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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
The JCU defense will look to limit BW's high-powered rushing attack. 
Tim Phillis, News Herald

Week 10 Football Preview: Blue Streaks Looking for 9th Straight Gold Bowl Win

| By: Luke Potosky, Senior Staff Writer
The JCU defense will look to limit BW's high-powered rushing attack. 
BEREA, Ohio -- The Cuyahoga Gold Bowl Trophy has resided comfortably in University Heights for the last eight years. Will it become a record nine years in a row, or will there be a change in scenery for the 33-year old trophy?

This Saturday, the John Carroll Blue Streaks (6-3, 6-2 OAC) take the quick crosstown jaunt to Berea to take on the No. 20 Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets (8-1, 7-1 OAC) in an Ohio Athletic Conference contest.

These two sides have given their faithful some dramatic finishes over the past few seasons, but the last time this rivalry was played on the gridiron was a few months ago in March 2021. The Blue & Gold led nearly the entire contest and grinded out a 28-17 home victory, securing the Cuyahoga Gold Bowl for an eighth straight season.

"This has always been a huge game for us," Head Football Coach Rick Finotti said. "This is something both sides circle on the calendar every year." 

JCU saw its five-game winning streak snapped last week in overtime to the hands of the Heidelberg Student Princes, essentially eliminating their playoff chances. Despite the circumstances, however, Finotti emphasized that the team is still very fired up and couldn't ask for anything better as they look to finish their season on a high note.

On the other side of things, BW has won every game this season except for a Week 3 setback to No. 3 Mount Union, where they went into halftime only down 14-7. In the first seven weeks of their season, they won six games by at least ten points and five games by at least twenty points. 

However, a pair of three-point wins in the last two weeks over Marietta (24-21) and Ohio Northern (17-14) have challenged them leading up to this point.

JOHN CARROLL OFFENSE vs. BALDWIN WALLACE DEFENSE
Despite 434 total yards and 24 first downs in Week 9, the Blue & Gold could only muster 21 points on the scoreboard last week. Nevertheless, the offense remains pleased with their production up to this point in the season, averaging over 400 yards per game.

Leading the Blue Streak offense one last time will be quarterback Jake Floriea (181-282, 2,234 yards, 17 total TDs). His seven total scores and 620 yards through the air in the last two games have him riding perhaps his best two-game stretch in his career into his final contest under center.

Evan McVay (72 carries, 427 yards, two TDs; 21 receptions, 173 yards, one TD) & Matthew Buser (47 carries, 275 yards, three TDs; seven receptions, 46 yards) lead the charge in the backfield. McVay earned 178 total yards on 31 touches and a touchdown last week, and freshman Mason Sullivan (12 carries, 38 yards, one TD) had his first collegiate score as well.

Junior Brennan Fugh (53 receptions, 970 yards, seven TDs) has put together a phenomenal season so far as he approaches 1,000 yards. His complimenting weapons include seniors Keyshawn Colmon (19 receptions, 264 yards, one TD) & Devin Limerick (30 receptions, 269 yards, two TDs), and junior Joe Torok (seven receptions, 93 yards, one TD).

The Yellow Jackets' defense starts with a young line, featuring Sekou Imani, Devon Slocum, Taino Arocho, and Jordan Smith. Imani comes into this matchup with monster numbers, including 14 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and an interception as well. Three of those sacks came last week against Ohio Northern.

The three linebackers starting for BW include Dillon O'Donoghue, Mason Levasseur, and Nick Pankow. Pankow leads the team with 78 total tackles, the next closest being Levasseur with 57, and has 10.5 tackles for loss to pair with two interceptions on the season.

A unit that rotates its pieces somewhat often, Baldwin Wallace will start Robert Williamson, Brandon Searight, Jake Hill, and Iyan Mitchell in its secondary. Williamson leads with three interceptions through nine games, but perhaps the more unique presence is Mitchell who serves as both a defensive back and wide receiver. The senior leads the secondary with 32 tackles and nine pass breakups.

BALDWIN WALLACE OFFENSE vs. JOHN CARROLL DEFENSE
A key to the game that holds a lot of weight will be the No. 14 nationally-ranked rushing attack of the Yellow Jackets and the stalwart No. 18 nationally-ranked rushing defense of the Blue Streaks.

The JCU defensive line has done wonders in recent weeks, led by strong performances from Bricker Thiel (33 tackles, 14 TFLs, eight sacks, two forced fumbles/recoveries), Nick Costanzo (25 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, one fumble recovery), and Daniel Garcar (43 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble). Last week alone, Thiel rattled off four tackles for loss, including a sack.

Senior/graduate linebackers Hunter Orlando (44 total tackles, three TFLs, one fumble recovery), Luke Brown (43 total tackles, three TFLs, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries), Tyshawn Jones (team-high 61 tackles, two TFLs, two fumble recoveries, one INT), and Brian Robinson (19 tackles, two TFLs) will play together one last time before some of them hang up the cleats. Tyler Thimons (25 tackles, one TFL) has emerged as a solid piece on defense this season as well.

Senior defensive captain Nate Leopold (32 tackles, three TFLs, two INTs) and safety Jake Bunofsky (22 tackles, two TFLs, one INT) play perhaps their final snaps in the Blue & Gold. Elijah Chungu (18 tackles, one INT, seven pass breakups) and Josh McLean (24 tackles, three pass breakups), round out the secondary. 

On the other side of the ball, junior Keagan Armitage (83-129, 978 passing yards, 222 rushing yards, 10 total TDs) is at the helm of the Yellow Jacket offense. Despite leading a passing game that averages under 125 yards per game, he also helps lead a rushing attack that gains over 250 yards per game.

With that being said, Jon Murray Jr. (191 carries, 1,044 yards, 17 touchdowns) is the leading back. Reese Wamer and DJ Griffus have rotated in heavily as well.

Darius Stokes (30 receptions, 487 yards, five touchdowns) leads the receiving unit in all categories. He is complemented by Elijah Arnett, Andrew Bortz, and Andrew Cregan.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Andy Han (32 punts, 1,129 yards, seven inside the 20) and Grant Gonya (9-17 FG, 28-29 XP; 45 kickoffs, 2,653 yards, 20 touchbacks) lead the kicking units. In the return game, Nate Leopold (seven punt returns, 74 yards) and Devin Limerick (three kick returns, 143 yards, one touchdown) lead the way.

For Baldwin Wallace, Dean Sarris (7-11 FG) and Dylan Kooyman (seven punts, 205 yards, two inside the 20) lead the kicking units. Sarris' field goal last week was enough to push the Yellow Jackets past the Polar Bears. Returning kicks will be the previously mentioned and versatile Iyan Mitchell (26 total returns, 466 total yards).

Finotti added a note of gratitude to the seniors who have stuck through a heartbreaking end to the 2019 season and the COVID-19 pandemic as many of them finish their careers at George Finnie Stadium in Berea today.

Given the fact that the Blue Streaks have an eight-season win streak over the Yellow Jackets and that Baldwin Wallace's playoff hopes ride on the results of this game, we are set for another instrumental chapter in the JCU-BW rivalry.
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