PITTSBURGH – Just as it was last season when the programs shared the Presidents' Athletic Conference crown, there was little to choose between Westminster College and Carnegie Mellon University football teams Saturday night.

At historic Gesling Stadium, the host Tartans' tough defense compensated for an offense that totalled just 105 yards and 8 first downs as CMU claimed a 10-0 win.

Westminster (1-1 PAC, 2-2 overall)  – the preseason pick in the PAC Coaches' preseason poll – authored an advantage in terms of time-of-possession (31:11 to 28:49) and total offense (212-105); however the Titans turned the ball over a quartet of times.

The Titans of taskmaster Scott Benzel boasted 72 offensive plays, but gained just 2.9 on average. CMU could muster only 1.8 yards-per-play on 59 snaps as the teams combined for 19 punts. Westminster was able to convert just 4 of 18 third-down attempts; CMU 4 of 17.

CMU secured a 7-0 margin at intermission. The first-half's lone score was Nolan Pitsenberger's 64-yard Pick-6 of Cole Konieczka's pass with 1:40 remaining in the opening quarter.

Despite a significant time-of-possession edge (18:19 to 11:41), Westminster was limited to 128 total yards on 40 first-half plays.

Following a scoreless third period, Cole Hanna's 38-yard field goal was set up by Adrian Williams' interception – the Tartans' fourth of the tilt – for a CMU insurance score with 3:03 remaining in the final frame.

The Titans twice sacked CMU signal-caller Ben Mills during the second half – one by first-year linebacker Mason Manos (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock High) and another shared by graduate end Ty Reeder (Youngstown, Ohio/Ursuline High)a nd grad linebacker Nick Treloar (New Castle, Pa./New Castle High). Mills misfired on 13 of 20 pass attempts for just 78 yards.

Carnegie Mellon (3-0, 5-0) came into the contest ranked 18th in the D3football.com poll and 19th by the American Football Coaches' Association D-III Coaches' ratings. However the Tartans totalled only 8 first-half yards of offense. Senior linebacker Jarred Kohl (York, Pa./York Catholic High) and senior end Brayden Thimons (Natrona Heights, Pa./Highlands High) sacked Mills.

One of the first half's few offensive highlights for Westminster was Ryan Gomes' 20-yard run approximately midway through the second stanza. Another was the result of first-year linebacker Dylan Sleva's (Coraopolis, Pa./Moon Area High) recovery of a CMU fumble at the Tartans' 45-yard line.

Subsequently, a 1st-down Flea Flicker resulted in Konieczka collaborating with senior tight end Chevy Dawson (Port St. Lucie, Fla./Centennial High) for a 38-yard gain to the Tartans' 17.  However, Konieczka was sacked on a 4th-and-3 play at CMU's 10 yard line by the Tartans' MItchell Stokey with 19 ticks to play in the half.

Treloar tallied 10 tackles for the Titans, followed by Reeder, who recorded 9, and senior safety Bryce Thomas (St. Marys, Ga./Camden County High) and Brayden Thimons with 8 and 7, respectively.

Konieczka connected on half of his 34 pass attempts for 140 yards. First-year standout Jalen Royal-Eiland (MIneral Ridge, Ohio/Mineral Ridge High) hauled in 5 receptions and junior Matthew Randza (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk High) 4. Gomes gained 60 yards rushing on 25 carries.

Westminster welcomes Washington & Jefferson to Harold Burry Stadium/Memorial Field on Saturday, Oct. 8 for a 1 p.m. PAC kickoff.