PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Westminster College football team suffered a 33-6 loss at Carnegie Mellon on Saturday in non-conference action at Gesling Stadium in Pittsburgh. The Titans (0-2) battled the Tartans (3-0) tough early as neither team scored in the first quarter, but Carnegie Mellon was able to capitalize in the second quarter, scoring 26 unanswered points before halftime.
Carnegie Mellon dominated the game from the first play of the second quarter by registering a safety, followed by a five-play touchdown drive, and an interception return for a touchdown on just Westminster's second offensive play after the safety. The Tartans scored 16 points in 3:22 and Westminster could not recover.
The Tartans controlled the ball with 40 plays for 300 yards in the first half alone before finishing the game with 74 plays and 451 total yards. By comparison, Westminster ran just 21 plays in the first half for 60 yards and 47 for 180 overall.
The reason was Carnegie Mellon's rushing attack led by running back Robert Gimson, who led all rushers with 13 carries for 111 yards, all coming in the first half. The Tartans rushed the ball 58 times for 313 yards.
While the Tartans amassed their yardage on the ground, they scored through the air. After Westminster freshman running back Nick McKolosky (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) was stopped in his own end zone for a safety, the Tartans scored on their next possession when Jonathan Kline caught a 13-yard pass from quarterback Kevin Mulkern.
Carnegie Mellon's defense again put points on the board when safety Aaron Lewis scooped up an interception that bounced off the hands of McKolosky and ran it 20 yards for the score.
After a 36-yard Nate Greenstein field goal put CMU up 19-0, the Tartans were able to punch in another score before halftime when Derek Wisniewski caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Mulkern. Mulkern also added a 15-yard touchdown scramble in the third quarter to give the Tartans a 33-0 advantage.
Mulkern finished with 130 yards on 7-of-11 passing and two touchdowns.
The Titans could not get much production out of their 47 plays, as freshman running back Jason Nagy (Green, Ohio/Green) ran the ball a team-high 43 yards on eight carries. Reserve freshman quarterback Kevin Franz (Finleyville, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) also had 41 yards on four attempts, including the team's lone score, a 21-yard keeper up the middle with 5:33 remaining in the game.
Franz was 5-of-6 passing for 24 yards as he spelled starter Brett Myers (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge), who connected on 7 of 13 attempts for 36 yards and an interception.
Defensively, sophomore linebacker Jordan Blinn (Industry, Pa./Western Beaver) posted a game-high 14 tackles (6 solo), including a forced fumble and a sack for 11 yards.
Westminster returns to action Saturday, Sept. 23, when it hosts Adrian at Burry Stadium for a 1:30 kickoff.
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College is ranked among national leaders in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Guide to America's Best Colleges, and is one of the most affordable national liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 361 Colleges" and "Best in the Northeast" by The Princeton Review, and was recognized by the Templeton Guide as a "Character Building College."
Nearly 1,600 students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty, while choosing from 41 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa. campus.
