Game Notes: Carnegie Mellon at Bethany (Week 5)

 Andrew Woodley, Sports Information Director

WEEK 5: Carnegie Mellon University Tartans (4-0, 2-0 Presidents' Athletic Conference) at Bethany College Bison (0-4, 0-2 Presidents' Athletic Conference)

• When: Saturday, September 30, 2017
• Where: Bethany, West Virginia
• Stadium: Bison Stadium (850)
• Kickoff: 2 p.m.
• Series vs. Carnegie Mellon: Carnegie Mellon leads 35-8
• Series Streak: Carnegie Mellon won 2
• Last Meeting vs. Carnegie Mellon: Carnegie Mellon 49, Bethany 26 (2016) | Box Score
• Last Bethany Win: 2014; Bethany 19, Carnegie Mellon 7 | Box Score
• Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/bethanywv/ (Courtesy of BBN)
• Live Stats: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/bethanywv/

GAME NOTES (.pdf): 

LAST MEETING: The Tartans claimed a 49-26 win last season at Gesling Stadium, which included 55 combined points scored in the first half. The Bison were led by former wide receiver Tyler Ambush who tallied 10 catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. Carnegie Mellon All-American running back Sam Benger rushed for 174 yards on 18 carries with four touchdowns in the game.

WRIGHT HERE WRIGHT NOW: Bethany sophomore running back Raekwon Wright (Baltimore, Md./Patterson) had a career day at Westminster last week. He rushed for a career-high 112 yards on 20 carries with a touchdown against a Titan defense that currently ranks second in the PAC in both total offense allowed and rushing yards allowed this season. It was the first time Wright ever eclipsed the century mark as he surpassed his previous-high of 94 yards, which he established against Westminster in 2016.

BALL CONTROL: Senior quarterback Chase Kinemond (Shadyside, Ohio/Shadyside) threw his first interception of the season when Westminster's Todd Jeter picked him off and returned it for a touchdown. It was the first interception of the thrown by Kinemond in 125 attempts, which dated back to the second quarter of Bethany's 2016 season-finale win over Saint Vincent.

DISCIPLINED OPPONENTS: Bethany ranks last in the PAC in opponent penalty yards per game, earning only 34.8 yards per game from called penalties. The Bison are the only team in the PAC that have not gained a first down as a result of a penalty.

BISON ON HOMECOMING: The Bison are 6-5 since 2006 in Homecoming games, including wins in three of the last five contests. The last time Bethany won its annual Homecoming game was in 2014 when the Bison defeated Carnegie Mellon 19-7 at Bison Stadium.

STILL THE ONE: Bethany junior linebacker Will Gatling (Baltimore, Md./Northwestern) still ranks as the leading tackler in the PAC this season with 43 total tackles (22 solo) and 10.8 per game.

GETTING INTO THE BACKFIELD: The Bison defensive line has been led by senior defensive end Khallid Pierce (Youngstown, Ohio/Ursuline), who ranks second in the PAC with 5.0 tackles for loss and third with 3.0 sacks this season. Pierce finished the game at Westminster with a pair of sacks and 3.0 total tackles for loss.

HOT START: Carnegie Mellon is off to its best start to a season since 2012, when the Tartans had an identical mark. Carnegie Mellon ranks second in the PAC in scoring and third in points allowed per game this season. The Tartans are receiving votes in both the AFCA and D3football.com top-25 polls.

NEXT WEEK: Bethany will travel to Cleveland, Ohio to take on Case Western Reserve in a PAC matchup at 1 p.m. next Saturday, October 7. Despite forcing four turnovers in last season's game versus the Spartans, the Bison were dealt a 37-14 loss on Homecoming. Former Bison linebacker and PAC Defensive Player of the Year Donavan Hayden had a career day in the game. He finished with a career-high 19 tackles, one sack, three tackles for loss, a forced fumble and he returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown.