WR Prather leads CMU to an undefeated start
Senior receiver powers Tartans to a 5-0 record
Carnegie Mellon football coach Rich Lackner isn’t surprised John Prather is setting records as a senior. From the day Prather was recruited, the wide receiver made his intentions clear — he wanted to be great.
Prather’s success might not be surprising, but Lackner didn’t expect him to become the downfield force he is today. As a junior last season, the Olney, Md., native set the Carnegie Mellon single-season record for receptions with 66 and receiving yards with 1,125.
It’s seems clear he likely will break more records before his career is over. He had 10 receptions — tying a school record — to go with a career-high four touchdowns in a 45-15 road win Saturday against Bethany. Had Prather played the second half, he might’ve broken the record for receptions in a single game.
“I knew I had a couple, but throughout the course of the game I just sort of lose count,” Prather said of his receptions. “I focus on the play at hand, the game plan throughout the game and this drive. Those catches sort of go away in my head. But I do notice when I have a couple catches, a couple touchdowns. … But I didn’t know it was that good, or how many I had.”
Through five games, Prather has 505 yards, 31 receptions and eight touchdowns. With five regularseason games left, plus the postseason, he’s on pace to match or exceed his 2016 totals. Earlier this season, he became the program’s alltime leader in career receiving yards.
His strong start has helped Carnegie Mellon begin 5-0, the first time the program has done so since 2006. It could be a special season for the Tartans, who returned talent across the board entering 2017.
“He probably can count on one hand how many balls he’s dropped that were ‘catchable balls,’ ” Lackner said of Prather’s sure hands. “I would say the biggest thing that John brings to the table is his understanding and knowledge of defensive secondary play and how to get open. Once he gets open, he catches everything there. So he’s got a great skill set. He truly, truly understands the game of football and is a great guy to have in that offensive huddle. And those younger receivers are certainly learning from him as well.”
The Tartans also have a record-breaker at running back. Sam Benger, a 5-foot-8 senior, set the single-season record for rushing touchdowns (26) and points scored (170). With a returning starter at quarterback in Alex Cline, and an experienced linebacker unit with four senior starters, Prather feels good about this team’s potential.
The matchup Saturday against perennial power Washington & Jefferson, which is 4-0 this season and ranked No. 16, will be a test.
“I don’t think we have a ceiling, honestly,” Prather said. “This is the best I’ve seen all the players on the team. We’re just all ready to go. Every day at practice everyone’s coming out fired up, ready to go. … Every game is a championship from here on out. If we take it one week at a time, I don’t see anyone who can stop us right now.”
IUP
The No. 4 Crimson Hawks will take on rival No. 16 California (Pa.) in the ninth annual Coal Bowl, a trophy game that will stream on ESPN3 as part of the NCAA Division II showcase schedule.
IUP is 5-0 overall, and California is 4-1 after dropping a contest against Slippery Rock last week. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.
Robert Morris
The Colonials (2-2 overall) are coming off of an open week and will hit the road to play East Tennessee State Saturday before Northeast Conference season kicks off next week against Duquesne. Linebacker Gerald Ferguson has been a force for Robert Morris, with two NEC defensive player of the week honors through four games.
Duquesne
Graduate transfer Tommy Stuart is continuing to find his footing in a Dukes uniform. He threw a career-high four touchdowns last week in 38-13 win over West Virginia Wesleyan. Sophomore running back A.J. Hines has missed the past two games for Duquesne (3-1) because of injury but could return for this week’s Mortheast Conference opener against Wagner (2-3, 0-1).