Mercer set for Saturday showdown with Carnegie Mellon

MACON, Ga. – Mercer University returns home for the final non-conference game of the regular season when it takes on Carnegie Mellon on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Mercer (5-1), a member Division I’s Football Championship Subdivision, looks to retain its perfect record at home against Carnegie Mello, a Division III competitor.

As an established NCAA Division III program, Carnegie Mellon enters Saturday’s game having won two of its last three games, including a double overtime 41-34 victory against Geneva. The Tartans are led by head coach Rich Lackner who is closing in 200 career wins, sitting at 184-93-2 in his 28th season with Carnegie Mellon.

The Tartans have struggled in road games in 2013, posting a 1-3 record away from home with their only win coming two weeks ago at St. Vincent. CMU is averaging 33.6 points per game in its three wins, but just 13.6 points per contest in its losses.

Rob Kalkstein eclipsed the 1,000-yard passing mark last Saturday and has eight touchdowns to go along with six interceptions. The Tartans have five players with at least 100 rushing yards in 2013, including Troy Witt who leads the group with 336 yards, three touchdowns and 5.2 yards per carry.