Week 3: Preview

9/23/2022 12:55:00 PM | By: Ashley McCall, Senior Staff Writer

Evan McVay making a big play in last weeks game against Baldwin Wallace.

General Information
Continuing their home game campaign, the John Carroll Football team will host #19 ranked Heidelberg University on Saturday, September 24 at 1:30 p.m.

The Student Princes drop down one place in the D3football.com rankings after the previous week. The only other OAC school in the top 25 teams is the University of Mount Union coming in at third place.

The Blue Streaks have a lot to play for this weekend as John Carroll University celebrates its Homecoming Weekend, starting with the football game. The community will also commemorate the football teams from the 2000s, including recognizing the 2002 team's induction into the John Carroll Athletics' Hall of Fame during halftime, as this season marks the 100th year of JCU Football. Jim Mitchell '90, former defensive back for the Blue Streaks, is also being inducted this weekend and will be recognized.

Heidelberg enters with an undefeated 3-0 record, while the Blue & Gold hold a 1-1 record following a win at home last Saturday against the Baldwin Wallace University Yellow Jackets for the Cuyahoga Gold Bowl victory.

John Carroll will compete against a seasoned and experienced Heidelberg team. The Student Princes have 10 seniors in their starting offensive line up, with their quarterback being the only non-senior. On the other side of the ball, nine of the defensive starters are seniors or grad students. The Blue Streaks will have to be prepared to compete against one of the most experienced squads they will face all year.

JCU Offense v. BERG Defense
The Blue Streak offense has improved dramatically over the span of the two games. The offensive line went from giving up five sacks and multiple penalties to no penalties and no sacks. Jack Faron, Matt Wrather and Luke Gibbons have responded well after the week and are credited with aiding in the improvement of the O-line.

The strong suit of the JCU offense is the run game. In the game against Baldwin Wallace, the Blue & Gold rushed for 172 yards between five players. Evan McVay led the way with 111 yards on 16 attempts and a touchdown. Demerius Goodwin followed with 48 yards.

The Blue Streaks will have to look out for defensive linebacker, Easton St. Clair, who is acknowledged by the JCU coaches as being one of the best in the league at his position. He is very active in the line up and makes big plays.

JCU Defense v. BERG Offense
Against Baldwin Wallace, the John Carroll defense has responded to the challenge of a strong run game, which they will need to do again in the game against the Student Princes.

Bricker Thiel and Tyler Thimons each had 10 tackles for JCU in the game last week, with Thiel also adding a sack.

Sophomore JonMarcus Roland proved himself in the previous game as he contributed four tackles and a pick-6 where he ran the interception in for a 48-yard touchdown to put JCU up 21-0 in the fourth quarter.

The JCU defense will be faced with one of their biggest challenges offensively during this game as they match up against an experienced and talented Heidelberg offense.

Montavious Yearby leads the run game for the Student Princes. He has a great vision of the field and is tough to bring down.

Two grad students hold down the pass game. Brandon Reed and Dimitri Penick line up in the wide receiver position and add their skills and abilities to the pass game.

Special Teams
Grant Gonya showed off his imposing skills during the victory over Baldwin Wallace, which did not go unnoticed this weekend as Gonya received a spot on D3football.com Team of the Week honors.

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