Box Score

In a battle of tenacious defenses, it was the unheralded Blue Streaks who made the most noise, forcing nine turnovers in pacing John Carroll to a 13-3 upset victory over ninth ranked Capital Saturday night at Don Shula Stadium in University Heights, Ohio.

The Blue Streaks offense was only able to muster 103 yards of total offense, including three net yards and just one first down in the entire second half. The JCU defense, however, was up to the challenge and then some. John Carroll tallied five interceptions and four fumble recoveries in holding the Crusaders to just three points on the night.

Capital appeared in position to score more than three points on its second possession. After recovering a fumbled punt deep in JCU territory, the Crusaders would eventually have a first-and-goal situation at the seven-yard line. But on a fourth-and-goal at the one, a delay of game penalty backed Capital up to the six. Garrett Bennington salvaged the drive with a 23-yard field goal.

JCU answered on its next drive, which was also its best drive of the night. The Blue Streaks drove 70 yards in ten plays, capped by a Mark Petruziello four-yard touchdown pass to Rebere Sparks. A Josiah Kedzior point after made the score 7-3 in favor of the Blue Streaks.

On the next Capital possession, Doug Mayer became the first player in 2008 to pick off a Marty Assmann pass. On a third-and-six play that was also the final play of the first quarter, Mayer stepped in front of the pass attempt for what would be the first of the nine Crusader turnovers.

The next three possessions -- two by John Carroll and one by Capital -- ended in punts, but it was soon to turn nightmarish for Capital. When Assmann was picked off by reigning OAC Player of the Week Michael Nettling with 6:48 left in the second quarter, it started a string of six consecutive Crusader drives that ended on a turnover.

Although the Nettling interception would not result in points (Kedzior was wide on a 32-yard field goal attempt), Capital could not dodge the next bullet. Nick Alexander, who replaced an ailing Assmann who departed the game with an undisclosed injury, was hit from behind by Alex Mileskiewicz on a pass attempt. Josh Black recovered the fumble at the Crusaders' 19-yard line. The turnover led to a Kedzior 29-yard field goal to put JCU ahead by a 10-3 count.

Just before the end of the half, Alexander was intercepted by Joe Cigas, who returned the ball 71 yards to the Capital four-yard line with 12 seconds left on the clock. John Carroll would ultimately settle for a 19-yard Kedzior field goal. The Blue Streaks would take a 13-3 lead into the locker room.

There would be no scoring by either side in the second half as both defenses took over. John Carroll caused a fumble on the first possession of the second half on its own 18-yard line (caused and recovered by Cigas), forced another fumble on its own 38-yard line on the next Capital drive (caused by Marty Glose, recovered by Nettling), then intercepted a pass on the third drive (made by Pete Honsberger).

Capital's last true chance to score came on its opening drive of the fourth quarter. Just like on its second possession of the game, the Crusaders reached the John Carroll one-yard line, only to commit a false start penalty on fourth down. Opting for a Bennington field goal attempt, the kick sailed wide left with 10:30 left to play.  The Crusaders would never get closer than midfield the remainder of the contest.

John Carroll (5-1, 4-1 OAC) held a Capital team which was averaging 33 points and 437 yards of total offense to a mere three points and 222 yards of offense. Nettling (two interceptions, one fumble recovery) and Derek Buell (one tackle for a loss, one pass break up) each led the way with 15 tackles.

Offensively, Petruziello finished 15-26 for 118 yards, but was sacked four times.

Capital (4-2, 3-2 OAC) was led by 41 yards rushing from Tim Connor. Assmann and Alexander were a combined 22-34 for 155 yards and five interceptions.

Pete Ankrom led a stout defensive effort for the Crusaders, compiling 11 tackles which included 4.5 tackles for losses of 23 yards. Two of those stops behind the line of scrimmage were sacks that amounted to 14 yards.