Jason HubertThe Washington University football team suffered another devastating loss Saturday when it fell to the Carnegie Mellon University Tartans 10-7 in overtime of the UAA championship game.
Senior kicker Nathaniel Greenstein converted a 22-yard field goal in overtime to give CMU the victory. The Bears dropped to 5-4 overall and concluded league play at 2-1, while the Pittsburgh school remained undefeated with an overall record of 8-0 and a perfect 3-0 in conference, taking the UAA title for the first time since 1997.
After a scoreless first quarter, CMU opened the scoring six seconds into the second frame when Doug Facemyer ran in a touchdown from three yards out. The Bears responded quickly, however, as senior quarterback Pat McCarthy found senior Nick Lizanich with a 27-yard touchdown pass six minutes later to even the score at 7-7.
The Wash. U. defense was able to limit the talented Tartan ground game throughout the contest. Carnegie Mellon entered the game leading the UAA in rushing and ranked sixth in the category in all of Division III. Junior running backs Travis Sivek and Robert Grimson both averaged over 100 yards per game, but the Red and Green was able to limit the duo to just 94 combined yards. It was the first time this year that a Tartan didn’t rush for over 100 yards.
“Our defense played lights out,” head coach Larry Kindbom commented. “We were great at getting to the football, and our game speed was outstanding.”
Playing defensive battle from the opening kickoff, neither team was able to find the end zone in the second half of play, and the game went to overtime. The Tartans won the coin toss and opted to go on defense first. Starting from the CMU 25 yard line per NCAA overtime rules, the Wash. U. offense quickly gained a first down when McCarthy hit classmate Scottie Guthrie with an eight-yard completion on the second play from scrimmage.
From there, though, the Bears offense hit a roadblock. Consecutive penalties and then a loss of six yards on a rushing attempt brought the Bears all the way back to the Tartans’ 34 yard line. McCarthy found junior wide-out Joe Lubelski for a 19-yard reception, bringing up 4th and 12.
The Bears opted for the field goal attempt, bringing in junior place kicker Mike Elliott. Elliott’s 32-yard attempt was just wide to the right.
“We had a decision to make in overtime,” Kindbom said. “We decided to go for the field goal. Unfortunately, we were not able to convert. After that, [Carnegie Mellon] had nothing to lose.”
The Tartans promptly ran the ball right at the Wash. U. defense, advancing all the way to the home team’s six yard line. On 4th and one, the Tartans went for the field goal, setting up Greenstein’s heroics for the UAA title.
“The hardest part of the loss was that we gave it our all,” Kindbom said. “We took it harder because we put more into it.”
Wash. U. gained just 136 yards of total offense, far fewer than its 280 yards per game average coming into the contest. The Bears rushed for only 49 yards on 35 carries, while McCarthy completed nine of 15 passes for 87 yards with one interception.
“We had opportunities [on offense],” Kindbom admitted. “We took advantage of some, but we also made mistakes.”
The loss ended Wash. U.’s seven-game winning streak against Carnegie Mellon.
The Bears now have a bye week, but will continue action Nov. 11 in its season finale against Greenville College on Francis Field.