John Carroll spent seemingly half of Saturday afternoon trying to give the game away, and the other half voraciously trying to take it back.

Ultimately, the takeaway half prevailed as the Blue Streaks overcame a ten-point first quarter deficit to defeat the host Capital University Crusaders, 28-20, at Bernlohr Stadium in Bexley, Ohio.

Box Score

The come-from-behind victory was John Carroll's first in Bexley since 1999.

JCU spotted Capital its first ten points when the Crusaders converted a fumble into a touchdown and an intercption into a field goal. The Crusaders led by ten points after one quarter of play.

John Carroll started to get its offense into gear in the second period. Devin O'Brien shook off his only pass miscue by directing a six-play, 71-yard touchdown drive., keyed by a 44-yard completion to Ben Madden. It was capped by a 19-yard touchdown pass to DaQuan Grobsmith.

The Blue Streaks would put seven points on the board their next drive as well. This time, it was 60 yards covered in seven plays, with O'Brien finding Madden for a 20-yard score. Brad Marchese added the point after for a 14-10 advantage.

Capital would control the final 5:37 of the half, scoring one touchdown and seemingly poised for a second. After the Crusaders drove 72 yards to take back the lead, they were presented a gift when John Carroll fumbled deep in its own territory with 2:15 remaining.  Armed with a short field and the knowledge that it would get the ball to start the second half, Capital drove to the JCU six-yard line looking for points.

However, eschewing a field goal on fourth-and-one, Capital's Dominic D'Andrea was stuffed on a run for no gain, leaving the score 17-14 in the Crusaders' favor at the half.

Capital took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched to the John Carroll 27-yard line. This time, Nate Van Meter was summoned and he connected on a 44-yard field goal.

JCU got back into giveaway mode again on the ensuing kickoff, as a fumble put the ball on the visiting team's 30-yard line. But another stout defensive stand by the Blue Streaks prevented Capital from picking up a first down, and Van Meter would miss on a 41-yard field goal attempt.

Buoyed by its ability to survive through several near misses, John Carroll would take over the game. O'Brien directed the go-ahead scoring drive that moved 76 yards in just five plays. Grobsmith was on the receiving end of a 12-yard scoring strike, and Marchese's extra point put JCU ahead for good at 21-20.

On the next Capital possession, JCu's defense rose up with yet another game-changing moment, courtesy of a Luke Whitworth hit and a C.J. Seitzinger recovery. The Streaks needed just two plays -- both of which were O'Brien runs covering 10 and 16 yards -- to jump ahead 28-20.

There would be no more scoring as Kyle Scheere stopped one Capital drive in the fourth quarter with a fumble recovery (caused by Seitzinger) and Jon Cooley ended the last Capital possession with an interception.

John Carroll (4-4, 4-3 OAC), which moved into sole possession of fourth place in the Ohio Athletic Conference with the victory, was paced by 332 yards total offense by O'Brien (175 rushing, 157 passing). Grobsmith added 144 all-purpose yards (65 rushing, 79 receiving).

Defensively, John Carroll yielded just 40 yards in the fourth quarter and were led by the linebacking trio of Seitzinger, Lydon and Whitworth, who combined for 36 tackles.

Capital (3-5, 3-4 OAC) was led by D'Andrea's 112 yards rushing on 23 carries.