The McDaniel College football team lost to Carnegie Mellon, 52-14, on Oct. 3, 2026, at Rembert Field at Kenneth R. Gill Stadium in Westminster, Md. Carnegie Mellon scored two special teams touchdowns and four passing touchdowns in the Homecoming game, which opened Centennial Conference play for McDaniel College.
Carnegie Mellon Takes Early Control
Carnegie Mellon built a 21-0 lead midway through the first quarter after two blocked-punt return touchdowns. The Tartans also added a passing touchdown during the opening period, creating an early deficit for the McDaniel College football team.
McDaniel College answered with a special teams play of its own. First-year punter Jacob Bone completed a 56-yard fake-punt pass to Jacob Wagner on fourth-and-2 from the McDaniel 33-yard line, and Jason St. Leger scored on an 11-yard run on the next play.
St. Leger led McDaniel College with 10 carries for 76 yards. Cordae James later scored on a 1-yard run to cap an 80-yard drive and bring the Green Terror within one score at 21-14.
Carnegie Mellon Pulls Away
Carnegie Mellon responded with a drive that lasted nearly eight minutes and ended with John Norell’s 22-yard field goal. The kick gave the Tartans a 24-14 halftime lead and started a run of 31 unanswered points.
Jackson Salters completed 21 of 30 passes for 237 yards and four touchdowns for Carnegie Mellon. Brendan McCullough caught seven passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns, while Carnegie Mellon scored 14 points in the third quarter and 14 more in the fourth.
Carnegie Mellon finished with 333 total yards, including 237 passing yards and 96 rushing yards. McDaniel College totaled 208 yards, with 116 through the air and 92 on the ground, and converted 3 of 15 third-down opportunities compared with Carnegie Mellon’s 5-for-12 performance.
McDaniel College Defensive Highlights
David Smith recorded two interceptions for McDaniel College. Lincoln Wendell led the Green Terror with eight tackles, including one for loss, and forced a fumble.
Caleb Wray finished with 61 passing yards in his first collegiate start. McDaniel College entered the game at 1-3 overall and 0-1 in Centennial Conference play, while Carnegie Mellon entered at 2-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
McDaniel College Hosts Ursinus Next
McDaniel College will host Ursinus on Oct. 10 at 1 p.m. inside Gill Stadium. The game is the Green Terror’s next scheduled contest following the Homecoming loss to Carnegie Mellon.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Carnegie Mellon’s special teams created the game’s early separation with two blocked-punt return touchdowns. McDaniel College responded with Bone’s fake-punt pass and two first-half rushing touchdowns, but the Tartans’ passing attack helped produce 31 unanswered points after Norell’s field goal.
St. Leger’s 76 rushing yards, Smith’s two interceptions and Wendell’s defensive production stood out for McDaniel College. The Green Terror now turns to its home game against Ursinus on Oct. 10.
Source: Original report
