For the second consecutive week, a dominant running game and stout defense set the tone in a John Carroll football victory.

The Blue Streaks held Heidelberg University to just 188 total yards in a 42-14 victory on Saturday in University Heights. Sam Kukura and Ro Golphin each surpassed the century mark on the ground, combining for 241 yards and four touchdowns.

JCU improves to 2-1, with both wins coming against conference opponents. HU falls to 1-2, with a 1-1 mark in OAC play.

Kukura ran for 121 yards and a trio of scores, while Golphin added 120, including a 92-yarder late in the contest. Under center, Anthony Moeglin completed 23-of-28 passes for 245 yards and a touchdown; Marshall Howell recorded eight catches for 107 yards and a score. Mason McKenrick had 10 tackles, and has reached double-digits in that category in all three games.

Head coach Tom Arth commented on the defensive effort following the win. "We tried to mix up looks a bit, give them a few things they haven't seen" said Arth. "Their offense provides a challenge and I thought our players executed our gameplan very well. It was a great effort."

The Blue Streaks quickly moved the ball on the opening drive, moving 80 yards on just seven plays. Kukura set the tone with a 51-yard run along the Blue Streaks sideline to the two-yard line. He punched it in on the next play to give JCU a 7-0 lead.

"They're a very good team, and have a really strong defensive front," said Kukura. "We felt like we had to set the tone early. It could have been any of us [that made the 51-yard run]. It felt great to see that huge hole and run through it."

Heidelberg's offensive line had allowed just two sacks in the team's first two games. John Carroll's defense sacked Stoyle twice on his first drive. Ray Brown flung the junior to the turf on the first Student Princes play, and the front seven forced an intentional grounding on third down.

JCU had a chance to capitalize on the short field, using intermediate passes to chip away at the defense. Heidelberg held strong at the goal line, and Matt Danko missed a 22-yarder. John Carroll ran out the rest of the quarter with another sustained drive that ended with a second Kukura touchdown from seven yards out.

After a three-and-out by the Student Princes, Moeglin fired four consecutive completions. The exclamation point on the 79-yard drive was a 38-yard catch-and-run by Marshall Howell that ended with the senior dragging a defensive back into the endzone with 9:32 to play.  

Heidelberg took over at 2:06 after a JCU three-and-out. Stoyle drove the Student Princes 46 yards, and faced a third-and-six from the 11. Facing pressure, Stoyle lofted a pass to an open receiver, Michael Hollins stepped in front of a Stoyle pass inside the 5-yard line and returned the ball near midfield.

"It was big to just come up with the stop," said Hollins. "We just have to trust our process and complete each play."

At the half, the Blue Streaks outgained the Student Princes, 286-53, in the first 30 minutes. JCU held the ball for 20:47 compared to 9:13 for HU.

JCU forced a punt on the opening drive of the second half, but a fumble by Kukura on the return gave the Berg new life. Heidelberg rolled the dice on a fourth-and-goal from the 6-yard line, and the gamble paid off. The Student Princes cut the lead to 14 on a touchdown catch by Demetrius Magee in the left corner of the end zone with 11:13 on the clock.

The Blue Streaks answered with a long, methodical drive. JCU drove 53 yards in 12 plays, and then Moeglin awoke the Shula Stadium faithful with an electrifying run. The freshman signal caller was flushed out of the pocket, sidestepped one tackler, split through two others and lunged into the right corner of the endzone for a 28-7 lead.

"When a play breaks down, you just try and make something happen," said Moeglin. "Our plan was try and neutralize their strengths, get players open and take advantage of space."

Kukura would find the endzone for a third time just 1:45 into the fourth quarter; his one-yard run gave JCU a 35-7 advantage. After the Student Princes intercepted a pass on the next Blue Streaks drive, Stoyle hit Magee for the second time for a 12-yard touchdown.

With the game in hand, Golphin blasted through the right side and outran an HU defender for a 92-yard touchdown with less than a minute to go.

Next up for John Carroll is a road trip to Wilmington College to face the Fightin' Quakers. Kickoff is scheduled for Oct. 1 at 1:30 p.m.