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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Football vs. BW
27
John Carroll JCU 1-1 , 1-1
52
Winner Mount Union MTU 2-0 , 2-0
John Carroll JCU
1-1 , 1-1
27
Final
52
Mount Union MTU
2-0 , 2-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
JCU John Carroll 14 7 6 0 27
MTU Mount Union 14 21 7 10 52

Game Recap: Football | | Logan Potosky, Staff Writer

Football Falters in Alliance in Tough Road Defeat

ALLIANCE, Ohio -- Not many games are won when the opposing team's quarterback throws for over 500 yards and 7 touchdowns, and for John Carroll University Football, tonight's outcome was no different.

D3football.com No. 13 John Carroll University Football suffered its first loss of the 2021 season, as they were defeated by D3football.com No. 3 Mount Union 52-27 at Mount Union Stadium. The Blue Streaks fall to 1-1 on the season, while Mount Union improves to 2-0.

On the opening drive, the Blue Streaks nearly forced a turnover on downs with a goal line stop. However, a facemask penalty gave Mount Union the ball back, and QB Braxton Plunk threw a three-yard touchdown pass to WR Wayne Ruby, Jr. to make it 7-0 Purple Raiders.

After a John Carroll three-and-out, Ruby, Jr. found the endzone again, as a four-yard touchdown reception gave Mount Union a 14-0 lead with 5:57 left in the first quarter. But the Blue Streaks refused to back down.

An exchange of punts put the Blue Streaks back on offense. On what would be the only play of the drive, QB Jake Floriea found a wide open WR Brennan Fugh down the field for a 54-yard touchdown pass, cutting John Carroll's deficit to 14-7 with 3:11 left in the opening quarter.

Another Mount Union three-and-out set the Blue Streaks up in Purple Raider territory. Eventually, RB Demerius Goodwin was nearly brought down to the turf, but managed to stay on his feet for an acrobatic 16-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 14 apiece.

John Carroll's momentum would then continue on defense. LB Brian Robinson got to Plunk in the backfield for a strip sack, and DL Kyle Ulshafer recovered the fumble, giving the Blue Streaks a short field to start the second quarter. They would soon cash in, as WR Devin Limerick made a toe-tap 18-yard touchdown reception. This gave the Blue Streaks 21 unanswered points and a 21-14 lead with 14:13 left in the first half.

This momentum did not last, though. Mount Union was able to find its rhythm again with three more Braxton Plunk touchdown passes, two of which were thrown to Ruby, Jr., giving the Purple Raiders a 35-21 halftime lead.

On the opening drive of the second half, John Carroll was finally able to score again. Multiple Mount Union penalties helped the Blue Streaks move down the field, and Jake Floriea capped off the drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Fugh. Andy Han would have his extra point blocked, making the score 35-27 with 11:42 left in the third quarter.

That touchdown, however, would be the last of the scoring for John Carroll. Mount Union's Braxton Plunk would throw another pair of touchdown passes, and the Purple Raiders would also add a field goal with 9:47 left in the game.

For Mount Union, Plunk finished with a school-record 521 passing yards, along with 7 touchdowns. Wide receivers Wayne Ruby, Jr. (16 rec., 182 yds., 4 TDs), Derrick Harvey, Jr. (7 rec., 149 yds.), Ulice Gillard II (6 rec., 91 yds., TD), and Jaden Manley (5 rec., 84 yds., 2 TDs) also led the way for the Purple Raiders.

For John Carroll, Floriea (19-39, 243 yds., 3 TDs, 3 INTs), Goodwin (9 car., 35 yds., 1 TD), Fugh (10 rec., 143 yds., 2 TDs), and Limerick (3 rec., 40 yds., TD) were the main performers on offense. Defensively, DB Nate Leopold led the Blue Streaks with 9 total tackles, DL Daniel Garcar and LB Ross Valenti (two TFLs each), Robinson (1 sack, 1 FF), and Ulshafer (1 sack, 1 FR) led the way.

Next up, John Carroll will host Marietta (1-0) next Friday, Mar. 26 at 7 PM at Don Shula Stadium in University Heights.
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