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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
24
Winner John Carroll JCU 5-1
7
Ohio Northern ONU 1-5
Winner
John Carroll JCU
5-1
24
Final
7
Ohio Northern ONU
1-5
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
JCU John Carroll 7 10 7 0 24
ONU Ohio Northern 0 7 0 0 7
Jahiem Peake
Monica McKie
The Blue Streaks move to 5-0 in OAC play for the first time since 2016. 

Game Recap: Football | | Joe Ginley '16, SID

Defense Dominates, Providing 5 Turnovers to Power JCU Football to Victory

ADA, Ohio -- With every test in conference play so far, the Blue Streaks have passed with flying colors.

Playing in the always-tough Dial-Roberson Stadium, John Carroll Football fought past the Ohio Northern Polar Bears, 24-7.

Jeff Long Jr.'s defense produced five turnovers and the men of Matt Baker put enough points on the board to get the job done. 

In typical fashion, John Carroll won the toss and elected to receive. This week, though, the Blue Streaks couldn't get on the board early. But the defense set the tone on its very first play on the field, as Bricker Thiel recovered an ONU fumble at the Polar Bear 29-yard line. 

The JCU Offense couldn't capitalize, though, as a fumble gave the ball back to the hosts at the ONU 5-yard line. Following one first down, the Polar Bears' offense stalled. JCU's offense also punted shortly after getting the ball on its next drive.

But some magic happened on special teams. JCU forced a fumble on the punt return, and Will Ehrbar hopped on the ball at the ONU 14. This time, the Blue Streaks did not waste the opportunity to strike. On the third play of the drive, Joe Collins connected with Joe Torok for a 10-yard touchdown. Yanni Volas hit the extra point for the 7-0 JCU lead with 5:21 left in the first.

Ohio Northern's next drive resulted in another fumble, as the Blue Streaks kept cooking on defense. Jahiem Peake knocked the ball loose and Chris Golson secured it at the JCU 31-yard line. 

The Blue Streaks' following drive stretched into the second quarter. Mason Sullivan capped off the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run, finishing off the 12-play, 69-yard push down the field that took advantage of the turnover and pushed the lead to 14-0. 

After the Blue Streaks held firm on defense yet again, the JCU Offense burned some time off the clock with a 10-play drive. Volas converted a 36-yarder to push the lead to three possessions at 17-0, with 8:07 left in the quarter. 

The Polar Bears managed to bust down the door on the next drive, but it wasn't easy. ONU needed 16 plays and 7:49 to march 75 yards for a score. A 1-yard ONU touchdown rush slimmed the deficit to 17-7 at half. 

In the opening drive of the third quarter, ONU found its way into JCU territory, but John Carroll held firm on defense. After a JCU three-and-out, the defense got the ball back yet again. Bricker Thiel forced the fumble and JonMarcus Roland jumped on the ball at the ONU 37. 

Three plays later, Mason Sullivan punched it in for his second score of the game. His TD proved to be the final blow in a defensive affair, stretching the margin to 24-7, which would be much more than JCU needed. 

While ONU did outgain JCU on the ground, 105-88, Collins got enough done through the air to make things happen with a 20-for-31 day for 181 yards. Meanwhile, the Polar Bears' signalcallers combined to go 15-of-28 for 90 yards. Torok anchored JCU's receiving core with 7 catches for 57 yards. 

The four fumbles recovered are tied for the most in a game with three other games (vs. Muskingum; Nov 01, 2014; vs. Capital; Oct 18, 2008; vs. Baldwin-Wallace; Sep 19, 2009). 

Tyler Thimons led the defense with 8 tackles, followed closely by JonMarcus Roland with 7. Bricker Thiel was an absolute menace with 7 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery.

The Blue Streaks move to 5-1 on the year overall, and 5-0 in OAC play for the first time since 2016.

John Carroll will look to keep the good times rolling next Saturday, hosting Capital at Don Shula Stadium on October 22. 
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Scoring Summary

Scoring Summary
Scoring Play Visiting Team Score Home Team Score
1st Quarter JCU ONU
JCU
05:21 - JCU - Joe Torok 10 yd pass from Joe Collins (Yanni Volas kick) 3 plays, 14 yards, TOP 0:57
7 0
2nd Quarter JCU ONU
JCU
12:50 - JCU - Mason Sullivan 4 yd run (Yanni Volas kick), 12 plays, 69 yards, TOP 5:27
14 0
JCU
08:07 - JCU - Yanni Volas 36 yd field goal 10 plays, 38 yards, TOP 3:51
17 0
ONU
00:18 - ONU - Adan Figueroa 1 yd run (Dom DiFalco kick), 16 plays, 75 yards, TOP 7:49
17 7
3rd Quarter JCU ONU
JCU
08:46 - JCU - Mason Sullivan 1 yd run (Yanni Volas kick), 3 plays, 37 yards, TOP 1:28
24 7

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