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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Evan McVay file photo
Tim Phillis, News Herald
McVay and Fugh become the first JCU tandem to gain 100 yards rushing and 200 yards receiving, respectively. 
38
Winner John Carroll JCU 3-2 , 3-1
7
Capital CAP 1-4 , 0-4
Winner
John Carroll JCU
3-2 , 3-1
38
Final
7
Capital CAP
1-4 , 0-4
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
JCU John Carroll 7 7 7 17 38
CAP Capital 7 0 0 0 7

Game Recap: Football | | Luke Potosky, Senior Staff Writer

McVay and Fugh Make History, Leading JCU Football to Win over Comets

BEXLEY, Ohio -- Two years after a large victory over Capital, the No. 22 John Carroll Blue Streaks rode into Bexley seeking another convincing win over the Capital Comets.

But after that loss to the Blue Streaks, a 51-0 defeat to Baldwin Wallace last week, and 10 consecutive losses to the Blue Streaks, there was plenty of motivation to be had for the 1-3 Comets.

Nevertheless, John Carroll University Football worked to defeat Capital, 38-7, on October 9 at Bernlohr Stadium in an Ohio Athletic Conference contest, improving to 3-2.

The game did not start easy for the Blue and Gold, as, on the first play from scrimmage, a JCU pass was intercepted by Capital linebacker Nick Fisanick.

Eight plays into their opening drive, the Comets cashed in on the turnover, as quarterback Ben Everson found receiver Ben Zerby on a screen pass for a 14-yard touchdown, giving Capital an early 7-0 lead.

On Capital's next possession, Trevor Harrison-Rawn's third-down pass was tipped by Jake Bunofsky, kicked in the air, and intercepted by Elijah Chungu in what was an acrobatic takeaway.

The Blue Streak offense converted off the turnover and gained its footing, as junior running back Matthew Buser found the endzone from 12 yards out to tie the game 7-7 after one quarter.

After forcing a turnover on downs to start the second quarter, the Blue Streaks drove down the field to 1st and goal at the 1-yard line. However, the Comets stood tall and stuffed the JCU offense four plays in a row, forcing a turnover on downs.

That momentum was short-lived, however, as linebacker Tyshawn Jones picked up a lateral pass off the turf for a fumble recovery, giving John Carroll the ball back.

Just a few plays later, quarterback Jake Floriea rolled left and connected with receiver Brennan Fugh for a 40-yard touchdown, giving John Carroll a 14-7 lead.

Then on Capital's final drive of the first half, they had a chance at a 43-yard field goal. But the JCU special teams came up big, as the kick was blocked by Nick Costanzo, giving JCU a 7-point lead at halftime.

After forcing a Capital three-and-out to start the second half, the Blue Streaks' offense sustained a long 14-play drive, but could not convert a 31-yard field goal.

However, on their next possession, freshman running back Evan McVay found a seam and took off down the sideline for his first collegiate touchdown. His run was keyed by a downfield block from receiver Keyshawn Colmon, making it 21-7 Blue Streaks after three quarters.

A few minutes later, the JCU offense started the fourth quarter with a bang. Floriea looked deep and found his receiver Fugh for the second time in the game, this time for a 59-yard score to put the Men of Carroll up 28-7.

Then on Capital's next possession, Everson's third-down pass was intercepted by Bunofsky for JCU's third takeaway of the game.

On the very next play from scrimmage, Floriea looked left, threw a screen pass to Fugh, and the talented junior receiver did the rest, sprinting 61 yards for the endzone to give him his third touchdown of the afternoon and put JCU up 35-7.

Later, on the final drive of the day for the Blue Streaks, Grant Gonya's 40-yard field goal made it a 38-7 final score.

All in all, the Blue & Gold's 24-0 advantage was the biggest difference in the game.

Head Coach Rick Finotti was quick to point out things that his team learned throughout the afternoon. 

"They [Capital] showed up to play. We weren't as aggressive as we needed to be early on. We flipped the switch we needed to, but it was a lot closer than the score indicated."

Defensively, Jones, Daniel Garcar, and Luke Brown led the way with five tackles apiece. Overall, 21 different Blue Streaks made a tackle on the day.

Offensively, one of the main catalysts of the afternoon was Floriea, who threw for 307 passing yards and three touchdowns. 

"The guys around me make my job pretty easy," the fifth-year leader said. "It wasn't me today, it was these guys."

McVay, who broke out for a 193-yard and one touchdown performance, was quick to give credit to his offensive line and his blockers. The offensive line had a great day, as did Keyshawn Colmon, who had a few key blocks. 

"The line was opening holes I could literally drive my car through today. I just had to make one guy miss, and with guys making plays on the outside, it made it easier to pick up some yards."

Fugh, who caught seven passes for 242 yards and three scores, said the win was a team effort. 

"It's always a team effort. We can't get the passing game going without the run game, and we can't get the run game going without the O-line."

Fugh's 242 receiving yards were good enough for fourth-most in a single game in John Carroll football history.

On top of that, McVay's breakout 100+ yard performance on the ground made this the first time in recent memory that the Blue Streak offense saw a 100+ yard rusher AND a 200+ yard receiver in the same game, research courtesy of Graduate Assistant Noah Tylutki '21. 

In preparation for next week, Floriea said the team will look to be more focused. 

"This week, like the coaches said at halftime, we have to focus on our energy & execution." Finotti followed by saying, "We learned again today and we already know that we have to start the games like we finish them; that's the bottom line."

Up next, John Carroll will host Ohio Northern on October 16 at 2 p.m. 
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