NCAA Division III Football Championship - 1st Round  |  vs. Randolph-Macon  |  Saturday, Nov. 17 at 12:00 pm |  Video  -  Audio  -  Stats
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As the NCAA Division III Football Championship commences this afternoon across the nation, it would be hard to find two offenses that appear to be more mirror images of each other than the two teams that will take to the field at Don Shula Stadium. 

There is a similar vein running through the John Carroll Blue Streaks and the Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets despite the fact that they have never before faced off on the gridiron.

Both teams love to run.

The ground attack is part of the offensive DNA of both teams. The Blue Streaks are ninth in the nation with 275.9 yards per game rushing, ninth in total rushing attempts with 498, and ninth in rushing touchdowns with 37. The Yellow Jackets are 17th in Division III with 260.1 yards rushing, eighth in rushing attempts with 511 and tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns with 40. 

Both teams feature a running back who is among the national leaders. Michael Canganelli has amassed 1,231 yards rushing for John Carroll, while Tre Frederick has earned 1,169 for Randolph-Macon. But is the number of weapons each team has that makes the rushing game so productive. JCU has running backs Sam Kukura, Josh DeLozier, Devin Limerick and quarterback Anthony Moeglin who have contributed mightily to the yardage total. The Yellow Jackets have two players -- one a wide receiver (Eric Hoy) and one a non-starting running back (Jordan Hall) -- who have more rushing touchdowns than Frederick. In fact, 11 different players have at least one rushing touchdown for Randolph-Macon.

Neither team needs to pass much given the success of the rushing attack, but both can and will pass when the opportunity presents itself. Randolph-Macon is among the national leaders in completion percentage while JCU is ranked near the top in terms of yards per completion.

On the defensive side of the ball is where the image in the mirror may not be as reflective. John Carroll is among the top 40 in the nation in rushing defense (7th), total defense (28th) and scoring defense (31st). In those same categories, Randolph-Macon is 113th in rushing defense, 163rd in total defense, and 119th in scoring defense.

John Carroll also leads the nation in sacks, having accrued 54 though ten games. Jimmy Thomas is one of four players on the Blue Streaks' roster with at least six sacks this season.

What the Yellow Jackets do exceptionally well is take care of the football, committing just seven turnovers all year. The offense also controls the clock, ranking third nationally in time of possession.

The Yellow Jackets are making their fourth NCAA Division III postseason appearance, following in the footsteps of the 1984, 2008 and 2016 teams.  Randolph-Macon is still seeking its first NCAA Division III postseason win, although it does have an NCAA championship. In 1969, Randolph-Macon advanced to the Knute Rockne Bowl, where the Yellow Jackets defeated Bridgeport. 47-28, to capture their first NCAA Eastern Championship.

John Carroll is making its seventh NCAA Division III tournament showing, previously earning berths in 1989, 1997, 2002, 2013, 2014 and 2016. The Blue Streaks have advanced to the national quarterfinals four times (1997, 2002, 2014 and 2016), and twice have reached the national semifinals, doing so in 2002 and 2016. Today's game marks the fourth NCAA playoff game to be staged at Shula Stadium, with the Blue Streaks owning a 2-1 record at home in Division III tournament play.