Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Nick Costanzo, Ben Grafton, Bricker Thiel, Thomas Faron
Ben Peskar
JCU tallied 9 sacks (tied for second most in a game all-time) and rolled up 530 yards. 
10
Capital CAP 0-7 , 0-6
42
Winner John Carroll JCU 6-1 , 6-0
Capital CAP
0-7 , 0-6
10
Final
42
John Carroll JCU
6-1 , 6-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
CAP Capital 3 0 7 0 10
JCU John Carroll 21 14 0 7 42

Game Recap: Football | | Maddie Maselko, JCU SID Intern

Sack Party: Excellent Defense and Big Play Offense Paves Path for Win over Capital

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS -- The weather in University Heights was warm for a late-October game, but the John Carroll Football team was hotter in their game against Capital.

The Blue Streaks beat the Comets in a dominating performance, winning 42-10.

"Anytime you go and get an OAC win, it's an awesome win," Interim Head Coach Drew Nystrom said. "I'm really proud of the guys and the way we executed in the first half."

After a kick out of bounds by Capital, the John Carroll offense took the field at the 35-yard line to start the game. On a third and 13, Joe Collins found Brennan Fugh wide open in the middle for a 53-yard touchdown, setting up a strong start for the Blue Streak offense with a 7-0 score.

A three-and-out by the Comets on their opening possession forced them to punt from their own 30-yard line. A fumble by the Blue Streaks gave Capital the ball at the John Carroll 36-yard line. A costly defensive pass interference placed the Comets at the two-yard line, but the Blue Streak defense held them to a field goal, making the score 7-3.

Collins and Fugh continued to be a dynamic duo on the field, scoring a 63-yard touchdown on their next possession once again up the middle.

Another three-and-out by the Comets set John Carroll up at their own 30-yard line. The Blue and Gold were unfazed, though, as Collins found Evan McVay for a 70-yard touchdown to cap off the scoring in the first quarter at 21-3.

After an unproductive drive by Capital, a short punt by the Comets gave the Blue Streaks the ball at the Capital 29-yard line. Evan McVay drove the offense to the end zone with four rushing plays for a 39-yard drive to the end zone to extend the Blue Streak lead to 28-3.

A 42-yard punt by Capital put the Blue Streaks on their own 11-yard line with only 1:37 left in the half. Not even time could stop the John Carroll offense, driving down the field with passes to Fugh and McVay before a catch by Tyler Mintz tallied another touchdown to make the score 35-3 to end the first half.

The Blue Streak defense clamped down on the Comets' offense in the first half, holding them to only 64 yards. Griffin Lidyard sacked the Capital quarterback, and Tyler Thimons earned one of his own in the first half.

"They came out and played really, really well," Nystrom said about the defense. "Those guys fly around and make big plays all the time. I think what makes our defense special is they want to be coached hard, and they want to execute."

The Comets started with the ball in the second half. Something clicked with the Comets' offensive to give them their first touchdown of the game on a one-yard run to narrow the score to 35-10.

In his first punt of the game, Grant Gonya kicked a 50-yard punt to put the Comets on the Capital 1-yard line with 5:56 left in the third quarter. The Comets were driving, but a sack by Jahiem Peake was key in stopping the drive at the end of the third quarter.

The scoring stalled in the fourth quarter until 1:45 when the Blue Streaks were driving and scored on a five-yard rush by McVay to lock up a 42-10 game.

Collins finished the day 17 of 22 for 342 yards and four touchdowns, with a career-long 70-yard pass to McVay and a career-high in passing yards. Fugh was the receiving leader of the day with 176 yards in eight receptions and two touchdowns.

Nick Costanzo, Lidyard, and Thimons led the Blue Streak defense with nine tackles apiece. Constanzo led the team with two and a half sacks, which is a career-high for the graduate student.

"It's a result of the guys I have around me," Constanzo said. "Fortunately, I was in a position to make some plays, but it's all a result of everybody else doing their thing around me."

The team effort in getting today's win was important as they look to continue to improve ahead of next week's game.

"There's a lot to celebrate from this win, but I think we're going to turn on the film tomorrow and get a chance to see there's a lot of things we need to improve to continue to move forward to have success against a tough Muskingum team," Nystrom said.

The Blue Streaks will head to New Concord, Ohio to play Muskingum next Saturday the 29 at 1:30 pm, looking to remain undefeated in OAC play.
Print Friendly Version

Sponsors