Box Score Neither rain nor turnovers or giving up first half points could halt the red-hot No. 19/20 John Carroll University football team on a chilly, rainy Saturday afternoon inside Don Shula Stadium.

After trailing early the Blue Streak defense and special teams came up with big-play after big-play to spark John Carroll back into the game and set the offense up in prime field position all afternoon. The offense then took over providing the necessary cushion for the Blue Streaks.

"I think our special teams units played phenomenally well. The return game was great and we had some blocked punts," said head coach Tom Arth. "That's exciting for us to see. It's an area we really focus in on and put a lot of emphasis on and it's great to see them literally win football games for us. We had our moments where we were struggling and the big plays in the kicking game really propelled us and got us some quick scores. It was great to see."

Backed by 38 unanswered points, John Carroll rolled 41-9 to improve to 6-0, 5-0 OAC. The win marked the Blue Streaks' first 6-0 start since 1989. Muskingum fell to 1-5, 1-4 OAC.

Midway through the second quarter Jovon Dawson blocked a Samuel Green punt attempt to wake up the Blue Streaks. Brody Zangaro scooped up the loose ball and darted 39 yards to the end zone to put John Carroll up for good.

On Muskingum's next offensive play, the defense rose to the occasion once again with Nolan Bonham prying the ball loose from Cody Williams setting up the offense on the Muskingum 24-yard line.

The Fighting Muskies fared no better on their next possession with a Williams pass attempt being tipped by Mitch Krotz into the waiting hands of Zangaro. Zangaro went off to the races returning the interception 52 yards setting up the offense in prime field position.

Jordan D'Orazio owned the Muskies all afternoon with 203 return yards spread out between five punt and three kickoff returns.
Faced with starting field position inside Muskingum territory eight times, the high-powered Blue Streak offense did not put up big numbers but was still efficient with their opportunities.

"Every game is different," said Arth. "Every game has its own personality. This one's personality was unlike something I've ever been a part of. When we had opportunities we had short fields and we were able to get points and create big plays. We executed when we needed to and we know we can get a lot better."

Mark Myers found a wide-open DaQuan Grobsmith from 15 yards out on the Blue Streaks' first offensive play after Zangaro's interception which put the Blue Streaks up by 11.

With just eight seconds remaining in the first half Myers connected with Zach Strippy from three yards out. The duo connected once again on the Blue Streaks' first possession of the second half from nine yards out to put the game out of reach at 34-9.

Two plays later the defense responded once again when David Porter fell on a Williams' fumble setting up the Blue Streaks at the Muskies 9-yard line. Three plays later Tommy Michals rumbled in from 1-yard out for the game's final score.

Two more special teams plays stood out for John Carroll.

Reining OAC Special Teams Player of the Week Choe Samba added his second blocked punt in as many weeks in the fourth quarter. On Muskingums' next possession Kyle Rodriguez's punt deflected off of a Muskingum player and an alert Jimmy King fell on the ball keeping possession with the Blue Streaks.

Kresimir Ivkovic booted field goals of 25 and 40 yards in the first half.

Muskingum recovered a Myers fumble on the Blue Streaks' opening possession and threatened to take the lead right away. Andrew Evans and Porter stuff Muskingum running back Shane Dotson on fourth-and-1 from the Blue Streak 19-yard line preserving the opponent scoreless streak for first halves this season.

The Fighting Muskies kept pushing and with 1:12 remaining in the opening stanza Caleb Carpenter gave Muskingum a 3-0 lead with a 34-yard field goal marking the first opponent points in the first half this season.

Mason Bates gave Muskingum a brief lead in the second quarter taking a Myers interception 44 yards for a score – the last bit of noise made by the Muskies on the afternoon.

The weather hindered both offenses from generating any momentum as the two teams combined for 10 fumbles on the day. The two teams only combined for 368 yards of total offense and each side had four turnovers.

John Carroll travels to Ohio Northern for a 1:30 p.m. contest on Saturday, Oct. 26.