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Both teams were nicked up with a number of starters sitting out, but #8 ranked Capital's strong second half proved to be the difference against #24 ranked John Carroll in this showdown of nationally ranked teams.

Scoring 14 points in the third and fourth quarter, the host Crusaders pulled away from the visiting Blue Streaks for a 37-13 victory this afternoon in Bexley, Ohio.

Capital was playing without its starting quarterback and top two receivers, and at least in the first half, the drop off was noticeable.

John Carroll took its first lead -- and Capital trailed for the first time all season -- when Mark Petruziello found Vince Doorhy for an 11-yard touchdown play. An extra point by Josiah Kedzior made the score 7-3 in favor of the Blue Streaks with

From there, it would be all Capital as the Crusaders ripped off 27 unanswered points. Six of those points came in the second quarter courtesy of a pair of Matt Spitz field goals -- the first was from 39 yards out, the second was from 32 yards away. The second field goal was particularly dishearteneing, as the Blue Streaks had just blocked a field goal but turned the ball over a few plays later to set up the go-ahead field goal.

Trailing 9-7 to start the third quarter, John Carroll hoped to stop the momentum gained by the late field goal. It would be Capital, however, that answered the bell with a 65-yard touchdown drive to open the second half. Matt Merritt capped the drive with a 14-yard touchdown run.

The John Carroll offense, playing without both starting tackles and missing several other regulars, never answered the second half bell. The first four drives of the half resulted in four three-and outs where the Blue Streaks were credited with a negative three yards of total offense.

While JCU sputtered, Capital would ice the game by taking advantage of short fields. A 55-yard drive capped by a Merrit one-yard touchdown run pushed the Crusaders' lead to 23-7 near the end of the third quarter. A shanked punt early in the fourth quarter led to a 29-yard drive that Capital cashed in for a touchdown -- an 11-yard pass from back-up quarterback Wade Batholemew to Matt White.

When the dust settled, Capital was ahead 30-7.

Jeff Javorek sparked the offense when he entered the game in the fourth quarter. He led JCU to its second and final touchdown, a six-yard strike to Doorhy to complete a 12-play, 63-yard drive.

An onside kick failed, however, and Capital needed just 40 yards to get into the end zone on its final drive.

Capital outagined JCU, 284-137, and the staunch Crusaders defense limited the Blue Streaks to minus-nine yards rushing on the day. That figure was aided largely by nine Capital sacks.

Doorhy had the most productive offensive day with five catches for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Javorek, who played only one quarter, was 6-7 for 54 yards and one touchdown, and was the Blue Streaks' leading rusher with 26 yards on four carries.

Michael Nettling had a solid day on defense, as he tallied a season-high 15 tackles and recoveed a fumble to set up John Carroll's first touchdown. It was JCU's only forced turnover of the afternoon.

JCU falls to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the OAC with the loss. Capital, which won its 15th consecutive game at home, improved to 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the OAC.