Top seed topples CMU,28-7

Tartans’ 11 wins a program best

Carnegie Mellon saw its season come to an end in the second round of the Division III playoffs Saturday, falling to top-ranked North Central, 28-7, in Naperville, Ill.

The Tartans struck first after a blocked kick led to a seven-play, 73-yard drive that culminated in a 47-yard touchdown pass from Ben Mills by Kris Hughes. But North Central put the clamps down the rest of the way, holding Carnegie Mellon to just 146 yards of total offense and forcing a pair of fumbles.

The touchdown by the Tartans was of some note in that it was the first allowed by North Central since Oct. 1. Between that touchdown — scored by Wheaton in Week 4 — and the one scored by Carnegie Mellon, North Central had outscored opponents by a combined 409-6.

North Central controlled the ground game, rushing for 273 yards on 43 attempts, squashing any hopes of a Carnegie Mellon comeback.

CMU running back Trey Vasiliadis rushed for 70 yards on 24 carries.Defensively, the Tartans were led by junior Robert Coury with 11 tackles, including a sack.

The Tartans finished the year tying a program record with 11 wins and their eighth postseason appearance.