter. It only took the Spartans six plays to respond to Renna's points, as Olsen tossed his second score of the game, this time to John Mangelluzzi from 17 yards away.

After holding the Tartans to a three-and-out, Case put together a four-play, 63-yard drive resulting in another touchdown pass, as Beecher found Manny Sicre from six yards away on a halfback option.  The score gave the visitors a 28-10 edge with 9:19 to play in the half.

The Tartans responded with an eight-play, 55-yard drive that ended with a 2-yard touchdown plunge by senior running back Zachary Erra-Hernandez (Las Cruces, N.M./Onate).  Renna's point-after with 5:37 to play in the half cut the deficit to 28-17.

On the opening drive of the second half, Carnegie Mellon drove 78 yards on eight plays to cut the deficit back to four at 28-24.  Kalkstein threw his second score of the game as he found freshman running back Gage Erdman (Fort Mitchell, Ky./Beechwood) on a 21-yard score.  This pass was the one that made Kalkstein the school's all-time passing leader.

Case pushed the lead back to double digits when the tandem of Olsen and Mangelluzzi hooked up for their second score of the game. The score was a 79-yard catch and run that made the score 35-24 with 7:11 to play in the third quarter.

With 2:31 to play in the contest Kalkstein tossed his third touchdown when he found senior tight end Bryce Pardoe (Muncy, Pa./East Lycoming) from 10 yards out.  The two point conversion was good as Kalkstein connected with Swanson and left the score 35-32 in favor of Case.  The score capped off an 11-play, 90-yard drive.

Carnegie Mellon's attempt for the onside kick was unsuccessful and recovered by Case at their own 47-yard line and held on for the 28th Academic Bowl Trophy.

Carnegie Mellon totaled 452 yards of total offense to the Spartans 419.  Swanson led the receivers with three catches for 118 yards marking his fourth 100-yard receiving game of his career. Sophomore running back Troy Witt (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) caught a career-high six passes for 84 yards.

Senior defensive lineman Ryan Jok (Novi, Mich.) led the Tartans with eight tackles, six solo while senior linebacker Akwasi Brefo (Lawrenceville, Ga./Central Gwinette) totaled seven in the setback.

The Tartans end the season with a 3-7 overall mark and 0-3 in UAA play while the Spartan finish the 2013 campaign 5-4, 2-1.