Box Score A goal line stand can be a memorable way to win a game.

John Carroll did that one better, making two crucial stops in the final eight minutes to secure a 28-23 victory over Ohio Northern in a Saturday night thriller at Don Shula Stadium.

“It was a huge win,” said John Carroll head coach Regis Scafe. “Maybe it was because we hadn't beaten them since 2005, but we had trouble putting them away. It is a huge weight off of our shoulders, and one large step to improve from last season. More importantly, close games like this really bring a team together.”

The Blue Streaks locked up their fourth straight win and fifth of the season Saturday night thanks to those two fourth quarter defensive stands, as the Blue Streaks would come away with their first victory over the Polar Bears since a 50-25 win on October 1, 2005.

Ohio Northern got on the board first after a high snap sailed over the head of over John Carroll quarterback Mark Meyers. Sean Denson pounced on Myers as he went into the end zone to retrieve the ball, and recorded a safety for a 2-0 Polar Bears lead.

Six minutes later. ONU quarterback Tate Humphrey converted a fourth-and-goal with a one yard run making the score 9-0 ONU early.

The Blue Streaks offense would respond as Meyers coordinated a three-minute, 76-yard drive capped off by a 13 yard pass to Alex Kline.

Ohio Northern increased its lead back to nine points when on the first play of the second quarter. Facing a third-down and 21 yards to go Humphrey found a wide open Frank Thien for a 51-yard touchdown play.

The Polar Bears then recovered a surprise onside kick, but the John Carroll defense forced a three-and-out.

Trailing 16-7, the Blue & Gold would close the first half with a flourish. Taking possession at its five yard line, the Blue Streaks drove 95 yards down field behind a balanced attack of passes and rushes. Sean Kuenzig would finish the drive with a thre- yard touchdown run, shortening the Polar Bear lead to 16-14.

The Blue Streaks would step up defensively as they shut the Polar Bears down on the next drive and, thanks to a juggled snap on a punt, the Blue Streaks were able to start the next drive on the ONU 29. The Blue Streaks needed just one play to take its first lead, as halfback Randy Greenwood took a swing throw from Myers and found brother Aramis Greenwood open for a 29 yard touchdown pass, giving John Carroll a 21-16 advantage heading into the locker room.

“It feels great being able to throw the ball to Aramis for the touchdown, but more importantly the team got the win,” Randy Greenwood said. “But we need to take it week by week and continue to improve.” Brother Aramis also stated, “I'm just glad we got the win in such a big game.”

Coming out of intermission the Blue Streaks would pick up right from where they ended the first half, as Randy Greenwood blocked an ONU punt following the Polar Bears' opening second half possession. Kuenzig would score his second touchdown of the day on a one-yard run five minutes into the half.

It would be the last points JCU put on the board, as momentum took a funny turn for the home squad.

A missed 30-yard field goal short-circuited a promising drive, and a disputed spot on an Ohio Northern punt put John Carroll's backs against the wall late in the third quarter. A three-and-out which featured Ohio Northern's only sack of the night led to a partially blocked punt.

The Polar Bears took full advantage of the short field, and on a fourth-and-four play from the John Carroll 12  with under a minute to play in the third quarter, Humphrey winged a ball that was deflected into the waiting hands of Justin Wilson for a touchdown that made the score 28-23.

Those would be Ohio Northern's final points, but not for lack of trying.

The ONU offense moved the ball and threatened to take the lead with less than eight minutes to play, and seemed poised to take the lead when setting up with first and goal on the John Carroll six-yard line. The Blue Streaks defense would hold, however, as Marty Gibbons stopped ONU running back Carter Paul at the one yard line on fourth down.

The Polar Bears allowed some yards on the ensuing John Carroll drive which ate up over five minutes, but a key stop on a third down led to a Blue Streak punt, and the visitors they took over at their own 35 yard line with 2:17 left.

Converting one third and down and one fourth down, Ohio Northern marched to the John Carroll four-yard line with four ticks left on the clock. With the crowd of nearly 2,500 hanging on the outcome of the final play, John Carroll blitzed Humphrey and seemed to have him heading down for a game-ending sack, but the senior signal caller somehow managed to get  a pass off toward the end zone.

The “receiver” in this case would be John Carroll linebacker Kevin Cope, who intercepted Humphrey's pass as time expired.

“Getting that interception was awesome, especially to end the game,” said Cope, who finished the contest with a game-high 12 tackles. “I was happy for us as a defense to make the plays we had to when everything was on the line.”

Offensively, Myers would finish the day 16-30 for 236 yards and one touchdown. Kuenzig led the effort on the ground with 15 rushes for 47 yards and two touchdowns.

The 300 yards the offense gained was behind a young offensive line that included sophomore center Alex Manos in his first career start, alongside of two other sophomores, Jack Corrigan and Craig Kircher. Along with veterans Breen Cullivan and Bob Schmitz, the unit allowed just one sack and produced 5.2 yards per play.

Dan Valore, Frank Pines, and Nick Lasko all had at least three tackles for losses and were responsible for the six sacks generated by the defense.