The John Carroll offense scored 13 more points than any Mt. Union opponent this season and the JCU defense held the Purple Raiders to 25 points under their nation-leading scoring average, but it wasn't quite enough.
Junior running back Jawanza Evans-Morris gained a season-high 110 rushing yards on 17 carries and Mt. Union connected on a couple big pass plays to lead the second -ranked Purple Raiders to a 31-27 regular season finale victory over John Carroll.
Trailing 17-7 at the half, JCU outscored Mt. Union, 17-7, in the third quarter to tie the game at 24-24 with 15 minutes to play. The comeback started when freshman running back
Michael Canganelli returned the opening kickoff of the second half 95 yards to the end zone, cutting back to the right and sprinting past the Raiders defense to bring the Blue Streaks within 17-14, just 16 seconds into the third quarter.
"He is going to be special," senior linebacker
Mason McKenrick stated. McKenrick led a strong JCU defense with nine tackles, two for loss, including a sack. "We were confident; this team had good chemistry," McKenrick added.
"Canganelli was huge," Head Coach
Rick Finotti stated. "I think this game showed the character of this team," Finotti summarized.
The No. 2-ranked DIII team in the nation responded quickly, scoring on a 41-yard touchdown pass play from sophomore quarterback D'Angelo Fulford to Luke Herrington, giving the Raiders a 24-14 advantage.
On JCU's next possession, senior receiver Willy Woods grabbed a 16-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback
Anthony Moeglin, capping a 67-yard drive in 11 plays to bring the deficit to three at 24-21, with 6:46 to go in the third quarter. After forcing a Mt. Union three-and- out,
Matt Danko tied the game with a 23-yard field goal with 1:45 remaining in the quarter.
McKenrick then sacked Fulford on a third-and- seven, forcing another Mt. Union punt. But Moeglin's first down pass was intercepted by Danny Robinson, setting up Mt. Union at the JCU 34. Seven plays later, Fulford found Braeden Friss for a 25-yard touchdown pass over the middle for a 31-24 lead.
With 5:01 to play the Blue Streaks came within 31-27 on a 32-yard Danko field goal. "Danko has been good all year, and we had confidence in him," Head Coach
Rick Finotti said. "We got the ball back with two minutes to go but you only get so many opportunities."
JCU held the nation's highest scoring team (59.6 ppg) to 31 points; 25 points below Mt. Union's season-long average.
Mt. Union opened the scoring on its second possession of the game. Fulford connected with leading receiver Justin Hill for a long 45-yard pass and run play on third -and- 2 from the MU 49. Fulford covered the final six yards on two keepers, for a 7-0 lead at 8:23 of the 1st quarter.
Fulford entered the game as as the DIII leader in pass efficiency, including a 75.3% completion rate, but the Blue Streaks defense limited him to 12-of- 24 passing for 187 yards. However, three of his completions were for touchdownss.
After several possessions of exchanged punts, the Purple Raiders put two scoring drives together in the second quarter. They drove 69 yards in 8 plays, culminated by a seven-yard touchdown pass from Fulford to junior tight end Cole Moxie. That score and extra point made it 14-0 with 8:52 to play until halftime. On its next possession, MU drove 55 yards in 10 plays, ending with a 25-yard field goal from Alex Louthan, for a 17-0 lead with 2:37 remaining in the half.
JCU had its biggest play and best momentum of the half on the ensuing kickoff as freshman running back
Michael Canganelli thrilled the home crowd as he returned the kickoff 64 yards to the Mt. Union 30. That set up an eight-play drive that ended with a touchdown slant from sophomore quarterback
Anthony Moeglin to senior
receiver Willy Woods with 27 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Moeglin completed 21-of- 37 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns, and Woods paced all receivers with nine catches for 93 yards and two scores.
"We have had that never quit mentality drilled into us all season and we just kept grinding," Woods said.
"This is the kind of game you want to play in," Moeglin commented. "The receivers had a heckofa day. Woods had his numbered called and he responded. But you have to hand it to Mt. Union; their front seven is amazing," Moeglin added.
Prior to the game with John Carroll, the closest any opponent had come to Mt. Union was 29 points (43- 14 over Ohio Northern).
The Purple Raiders complete their undefeated regular season at 10-0 overall, 9-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. JCU ends the season with a 6-4 record, 6-3 in the OAC.
