Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
JCU FB Homecoming
Jacob Chabowski
The JCU defense stood strong, not allowing any offensive points on Saturday.
7
Muskingum MUS 3-2 , 2-2
29
Winner John Carroll JCU 2-2 , 2-1
Muskingum MUS
3-2 , 2-2
7
Final
29
John Carroll JCU
2-2 , 2-1
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
MUS Muskingum 7 0 0 0 7
JCU John Carroll 7 7 0 15 29

Game Recap: Football | | Garrett Siegel, Senior Staff Writer

JCU Football Celebrates Homecoming with 29-7 Conquest of Muskingum

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- It was a beautiful Homecoming Weekend at Don Shula Stadium. John Carroll University Football's defense came to play for the packed house of family, friends, and alumni allowing 0 offensive points. 

The Blue Streaks earned a 29-7 victory over Muskingum University on Saturday afternoon.

"I'm really proud of Coach Long and our defensive staff," said Head Coach Rick Finotti. "They put together a great game plan. I was really proud of our leadership and mindset after an out of character week last week."

On the opening drive, the Blue Streaks went with a heavy dose of Demerius Goodwin, with 5 attempts for 27 yards. Devin Limerick had two receptions, one for 19 yards down the seam. With the Blue Streaks in the red zone, Cortez McGinnis jumped a crossing route and returned the Jake Floriea pass for an 86 yards to the house for the Fighting Muskies to take the lead 7-0 before their offense stepped on the field.  

Floreia bounced back quickly with six passes on the ensuing drive going 5-of-6 and capping it off with a quick slant over the middle to Kenny Cross to tie the game 7-7 for Muskingum's opening possession. 

At the end of the first quarter, the Blue Streak offense had 127 yards of offense to Muskingum's 27 total yards, as the second quarter began in the middle of Muskingum's first offensive drive. 

The Fighting Muskies' quarterback and defending OAC Offensive Player of the Week Jordan Garrett found Ja'Lin Goodman on a key fourth down to advance the drive. However, on the ensuing set of downs the Blue Streaks defense held strong on another fourth down with pressure coming from Ross Valenti to force an incompletion and turnover on downs. 

On the next play, Floreia found Brennan Fugh for 45 yards over the middle of the field to put JCU deep in Muskingum territory. Two plays later, Floreia looked for Limerick down the seam again but it sailed too high as Devin Roebuck picked it off at the two yard line for the second interception of the first half. 

After an offensive pass interference, Jordan Garrett found Zuri Edmonson down the sideline to get the Fighting Muskies out of the back of the end zone all the way down to the 39 yard line. The drive stalled there and the Muskies were forced to punt. Collin Scozzafava sent it away and Nate Leopold returned it 25 yards to the opposing 49 yard line, but the JCU drive resulted in a punt. 

After another three and out, the Blue Streaks had an opportunity for a 2-minute drill. After two big runs from Matthew Buser, Demerius Goodwin punched it in for a score to take the lead into the half, 14-7 John Carroll. At the half, JCU had outgained Muskingum 238-110. 

Daniel Garcar had a sack on the first drive of the second half for Muskingum which resulted in a punt. 

"I was really proud of the leadership Daniel Garcar and Nate Leopold showed today, they just went out and played hard," said Coach Finotti. 

With six minutes remaining in the third quarter, Garrett found Edmund again down the seam for 34 yards to put them deep in JCU territory. Scozzafava attempted a 43-yard field goal but it fell short. The third quarter ended with just 29 yards for John Carroll and 64 for Muskingum. 

The first John Carroll play of the fourth quarter was fumbled and recovered by Muskingum at the JCU 31. The next play was a pass interference on John Carroll and the Muskingum offense suddenly had the ball inside the JCU 20. A tackle for loss by Brian Robinson forced a fourth and short, and Jordan Garrett attempted to throw for the touchdown to Ja'Lin Goodman, but it fell incomplete. 

JCU was forced to punt, but it was fumbled and recovered by Luke Brown. JCU made them pay, as Matthew Buser punched it in to extend the JCU lead 21-7. 

After forcing another punt, JCU took a long drive down the field with Buser carrying the load again finishing off the drive with a 16-yard touchdown to make it 27-7. The ensuing extra point had a fumbled snap and Clayton Anderson recovered it and threw it up to Tadas Tatarunas who caught it in traffic for a 2-point conversion to make it 29-7 final score.

Matthew Buser finished with 110 yards and two touchdowns. 

"We always focus on running the ball. The offensive line set it up for us and it was just my turn," Buser commented after the game. 

Brian Robinson and Tyshawn Jones each had 7 tackles, Robinson added 1.5 tackles for loss. The JCU defense held Muskingum to 193 total yards, forced two turnovers on downs, and a missed field goal.

"Our guys love this university and the atmosphere," Finotti said of the Homecoming game.  "Whenever there is a big crowd like there was today for Homecoming Weekend, they want to show out, and their biggest motivation is always playing for each other and this university."

The Blue Streaks improve to 2-2 while the Fighting Muskies fall to 3-2. Next week, the Blue Streaks face Capital on the road at 1:30 pm on Saturday October 9. 
Print Friendly Version

Sponsors