All wins count the same and for the Blue Streaks, they will gladly return to University Heights with 17-13 hard fought victory over the Heidelberg Student Princes.

It went all the way down to the wire and every single play mattered. After Jake Floriea's fourth interception of the second half and with the Blue and Gold trailing by three points, it was the defense and the special teams units that came up big.

Cal Reynolds, the Ohio Athletic Conference leader in sacks, made a tackle and a game-changing sack on two consecutive plays to force Heidelberg to punt.

"It was an unbelievable effort by our defense," head coach Rick Finotti said on the field after the game. "The way our guys played… not so much during the whole game but in the toughest situations — they came through and battled the most.

"They were backed up in the red zone so much and coming out with three points here and there. Complete stops and a big sack to make them punt later in the game. My hat is off to those defensive guys."

Sophomore safety and punt returner Nate Leopold took it from there.

Leopold, who returned a punt for a touchdown week one and garnered OAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors, took it upon himself to set the JCU offense up with great field position. He caught the punt and raced 65 yards down the Blue Streaks sideline, all the way down to the Heidelberg 27.

"We actually called a designed block on the play," Leopold said with heavy eyes after the game. "I wasn't supposed to attempt the return. He [punter Parker Smith] kicked it so low right to me, I caught it, and saw the field. Those guys were blocking for me the whole way. That was heck of an effort by the entire unit."

John Carroll offensive coordinator Jeff Fink relied on Mike Canganelli to carry the load on offense late in the game. Canganelli ran three consecutive plays for 14 yards and a first down. On third and nine, he darted down the left side for a 14-yard touchdown and hit the bullseye for JCU to retake the lead.

"We won this game during the offseason," Canganelli said. "We give it our all. We push ourselves. When it came down to the fourth quarter, it came down to the offseason."

"We just had to believe. Sometimes when we are going slow, but we have to keep believing. I am playing for my teammates. That touchdown run showed a lot of heart."

On the ensuing drive, the Blue Streaks' defense came up with their biggest stop of the day: A three-and-out and a Student Princes' punt. 

Canganelli picked up right where he left off and carried the ball nine times for 46 yards, running down the clock in the meantime. Floriea reconciled his four turnovers with a quarterback run on fourth and three for a gain of 19 yards to seal the victory. 

Canganelli ran the ball 37 times for 154 yards in the win. 

"He gave everything he had," said Finotti. "Mike behind that offensive line and the blocking of Will Mecurio, Gavin Martik, Keyshawn Colmon, and Evan Nugent. It was all 11 guys doing their job."

Heidelberg's field goal on the first offensive drive of the game was the first time JCU has trailed on the scoreboard since its loss against Mount Union in week three. 

However, unlike the Mount Union game in which John Carroll never led, the Blue Streaks responded with a field goal and a Canganelli touchdown to go ahead 10-3 at the break. 

Heidelberg answered with 10 points and regained the lead with two minutes left in the third quarter. But the JCU defense, Leopold, and Canganelli's second touchdown run put the Blue Streaks in front when it mattered most.

The Blue and Gold defense limited Student Princes offense that came into the game averaging 510 total yards on offense — which ranks sixth in the nation — to 285 yards. The Student Princes were averaging 43.4 points per game.

Freshman Tayy Yearby ranked 28th in NCAA DIII in rushing yards per game but only gained 24 yards against the Blue Streaks.

On the offensive end for the Blue Streaks, Evan Nugent caught a career high nine passes for 138 yards. 

JCU has won their last six games and will close out the season against the Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets next week in the Cuyahoga Gold Bowl. The annual classic will be held in Berea, Ohio, on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.