PHOTO GALLERY

The SVC football team lost its Presidents' Athletic Conference opener to Carnegie Mellon University, 49-14 at Chuck Noll Field in Latrobe.

The Tartans were forced to punt on the game's opening possession, but pinned SVC deep in its own territory, at the 6-yard-line.  On the Bearcats' first play from scrimmage, quarterback Brady Walker competed a pass to Hunter Grimes, but Grimes was stripped of the ball by Quinn Gaughan, and CMU recovered.  Tartan QB JD Dayhuff ran for 16 yards on the next play, into the end zone for the score.  The point after made it 7-0 with 11:57 on the clock in the first quarter.

Later in the quarter, the SVC defense again forced a Tartan punt, but Casey Jaeb landed his punt at the SVC 1.  On the next play, Walker was under pressure, switched the ball to his left hand and attempted a pass, but was called for intentional grounding from the end zone, resulting in an automatic safety.

Up 9-0, the visitors again drove the ball down the field, but the Bearcat defense stopped them at the 12, and Brandon Nguyen came in to connect on a 29-yard field goal that made the score 12-0 with less than a minute left in the first quarter.

The Bearcats opened the second quarter with a strong drive, marching 79 yards in 10 plays.  The big play was a 35-yard strike from Walker to Andre Dixon that moved the ball to the 12.  One play later, Walker found Sam Nowicki in the corner of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown pass.  Nick Srnka's extra point made the score 12-7.

Much of the remainder of the second quarter was a defensive struggle, but the Tartans managed to add a score with just 5 seconds left in the half.  The drive was set up by a 29-yard punt return by Willie Richter that ultimately led to a 3-yard touchdown pass from Dayhuff to Kris Hughes that made it a 19-7 game at the break.

On the first drive of the second half, Walker was intercepted by CMU's Mason Tolliver, and the visitors took over at the Bearcat 14.  Dayhuff and Hughes connected again on the first play, and the touchdown pass made it a 26-7 game.

Later in the third, Walker took to the air, completing four passes for 67 yards and a touchdown.  First, he hit Keith Kalp for 12 yards to move the ball near midfield.  Then it was a 3-yard completion to Phil Harding, followed by a 47-yard catch and run by Dixon that put the ball at the CMU 10.  Walker and Dixon then teamed for the 10-yard scoring pass, and Srnka added the kick to make it a 26-14 game.

However, Dayhuff and Hughes then combined for their third touchdown pass of the game, this one from 18 yards away at the 5:42 mark of the third.  Ahmad Shaw blocked the extra point attempt, leaving the score at 32-14.

SVC was forced to punt on the next drive, and Christian Witchey's attempt was blocked, and the visitors took over at the Bearcat 30.  That led to a Nguyen 29 yard field goal, his second of the day, that put the visitors in front, 35-14.

Early in the fourth quarter, CMU added another touchdown, as it as Hughes on the receiving end of his fourth touchdown catch of the day, a 54-yard score.  The Tartans added a late touchdown on a 15-yard run by Ryan Shaw to end the scoring on the afternoon.

Both teams recorded 19 first downs in the game, and were nearly identical in rushing yards as well - 178 for Saint Vincent, 176 for the Tartan.  SVC had an identical 178 yards through the air, while CMU tallied 227, for a 403-356 edge in yardage on the day.

For Saint Vincent, Walker was 12-for-32 passing, for 178 yards and two touchdowns.  Dixon was the top target, catching 6 passes for 134 yards.  Nowicki and Harding had two receptions each.

Dayhuff was 13-28 for 218 yards and four touchdowns, all to Hughes, who had 120 yards receiving.

On the ground, Mike Stasko led the way with 101 yards on 16 carries, while David Marshall Jr carried the ball 7 times for 57 yards.  For the Tartans, Chris Haas had 12 carries for 58 yards.

Defensively, Izaak Gray led the Bearcats with 7 tackles, including one sack which gave Gray the All-Time lead in SVC history for Career Sacks with 11.5.  Kyle Coombe had 6 tackles, including a sack, while Tekoah Guedes and Ben Davis each had 6 tackles, one each behind the line of scrimmage. Guedes and Micah Harris each broke up two passes.

CMU (4-0) was led by Gaughan, with 8 tackles on the day.

Saint Vincent is now 0-3 on the season, 0-2 in the PAC.  The team will host Geneva College on Saturday (October 5) at 1PM at Chuck Noll Field, for the 2019 Homecoming Game.