Catholic University of America

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – The Catholic football team had its first home game of the 2026 season on Saturday afternoon, looking for a victory over Carnegie Mellon. In an offensive shootout that featured several momentum swings, the Cardinals took the lead early in the fourth quarter but the Tartans came roaring back and came away with a 38-35 victory. 

The Cardinals put together an impressive opening drive to the game, marching 78 yards on nine plays to take a quick 7-0 lead. The drive was sparked by a 50-yard completion from Brady McBride to Bobby Hartman to set Catholic up at the Carnegie Mellon 28. On 3rd and 7 from the 12, McBride fired a pass across the middle to Roman Landamia in the end zone to put the Cardinals on the board with Landamia's first career touchdown. 

The Catholic defense put it in position to add a second touchdown on Carnegie Mellon's second drive of the game when Sean Finan sacked Carer Sido at the seven yard line and Ivan Young recovered the loose ball. This set the Cardinals up with a first and goal and two plays later McBride found Farrar in the right corner of the endzone to extend the Catholic lead to 14-0. 

Fortunes turned towards the Tartans after the hot start for the Cardinals in the second quarter as they scored 21 unanswered points to take their first lead of the game. All three touchdowns in the quarter were 29 yards or more through the air to send Carnegie Mellon into the half with a 21-14 advantage.

After a Tartans field goal pushed the lead to 10 in the early stages of the second half, the Cardinals offense got back into a rhythm with an 18-yard catch and run from Hartman. Catholic converted on 4th and two with a Colin Brennan four yard rush to keep the drive alive, before an 11-yard completion to Farrar put the Cardinals in the red zone at the 18. McBride once again found a third down completion in the end zone to Farrar on third and goal at the 5 to pull Catholic back within one score at 24-21.

After the Cardinals defense forced a three and out, the offense got back to work and went on an eight play, 62-yard drive in just two minutes to take the lead back in the fourth quarter. The Tartans grabbed momentum back quickly with back-to-back score drives to give them an 38-28 lead. Catholic was able to once again make it a one possession game after an eight play, 75 yard drive pull the Cardinals back within three. McBride had completions to Hartman, Landamia and Farrar on the drive which culminated in yet another touchdown pass to Farrar, this time from 14 yards out.

Catholic's defense created a key turnover inside of two minutes to give the offense a chance to try and go on a game-winning drive. Connor Jennings stripped the ball away from the quarterback on 3rd and 11 and Billy Turner jumped on the fumble on the Cardinals 41. McBride's last pass of the game was intercepted at midfield to seal the win for Carnegie Mellon. The Cardinals are now 0-2 on the season.

Inside the Box Score

• It was a career day for Farrar as he finished with seven catches for 78 yards and four touchdowns, all of which were career-highs. His four touchdown catches were the most by a Catholic player in a game since Lucas Morley also caught four against Coast Guard in 2016. 
• McBride also had a solid game for the Cardinals, finishing with 254 yards through the air and five touchdowns, both of which being career-highs. He is the first Catholic quarterback since 2024 to throw for five touchdowns in a game.
• Turner once again shined for Catholic on the defensive end with 13 tackles to lead the team to go along with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, the first of his career in both categories.

The Cardinals are back at home on Saturday, September 19 to take on Franklin and Marshall. Kickoff is set for 1 pm on Cardinal Stadium.