Title Game Briefs
Football
The Carnegie Mellon football team took on Bridgewater State University in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Legacy Bowl on Sunday. The Tartans won 48–13, dominating the game throughout all four quarters.
The Tartans’ first drive finished with sophomore running back Sam Benger getting the first score of the game on a 2-yard touchdown run. The Bears’ first drive saw an early end as the Tartans’ defense stopped Bridgewater on third and one. Next, senior quarterback Andrew Hearon completed a deep pass to sophomore wide receiver John Prather, but Hearon then threw an interception on third and goal. Bridgewater was able to make a long drive and got a touchdown to tie the game, but senior wide receiver Chris Herrera received excellent blocks on the ensuing kickoff and ran all the way into the endzone.
The second quarter opened with the Tartans stopping the Bears on third down. The Tartans’ next drive opened with a 20-yard run by Benger, and after a few more plays, Hearon completed a deep touchdown pass to Herrera. The Bears then got a very good kickoff return, but the Tartans took over on a fourth down in the redzone. Hearon threw another interception, but the Bears were unable to get any points off of the turnover. Benger then broke off another long run, and he soon reached the endzone again.
The second half opened with Bridgewater getting a quick touchdown, but the Tartans blocked the extra point. The next drive saw Herrera extend himself to grab a long pass from Hearon, and Benger fought on four plays to get into the endzone for the third time. After another defensive stop and a very good punt return, penalties forced the Tartans to punt, but the Tartans forced a three and out and nearly got a safety. Without much distance to travel to the endzone, senior wide receiver Graham Schilling was wide open in the endzone after a fake bubble screen and got the touchdown pass, though the extra point was missed. The Tartans got the ball back and ran a few plays as the quarter closed.
The fourth quarter opened with Hearon unable to convert a fourth down scramble. The Bears made a long drive, but the Tartans stopped them on a fourth and goal trick play. From there, the Tartans decided to take their time, running the clock down on a very long drive capped off by yet another Benger touchdown run. The Tartans made one more stop to close out the game.
Men’s Cross Country
The Carnegie Mellon men’s cross country team competed at the 2015 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships on Saturday. The Tartans finished 18th out of 32 teams, while the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire won its first-ever title. This was the Tartans’ 21st time competing in the event.
Junior Ryan Archer once again led the Tartans’ effort, finishing in 25:14.6 to take 57th place. Sophomore Ryan Auld finished in 119th place with a time of 25:37.40. Senior Josh Antonson and first-year William Mitchell followed behind. Anstonson grabbed 132nd place in 25:40.50, while Mitchell took 135th place in 25:42.20. Junior Owen Norley finished in 153rd place in 25:47.40, followed by junior Brian Bollens in 25:49.90 for 158th place. Senior Marc-Daniel Julien rounded out the Tartans with a 237th place finish in 26:20.50.