After a year off from postseason play, the John Carroll University football team is back in the NCAA Tournament.

Making their seventh overall appearance and their fourth in the last six years, the Blue Streaks (9-1) are slated to host the Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets (8-2) on Saturday November, 17 at 12:00 p.m. For the fourth time, the Blue Streaks will host an opponent in the postseason at Don Shula Stadium.

Printable Division III Championship Bracket

John Carroll owns a record of 9-6 in NCAA Tournament games. JCU's previous appearances were in 1989, 1997, 2002, 2013, 2014, and 2016.

The last time the Blue Streaks season extended beyond 10 games was 2016, when the Blue and Gold advanced to the national semifinals for the second time in school history. JCU's historic run ended with a 10-3 loss against Wisconsin Oshkosh.

The Blue and Gold are entering the postseason in 2018 with a 9-1 record in the regular season, riding a seven-game win streak. Additionally, the Blue Streaks are 5-0 at home, outscoring opponents 188-59. The JCU defense has posed three shutout victories at home this season - a feat the Blue Streaks had not achieved since 1962.

"It is a big deal to have home field advantage. It is very important to get home field in round one of the tournament," said head coach Rick Finotti.

This will be Finotti's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

"Every team that made the tournament is worthy of it," said Finotti. "We have to make sure that we are playing our best football. We are blessed to represent John Carroll.'

The Blue Streaks will return over two dozen players from the 2016 squad that finished within the final four teams of the postseason, including starting quarterback Anthony Moeglin, All-American defensive lineman Ray Brown, and all-conference offensive lineman Drew Turner.

Coach Finotti is excited to have some guys with playoff experience.

"The experience in being in a game like that is second to none," said Finotti. "We knew there was many close games that season (2016). The upperclassmen on our football team have been making big time plays for us lately, so having those older guys will be huge."

Moeglin is in his third year as the starting quarterback of the Blue Streaks, throwing 13 touchdown passes for 1,640 yards, completing 56.94 percent of his passes. He ranks fifth all-time in the JCU record books in passing yards, touchdowns, and completion percentage, among many other categories. In addition. Moeglin has rushed for four touchdowns on 353 net rushing yards.

Also on the offensive end for the Blue Streaks, is sophomore running back Mike Canganelli who  has had a tremendous season thus far. Canganelli has eclipsed over 1,000 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, both which rank second in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

In his senior season, Brown ranks tied for fourth all-time in career sacks and third in tackles for loss. Brown is a member of a defensive line unit that has totaled 54.0 sacks on the season, which ranks among the top in the nation out of all collegiate football teams (FBS, FCS, D-II, and D-III). Senior defensive end Jimmy Thomas has contributed 12.0 of those sacks, which ranks second in the conference.

Representing the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, Randolph Macon has a 6-1 conference record with their lone conference loss coming against Ferrum on November 3. The Yellow Jackets hold a 4-1 record on the road this season, outscoring opponents 203-140.

In his 15th season as head coach of Randolph Macon is Pedro Arruza. While leading the Yellow Jackets, Arruza has won 89 career football games -- the second most in the program. Aruza was named ODAC Coach of the Year in 2016, when the Yellow Jackets captured a conference championship.

At the helm on offense for the Yellow Jackets is junior quarterback Burke Estes. He has thrown for 14 touchdowns and 1,522 yards. Senior running back Tre Fredrick has rushed for seven touchdowns and 1,169 yards, which ranks third in the conference. Senior wide receiver Eric Hoy has added 10 rushing touchdowns while compiling 29 receptions and a team leading 361 receiving yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, senior linebacker Yonis Blanco leads the team with 50 tackles. Freshman cornerback Stephen Richardson leads the team with eight pass breakups and has added two tackles for loss. Sophomore Aaron Cox leads the team with three sacks.

The winner of John Carroll and Randolph Macon on Saturday, with the winner play the winner of Delaware Valley and Muhlenberg at a site to be determined on Saturday, November 24.

In John Carroll's quarter of the bracket is conference rival Mount Union (10-0), Denison (8-2), Centre (9-1), Washington & Jefferson (9-1), Delaware Valley (9-1), and Muhlenberg (9-1).