After an exciting 2010 season that included victories over the Capital Crusaders and rival Baldwin-Wallace Yellow Jackets down the stretch, the John Carroll football team opens the 2011 campaign with a new field and a year-old axe to grind with Case Western University.

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Under the lights of Don Shula Stadium and SportsTime Ohio's television cameras, Saturday night will be the official introduction of John Carroll's brand new turf field and track. 



The non-conference game, slated for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff, pits the Blue Streaks against the Spartans, who soured JCU with a 30-13 victory at Case Field on opening night a year ago.  John Carroll eventually rebounded from the loss to finish 5-5 (5-4 OAC), but have not forgotten what happened at the hands of its down-the-street rival.

On display Saturday night for the Blue Streaks will be the offensive tandom of senior quarterback Devin O'Brien and junior running back DaQuan Grobsmith, who tortured defenses on the ground last season to the tune of 204.7 yards per game, second best in the OAC.  Grobsmith wound up with 758 yards rushing on 111 carries (6.8 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns while O'Brien accumulated 1751 total yards (1,036 pass, 715 rush)  and 15 scores.

Defensively for the Streaks, pre-season All-American linebacker C.J. Seitzinger (136 tackles in 2010) anchors a unit with something to prove after surrenduring 30 points to the Spartans a year ago.

Case Western, fresh off an 8-2 (1-2 UAA) season, will counter with an offense that features the wide receiver/tight end tandem of seniors Brian Metlesitz and Bryce Coleman, who collectively caught 27 passes for 244 yards and three touchdowns in 2010.  The Spartans do not have a quarterback that threw more than three passes last year, and will need to replace seven starters on the offensive side of the ball.

To do battle with the Blue Streaks' offense will be a Case Western defense that welcomes seven starters back from 2010, including an entire defensive line that recorded 26.5 sacks last season.  Senior linebacker Jacob Adams filled up the stat sheet in 2010 with 91 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception and a blocked kick.

The match-up between the Blue Streaks' high powered offense and the Spartans' physical, experienced defense will be one to watch, and could dictate the outcome of Saturday's contest.  Case has won its last nine season-openers while John Carroll has lost two in a row.

The game will feature an indoctrination ceremony for the new field and can be seen tape-delayed on SportsTime Ohio (replays at 11:00 pm on Saturday night and 12 noon on Sunday).  Adam Mendoza and Brendan Gulick will have the call.  In addition, the game will also be covered through live audio (also available over the air at 88.7 FM), live video and live stats.

Students are welcome free of charge with student ID, and community members and football enthusiasts everywhere are invited ($5 general admission) to the 19th meeting between the two teams.  John Carroll holds a slim 9-8-1 advantage, but prior to 2010, these teams had not faced off since 1988 despite campuses separated by less than 10 miles.