McCarty totaled 159 yards (129 rushing, 30 receiving) in less than three quarters of play in a 41-7 road victory at Robert Morris that clinched the Great Danes’ second straight NEC title and Gridiron Classic berth. The junior tailback’s 26-yard first-quarter touchdown burst opened the game’s scoring and extended his touchdown streak to 18 games. McCarty used his pass-catching ability to set up a field goal, which increased the lead to 24-7, on Albany’s opening drive of the second half, hauling in passes of 11 and 19 yards. Rushing 25 times for 129 yards, the preseason all-NEC selection tied the program’s single-season record with nine 100-yard performances and equaled Gary Jones’ career record of 17 games over the century mark.