It is a blessing or a curse depending on perspective.

For the road team, like the Blue Streaks were this afternoon, the fact that the home team lost for the sixth consecutive time in the John Carroll vs. Ohio Northern series is indeed a blessing.

For the home team, like Ohio Northern was today, the curse lives on as the Blue Streaks used a dominant second half for a 49-17 triumph at Dial-Robertson Stadium in Ada, Ohio.

"I know the score was a little lopsided at the end, but that was a battle," said JCU head football coach Rick Finotti. "That was a tough game. Offensively they tested us, and defensively we had to really get after it. What I was most proud of was our leadership. The seniors leaders, the junior leaders ... they do it the right way. They work really hard, they live right, they talk right. They try to be champions on and off the field. We needed that today."

Ohio Northern struck first in this game after JCU had missed scoring chances on two of their first three drives in the first quarter on field goal misses of 33 and 50 yards. The Polar Bears marched 60 yards in nine plays, capped by a 9-yard touchdown run, the first touchdown run the JCU defense had surrendered this season.

John Carroll responded with a five-play, 70-yard drive that concluded with an Anthony Moeglin pass to Danny Disbrow covering 22 yards.

The Blue Streaks then took their first lead of the game on their next possession. After the JCU defense forced a three-and-out, the Blue Streaks used a short field thanks top a short punt, and needed four plays to cover 54 yards. Moeglin used a 34-yard run to set up a touchdown pass to JJ Olivera in the back of the enz zone from nine yards out.

Ohio Northern tied the game on its next drive when Anthony McFadden hit Anthony Amison for a 71-yard catch and run touchdown pass. But in the final 5:27 of the half, it would be all Blue Streaks, setting the tone for the second half.

JCU take the lead right back when Moeglin directed a 65-yard drive, with the big play a third-down-and five conversion from Moeglin to Evan Nugent that covered 36 yards. Michael Canganelli scored the touchdown to finish the drive on a fourth-and-inches play.

Ohio Northern attempted to answer back but in probably the momentum shifting play of the day, Jerome Brundidge sacked McFadden on a third down play, causing a fumble that was returned 17 yards for a touchdown with 52 seconds remaining before halftime.

"I try to be a leader out there," said Stalnaker. "But I cannot say enough about what our defensive line does day in and day out, and our secondary as well. I wouldn't be making the plays I make without all they do."

The Polar Bears drove down to the JCU 16-yard line but an Adam Thompson sack ended the half as Ohio Northern was out of timeouts and the clock expired before the home team could run another play.

The last time Ohio Northern scored was a 22-yard field goal midway through the third quarter. From there, Canganelli scored two more touchdowns and Devin Limerick added another as JCU pulled away for a 32-point win - its largest since a 47-0 win in 2013. 9th game that started the home team curse ... or away team blessing).

John Carroll gained 550 yards of total offense, led bya tremendous all-around game by Moeglin who was 14-22 for 254 through the air, and was JCU's leading rusher as well with a career-high 126 yards on 16 carries. Canganelli added 109 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries. Nugent ended the day with team-highs in catches (4) and yards (84).

Defensively, the Blue Streaks yielded 17 points and 274 yards of total offense, but only three points and 77 yards in the decisive second half. Stalnaker had a team-high ten tackles to go with the fumble return got a touchdown, and 1.5 sacks. Thompson added eight tackles and 1.5 sacks.

John Carroll, now 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the OAC, will host undefeated Marietta (6-0, 5-0) next Saturday, October 20 at 1:30 p.m.