Game Notes - pdf

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Carnegie Mellon University's football team will travel to Chicago, Ill. this Saturday for a matchup with the University of Chicago Maroons.  Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. CT for the Tartans' final road game and their second University Athletic Association (UAA) contest.

The Tartans enter the game with an even 4-4 record, while Chicago is 5-3 on the season.  Both teams fell in their first UAA game last Saturday.  Carnegie Mellon lost to Washington University in St. Louis, 14-7 while having a strong defensive performance in the loss.

Chicago suffered a hard-fought loss to the Case Western Reserve University Spartans, 6-0.  The Maroons advanced the ball inside of Case's 20-yard line twice in the final five minutes of the game, but couldn't convert the potential game-winning touchdown. Case was able to muster a 201 yard performance on the ground against Chicago, as the Spartans entered the game with the UAA's worst rushing attack.  

The struggling Chicago run defense will be put to its biggest challenge of the year against the running attack of the Tartans.  Carnegie Mellon's running game averages a league best, 19th nationally, 242.5 yards per game.

Carnegie Mellon rides a two-game losing skid into the matchup with Chicago at Stagg Field.  With a win, the Tartans will reach the program's 500 win milestone.

The Cardinal and Gray's defensive and special teams' units will be faced with the challenge of stopping Chicago's star wide receiver and kick returner, Dee Brizzolara.  He leads the UAA with 68.2 receiving yards per game, 135 all-purpose yards per game and 13 total touchdowns.  The junior receiver has caught ten touchdowns, ran for one, and returned two kickoffs for scores.

The Tartans' head coach Rich Lackner spoke about the tough homecoming loss for his team and what Carnegie Mellon needs to do to pick up the win in its final road trip.

Listen to the full interview with Coach Lackner.