Strong Defensive Effort Leads Tartans to a 21-7 Win Over Westminster

(NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.) – The Carnegie Mellon University football team traveled to Westminster College on Saturday for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) showdown and left with a 21-7 victory and the first for the Tartans in New Wilmington since 1967.

Game Information
Carnegie Mellon 21, Westminster 7
Records: Carnegie Mellon (8-1, 8-1 PAC), Westminster (5-4, 5-4 PAC)
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. (Gesling Stadium)

How it Happened

• With 1:01 on the clock in the first half, Tartan senior signal caller Ben Mills connected on a 1-yard touchdown toss to junior Dominic Voiland. The score capped off an eight-play, 54-yard drive that took 2:58 off the clock.
• A 39-yard punt return by Voiland early in the third quarter set the Tartans up at the Titans 14-yard line. Three plays later, junior Will Squibb ran it in from six yards out to double the Tartans lead making the score 14-0 with 11:43 on the clock.
• Mills threw his second touchdown of the game with 5:17 to play in the third quarter. The senior found senior Ethan Reifer on a 14-yard strike to push the score to 21-0.
• At 10:51 of the fourth quarter, Westminster cut the deficit to 21-7 when Ty McGowan connected with Jalen Washington on a 10-yard touchdown pass to the corner of the end zone.

Stats

• Carnegie Mellon ended the game with 240 yards of total offense with Westminster totaling 212 yards.
• The Tartans defense held the Titans to -16 yards on the ground.
• At the conclusion of the first quarter, Carnegie Mellon had 25 yards of total offense while holding Westminster to one yard, including negative six yards on the ground.
• After 30 minutes of play, the Tartans outgained the Titans 127-33 while holding Westminster to negative 24 yards rushing.
• Senior Logan Young led the Tartans defense with nine tackles, four solo.
• Senior Robert Coury finished with seven tackles, five solo, with junior Evan Roper ending with six tackles, four solo, 2.0 sacks for a loss of 18 yards.
• Mills ended the game completing 12-of-20 for 111 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 41 yards on five carries.
• McGown ended the game with 228 yards passing and a touchdown for Westminster.
• For the Titans, Dylan Sleva led all players with 10 tackles.

Game Notes

• The all-time series is now knotted at 21-21-1.
• The win marks the first for the Tartans in New Wilmington since 1967. The Tartans had lost seven straight in New Wilmington until Saturday.
• The -16 yards rushing allowed by the Tarans was a school record. The previous record was -14 yards allowed set against Hiram in 2005.
• The Tartans have won 36 straight games when leading after three quarters of play.
• The Tartans have won 18 straight games when holding their opponent to under 300 yards of total offense.
• Vasiliadis moved into sixth place in program history in career rushing yards. He now has 2,491 for his career.

Thoughts From Head Coach Ryan Larsen

• "I am incredibly proud of how hard our guys played for 60 minutes. Anytime you play meaningful games in November, the stakes are high, and our team rose to the occasion!"

Up Next

• Carnegie Mellon will conclude its regular season on Saturday, November 11. The Tartans will entertain Case Western Reserve University in the 37th Annual Academic Bowl at Gesling Stadium. Kick is set for 7:00 p.m.