The gulf between first and fourth place in the Centennial Conference standings is officially three games.
As far as Carnegie Mellon is concerned, though, it’s really just 12 points.
Despite fighting back to take a one-point lead against Franklin & Marshall late in the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon, the Tartans’ rally and quest to keep their NCAA Division III playoff hopes alive would ultimately fall short as the Diplomats hung on for a 31-24 Centennial Conference victory before a packed house for homecoming at Gesling Stadium in Oakland.
The Carnegie Mellon (5-4, 3-3) loss to Franklin & Marshall (8-1, 6-0) dropped fourth-year coach Ryan Larsen’s team to fourth place in the Centennial Conference and was the latest example of a burgeoning trend for the Tartans this season.
“Frustrated, of course we’re frustrated, but also it’s a lesson that the margins are very small when your competition is high,” said Larsen, who led his program to its first NCAA playoff win since 2022 and fifth national postseason contest in school history a season ago.
After moving from the Presidents’ Athletic Conference where it had served as a football affiliate since 2014, Carnegie Mellon opened the 2025 season as the No. 17 ranked team in the country.
In the wake of their loss to the Diplomats, though, the Tartans have now lost one-score decisions to each of the Centennial Conference’s top three teams.
Carnegie Mellon fell to first-place Johns Hopkins, 28-27, Oct. 11 before dropping a 27-23 decision to Muhlenberg two weeks later.
The Tartans led the nation’s third-ranked Blue Jays by as much as 27-14 with 1:22 left in the third quarter before absorbing the one-point loss.
Similarly, Carnegie Mellon led Muhlenberg, 23-7, with 1:01 left in the third quarter before surrendering 20 unanswered fourth-quarter points to take another crushing defeat.
“At the end of the day, what’s crazy is when you look at all three of those games, turnovers, big plays on special teams, missing tackles particularly on quarterbacks are things that show up and we’re still in it,” Larsen said. “We were still in it with an opportunity to win.”
Now looking up at Johns Hopkins (9-0, 6-0), Franklin & Marshall and Muhlenberg (7-2, 4-2) in the standings, though, Carnegie Mellon’s chances of earning a second straight NCAA at-large playoff berth are not likely to come to fruition.
“The margins are small,” Larsen said. “We knew the competition level would get higher as we entered this and these are the type of things that we’ve got to make sure to clean up for next week and then anything beyond that and then particularly next year.
“I’m not really ready to talk about next year yet, but there’s going to be definitely some lessons to be learned there.”
The Centennial Conference’s top playmaker — Tartans quarterback Joey McGinnis IV — nearly led his team back to a season-saving victory against the Diplomats.
McGinnis completed 16 of 31 passes for 223 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions while also carrying the football 21 times for 73 yards and another score. His favorite targets were brothers Brendan and Nick McCullough, who are Peters Township graduates.
Brendan McCullough, a junior, caught seven passes for 95 yards and a touchdown, while Nick, a freshman, caught three passes for 44 yards and a score.
McGinnis leads the Centennial Conference in total offense with 2,853 yards to his credit. He has thrown for 2,387 yards and 17 touchdowns, and rushed for 475 yards and three scores.
Despite trailing by as much as 20-7 with 11:43 left in the third quarter, McGinnis led the Tartans back into the contest with touchdown passes to the McCullough brothers.
McGinnis first connected with Brendan McCullough for a 24-yard touchdown pass to trim the Carnegie Mellon deficit to 20-14 with 9:00 left in the third quarter.
When Franklin & Marshall kicker Michael Fleming made a 24-yard field goal to put his team’s lead at 23-14, McGinnis responded again with a 30-yard scoring strike to Nick McCullough to pull his team within two points with 1:06 left in the third quarter.
“Our guys always fight,” Larsen said. “I never fault our effort. Our effort is always high. I’m super proud of our effort.”
After linebacker Archie Lawler intercepted a pass by Diplomats quarterback Ty Tremba in the fourth quarter, Carnegie Mellon kicker Justin Caputo, a South Fayette graduate, then made a 45-yard field goal to hand the Tartans a 24-23 lead with 4:36 left in the game.
The lead would not last.
Tremba led Franklin & Marshall on a five-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, which took 2:41 off the clock and culminated with a 23-yard touchdown run by Anthony Valdez with 1:55 left in the contest.
Carnegie Mellon would have the ball in Diplomats’ territory with a chance to send the game to overtime, but McGinnis threw an interception to Franklin & Marshall junior linebacker Connor Hille with 51 seconds left on the clock.
“It was probably one of those things that we will learn from tomorrow with Joey that he probably should work the field more there,” Larsen said. “That’s a learning lesson for us. It’s part of the deal.”
Carnegie Mellon will close its regular season next Saturday with a noon game against Ursinis at Patterson Field in Collegeville.
“We have to worry about our standard, not the scoreboard, as much as that stinks,” Larsen said. “It’s about the pride and integrity of this team. Do we want to go win next week and then play a bowl game?
“Will we end it on a high note with two wins or we can cash it in?” he added. “I don’t think we will cash it in. I know our team, the pride will come through.”
W&J clinches PAC championship, NCAA playoff bid
Quarterback Kellan Stahl completed 20 of 27 passes for 384 yards and six touchdowns to help Washington & Jefferson cruise past Geneva, 49-7, Saturday afternoon at Reeves Field in Beaver Falls for a victory that locked up the Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
It is the 28th PAC title for the Presidents (7-2, 7-0), who can claim their first undefeated conference championship since 2017 with a victory over Thiel (1-8, 1-6) next Saturday in their regular-season finale.
W&J qualified for the NCAA playoffs for the second straight season. The Presidents were eliminated in the second round last season with a 38-22 loss to Randolph-Macon.
Against the Golden Tornado (5-4, 5-2) Saturday, the W&J passing attack was in control. Senior wide receiver Jacob Macosko, a Peters Township product, caught eight passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns, while John Peduzzi contributed eight receptions for 163 yards and three scores.
Senior defensive lineman Tyler Primrose, a North Catholic graduate, tallied a team-high three sacks for the Presidents, while junior defensive back Sam Coleman added two interceptions.
Grove City forces four turnovers to grind out win at Case Western
Grove City’s defense forced five turnovers and recorded four sacks, while the Wolverines also grinded out 131 rushing yards Saturday afternoon to earn a critical 28-14 PAC victory over Case Western Reserve at DiSanto Field in Cleveland.
Senior linebacker Caleb Brubaker recorded a team-high 15 tackles with two sacks and an interception to lead Grove City (7-2, 6-1). Wolverines freshmen Nick Clemens, a Moon product, and Kellan Taylor, a Penn-Trafford graduate, recorded a sack each against the Spartans (4-4-1, 4-3).
Boden Davidson, Noah Wheeler and Knoch graduate Keagan Fraser all had interceptions for Grove City, while Ryan Montgomery recovered a fumble.
Clemens also returned a blocked punt 10 yards for a touchdown.
Quarterback Ethan Wiley threw for 128 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Wolverines. He completed seven passes for 72 yards and a score to Seth McGroerty, while Daniel Sullivan collected five receptions for 34 yards and a score.
Running back Chase Rankin racked up a game-high 83 yards on 25 carries to lead the Wolverines offense and Penn-Trafford graduate Ian Demeri rushed for 48 yards and a touchdown.
Westminster runs wild for rout of Hiram
Westminster rushed for 222 yards and seven touchdowns, as the Titans dominated Hiram, 76-0, Saturday afternoon in a PAC contest at Harold Burry Stadium in New Wilmington.
Clayton Cannon Jr. rushed for 69 yards and three touchdowns for Westminster (6-3, 5-2), while Jaxon Covell contributed 52 yards and a score, De’Were White chipped in 28 yards and two touchdowns, and Mitchell Tingley added 8 yards and a touchdown against the Terriers (3-6, 2-5).
Titans quarterback Quentin Goode, an Aliquippa product, threw for 132 yards and a touchdown. He connected with Brite Cannon six times for 107 yards and a score.
Waynesburg ends losing skid with victory over Bethany
Junior running back Carson Shriver carried the football 24 times for 228 yards and a touchdown, as Waynesburg racked up 355 yards and four scores on the ground to knock off host Bethany, West Virginia, 48-28, in a PAC contest Saturday afternoon at Bison Stadium.
Running back Mutwali Stewart also rushed for 43 yards and two touchdowns to help the Yellow Jackets (3-6, 3-4) end their four-game losing streak, while Elija Jackson chipped in 34 yards and a score on the ground against the Bison (1-8, 1-6).
Quarterback Thomas Burke III threw for 167 yards and two touchdowns for Waynesburg. His favorite targets were Carmichaels product Tyler Richmond, who caught three passes for 86 yards and a touchdown, while Isaiah Field reeled in four catches for 36 yards and a score.
IUP offense shines to knock off Clarion, capture PSAC West Division title
Quarterback Matthew Rueve threw for 355 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions, as Indiana University of Pennsylvania traveled to knock off Clarion, 45-42, Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium and claim its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division title since 2022.
The Crimson Hawks (7-2, 5-1) will travel to face PSAC East Division champion Kutztown (9-0, 6-0), the nation’s third-ranked team, in the conference championship game at Andre Reed Stadium in Kutztown next Saturday. The winner will receive the PSAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
IUP took care of business through the air against the Golden Eagles (6-4, 2-4). Crimson Hawks receiver Devon Whitlock, a Belle Vernon native, caught 11 passes for 143 yards, while Connor Shamany caught six passes for 98 yards and three touchdowns, Maurice Massey reeled in five catches for 55 yards and two scores and Jeremiah Coleman contributed three catches for 29 yards and a score.
Clarion quarterback Anthony Guercio threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 103 yards and two scores to go along with Khalon Simmons’ 60 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Wide receiver Davon Jones, a Westinghouse product, caught six passes for 147 yards and a touchdown for the Golden Eagles.
Slippery Rock loss to Edinboro puts NCAA playoff streak in jeopardy
Slippery Rock conceded 425 yards of total offense, 355 on the ground, en route to dropping a 38-8 decision to host Edinboro Saturday afternoon at Sox Harrison Stadium, which put the Rock’s NCAA playoff streak in serious jeopardy.
After beginning the season ranked as high as fourth in the nation, Slippery Rock (6-3, 3-3) dropped to fourth in the PSAC West Division standings in the wake of the loss to the second-place Fighting Scots (6-4, 5-1). The Rock has qualified for the NCAA postseason in each of the past six seasons, which is the second-longest streak in the nation behind only defending national champion Ferris State’s 10 straight seasons with a national playoff appearance.
Slippery Rock entered the week ranked seventh in NCAA Super Region One behind fifth-place IUP and sixth-place California University of Pennsylvania. The top eight teams are selected for a berth in the super region’s playoff bracket.
Freshman quarterback DaOne Owens threw for 224 yards and an interception to lead the Slippery Rock offense, while running back JayJay Jordan rushed for 27 yards and his team’s lone score.
Edinboro running back Caron Robinson carried the football 31 times for 273 yards and two touchdowns, while Bo Swartz rushed for 10 yards and two scores.
California keeps NCAA playoff hopes alive with win over Gannon
Running back Kendrick Agenor rushed for 153 yards and three touchdowns on just nine carries, as California kept its NCAA playoff hopes alive with a 41-21 win over Gannon in a PSAC West Division game at McConnell Family Field in Erie.
Quarterback Phaeton Hill threw for just 75 yards and two interceptions but rushed for 44 yards, which included a 49-yard touchdown run, to help lead the Vulcans (7-3, 3-3) past the Golden Knights (1-9, 1-5).
Sophomore Deontae Williams, a Woodland Hills graduate, returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown for California, which also received a 44-yard fumble return for a score from Samuel Hobbs.
Duquesne suffers second straight upset loss to put NEC title, FCS playoff hopes in trouble
Duquesne committed two turnovers, one for a touchdown, Saturday afternoon before sustaining a critical 29-11 loss to Long Island University in a Northeast Conference contest at Shark Stadium in Brookville, New York.
Despite outgaining the Sharks (4-6, 2-3), 322-310, the Dukes (5-5, 3-2) were never able to fully gain traction in suffering their second straight conference loss, which puts their hopes of winning an NEC title and automatic bid to the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs in doubt.
Duquesne, now trailing first-place Central Connecticut State (7-3, 5-0) in the NEC standings by two games, must win its final two games of the regular season. The Dukes will host Central Connecticut State at Arthur J. Rooney Field at noon next Saturday before traveling to face Robert Morris at Joe Walton Stadium in Moon at 2 p.m. Nov. 22 in both teams’ regular-season finales.
If Duquesne wins both games and Central Connecticut State falls to Mercyhurst Nov. 22, the Dukes would win a share of the NEC title and the conference’s automatic bid to the FCS playoffs.
Tyler Riddell threw for 119 yards and two critical interceptions for Duquesne. He connected with Jermaine Johnson for an 8-yard touchdown pass and the Dukes’ lone touchdown of the contest.
Running back Ness Davis led the Duquesne offense with 91 yards on 23 carries, while Shawn Solomon Jr. added 79 yards on 14 carries.
Defensive back Dallas Harper, a Gateway product and Youngstown State transfer, recorded his third interception of the season for the Dukes.
Robert Morris’ two-game winning streak snapped with loss to Wagner
Quarterback Zach Tanner threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns, but Robert Morris was unable to complete its comeback, falling to Wagner, 24-20, Saturday afternoon at Joe Walton Stadium in Moon.
Wide receiver Jaqai Carter caught seven passes for 141 yards and a touchdown for the Colonials, which also received two catches for 15 yards and a score from Chaz Middleton against the Seahawks.
Running back Ethan Shine rushed for 86 yards on 24 carries for the Colonials.
Graduate student kicker Jayson Jenkins, a Gateway graduate, converted on field goals of 36 and 37 yards for Robert Morris. His second field goal trimmed the Colonials’ deficit to 24-20 with 7:41 left in the game, but it was as close as his team would get.
John is a copy editor and page designer at the Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at jsanta@unionprogress.com.