From Carnegie Mellon University Athletics
The Carnegie Mellon University football team hosted the
Wolverines of Grove City College on Saturday, October 18 in
Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play. Freshman Sam
Benger (Hingham, Mass./Hingham) accounted for 201 total yards
of offense, as the Tartans defeated the Wolverines 21-10 on the
turf at Gesling Stadium. The win evens Carnegie Mellon's
record at 3-3 overall and 3-3 in PAC play while Grove City is now
0-6, 0-4.
The Tartans took the opening kickoff and drove 62 yards on six
plays, as junior quarterback Andrew Hearon (Tulsa,
Okla./Metro Christian Academy) capped it off with a five-yard
touchdown run. Grove City answered the Tartans score on the
next possession putting together a 19-play drive that took 9:12 off
the clock. A 32-yard field goal by Ryan Stewart made the
score 7-3.
Sophomore running back Zach Cree (Vanderbilt,
Pa./Connellsville Area) gave the Tartans a 14-3 lead on their next
possession. The sophomore back powered in from the two-yard
line with 13:20 to play in the half to finish off a 13-play
drive. Senior wide out Tim Swanson's (Millburn, N.J.)
16-yard reception from Hearon two plays prior to Cree's score set
the Tartans up inside the Wolverines five-yard line.
Late in the third quarter, the Tartans put together another 13-play
scoring drive. This time, junior running back Troy
Witt (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) scored on a nine-yard
run after carrying the pile five yards into the end zone. Freshman
placekicker Tyler Kohman's (Pataskala, Ohio/Columbus Academy)
extra point sailed through the uprights to give the home team a
21-3 advantage.
Grove City cut the lead to 21-10 with eight minutes to play in the
game. Gabe Greco found David Folkmire in the back corner of
the end zone from five yards out. Late in the fourth quarter,
the Wolverines were threatening to cut into the Tartans' lead
again, but junior corner back Ryan Aitken (Alexandria,
Va./West Potomac) stepped in front of the defender and intercepted
Greco's pass to seal the Tartan victory.
Carnegie Mellon totaled 337 yards of offense with 209 coming by way
of the running game. Benger led the running attack with a
career-high 139 yards on 19 carries, marking the first 100-yard
rusher since October 5, 2013 at Saint Vincent. The freshman was
also the team's leading receiver, catching four passes for 62
yards. Cree finished the game with 48 yards rushing and a
touchdown.
Junior safety Malcolm Guya (Whitehall Pa.) recorded a
career-best six solo tackles as he finished with nine total.
Junior linebacker Nico Comsa (Connellsville, Pa.) also
recorded nine tackles in the win.
Greco finished the afternoon passing for 131 yards while also
leading the Wolverines on the ground with 51 yards. Brandon
Berringer and Bobby Tuttle each had eight tackles to lead Grove
City.