#16 Tartans Handle Gettysburg 44-20

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The Carnegie Mellon University football team, ranked 16th nationally, hosted the Bullets of Gettysburg College Saturday afternoon in a Centennial Conference (CC) contest and improved to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Centennial play with a 44-20 victory. The Bullets move to 0-6, 0-3.

Game Information
#16 Carnegie Mellon 44, Gettysburg 20
Records: Carnegie Mellon (4-2, 2-1 CC), Gettysburg (0-6, 0-3 CC)
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. (Richard M. Lackner Field at Gesling Stadium)

How it Happened

• Following a fake punt by Gettysburg that resulted in a fumble recovery by Tartan junior DJ Johnson on the Bullets 1-yard line, the home team needed one play to find the endzone. With 11:12 to play in the first quarter a 1-yard touchdown run by junior Giacomo Valente gave the Tartans the early 7-0 lead.
• Three touchdown passes from senior quarterback Joey McGinnis IV in the second quarter put the Tartans ahead 28-0. His first went to junior Brendan McCullough on a 12-yard strike followed by a 75-yard pass to junior Reece Kolke and then hooked up with McCullough on another 12-yard score.
• A sophomore Jack Lawson interception with 12 seconds left in the first half set the Tartans up on the Gettysburg 47-yard line. McGinnis then connected with senior tight end Danny Moynihan for 24 yards that set up a 41-yard field goal attempt by senior placekicker Justin Caputo. The senior boot as time expired split the uprights and gave the Cardinal and Gray a 31-0 lead at the break.
• A third touchdown reception by McCullough with 8:24 to play in the third quarter pushed the Tartan lead to 38-0.
• The Bullets got on the scoreboard with five minutes to play in the third when Sean Clark connected with Jason Roskam on a 7-yard touchdown which made the score 38-7.
• On the ensuing drive, a second field goal by Caputo, this time from 25 yards gave Carnegie Mellon a 41-7 edge.
• The fourth quarter saw the two touchdown passes from Gettysburg Drew Branstette sandwich with a 21-yard field goal from junior Tartan John Norell to close the scoring at 44-20. 

Stats

• The Tartans totaled 532 yards of offense with 429 coming by way of the air while Gettysburg recorded 340 yards of total offense and 243 yards in the passing game.
• For the third straight game, McGinnis IV threw for a career-high, as he finished with 379 yards on 22-of-31 and had a career-high four touchdowns.
• Kolke finished with a career-high 170 yards on six receptions and a touchdown.
• McCullough ended the game with eight catches for 83 yards and three touchdowns.
• Valente led the Tartans in rushing with a career-high 61 yards on 10 carries and a score.
• Defensively, junior Ethan Ming led the way with seven tackles, six solo. Graduate student Mitchell Stokey ended with six tackles, five solo, a sack, 1.5 tackles for a loss and a pass breakup.
• Sean Clark threw for 198 yards on 16-of-34 with an interception and a touchdown. Nick Wonsala led the Bullets with five catches for 81 yards while Landon Hunt rushed for 94 yards on 10 carries.

Game Notes

• Carnegie Mellon leads the all-time series 2-0.
• The Tartans have won 19 straight games when recording 400 yards of total offense.
• The Tartans have won 29 straight contests when winning the turnover battle.
• It was the second time in McCullough's career he had had three touchdown receptions in a game.
• McCullough moved into third on the career reception list. He now has 132 for his career.
• McCullough moved into fourth in all-time touchdown receptions with 18 for his career.
• Mitchell Stokey moved into ninth on the career sacks list. He now has 16.5 for his career.

Thoughts From Head Coach Ryan Larsen

• "After a really tough and emotional loss last week, I'm very proud to see how our team responded not only today against Gettysburg but all week during practice. We will look to build off this great team win as we prepare for one of the Centennial Conference's perennial top teams this next weekend at Muhlenberg."

Up Next

• Carnegie Mellon will travel to Muhlenberg College on Saturday, October 25 for a 12:00 p.m. kick.