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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Josh McLean (pictured here in last year's game vs. W&J) led the Blue Streaks in tackles. 
Josh McLean (pictured here in last year's game vs. W&J) led the Blue Streaks in tackles. 
26
JOHN CARROLL JCU 0-1
35
Winner W&J WJCFB 1-0
JOHN CARROLL JCU
0-1
26
Final
35
W&J WJCFB
1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
JCU JOHN CARROLL 7 0 7 12 26
WJCFB W&J 7 14 7 7 35

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

Turnovers Topple Blue Streaks in Season Opener for Team 100

WASHINGTON, Pa. – The first game of John Carroll Football's 100th season ended in defeat on Saturday afternoon. 

The Blue Streaks experienced difficulties with turnovers on offense, as four turnovers sunk John Carroll in a non-conference road loss to Washington & Jefferson, 35-26. 

John Carroll now starts 0-1 for the second straight year, as Washington & Jefferson also downed the Blue Streaks last season at Don Shula Stadium.

John Carroll's defense played a great bend-but-don't break style overall, twice stopping the Presidents on fourth down deep in JCU territory and once recovering a W&J fumble. On three of the four touchdowns that the JCU defense allowed, W&J started from within the 50-yard line. 

The Blue Streaks actually did outgain the Presidents for the day, 431-426, as John Carroll enjoyed a wide margin in the ground game, 140-67. 

The Presidents started off hot on offense. Washington & Jefferson fired down to the JCU 36-yard line on the opening drive of the game, but then the Blue Streaks' defense stiffened to force a punt. 

On John Carroll's opening offensive drive, the Blue Streaks tossed an interception, giving W&J the ball at the JCU 46-yard line. The Presidents fired down the field, setting up a first and goal from the 10-yard line. But the JCU defense stood firm, keeping the Presidents out of the end zone on 4th and Goal from the 2-yard line. 

Stuck deep inside their own territory, the Blue Streaks had to punt after a quick possession. With the ball on the JCU side of the field, the Presidents took advantage of the nice field position. The hosts used a mix of runs and passes to get in position for the first score of the game, which was a 1-yard TD run. 

The Blue Streaks turned to the run game in the ensuing drive. John Carroll responded with a strong drive, as Demerius Goodwin and Evan McVay carried the mail for the Blue Streaks. A Joe Collins sneak on 4th and 1 set up a McVay 1-yard touchdown run for the first points of the 2022 season. Grant Gonya converted the PAT for a 7-7 tie.

The score stood deadlocked entering the second quarter.

Despite some strong, physical plays by the John Carroll defense, a resilient Presidents' offense trekked down the gridiron at the start of the second half. The Presidents broke through with a 22-yard touchdown pass with 11:08 on the clock to move ahead, 14-7.

The Presidents' defense then provided a huge play. John Carroll tossed a pick-six, charging 49 yards to paydirt to fire ahead, 21-7, at the 9:21 mark of the second quarter. 

JCU's offense continued to scuffle on its next drive, with a quick three-and-out. The Presidents slowly traversed down the field from their own 8-yard line down to the JCU 21. But on 4th and 2, the Presidents again elected to press their luck. Once again, the men of Jeff Long Jr. stood strong and turned aside Washington & Jefferson with 3:35 left in the half. 

John Carroll got the passing offense going in response, as Collins found Joe Torok for completions of 23, 13, and 10 to get to the W&J red zone with 45 seconds left. The JCU offense stalled, however, and tried a 36-yard field goal with time expiring. The attempt sailed wide left, so the Blue Streaks trailed entering the break. 

The Presidents enjoyed a significant air advantage in the first half, outgaining the Blue Streaks through the air, 223-56. Conversely, the Blue Streaks looked to be the superior rushing team with a 121-39 advantage there. 

The Blue Streaks came out of the gates with the ball in the second half, but couldn't get much traction. With good field position, the Presidents jaunted down the field quickly on a 5-play, 50-yard drive concluding with a 2-yard rushing touchdown. So with 9:07 left in the third, the Blue Streaks trailed, 28-7. 

Down by 21 points, the Blue Streaks revved up the offense. Collins found success through the air when he needed to. The senior soared a 45-yard touchdown strike to Tyler Mintz to pull John Carroll within 14 points.

Now, it was the JCU defense's turn to step to the fore. Josh McLean forced a President fumble, and Griffin Lidyard was there to scoop it up. As the third quarter ended, John Carroll held all the momentum. 

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Collins completed a ball to McVay to get into the red zone. One play later, Collins laced a pass to Tadas Tatarunas between two defenders for a wonderful 18-yard touchdown. The extra point was no good, but John Carroll was within a score, 28-20. 

The Presidents threatened on their next drive, but the Blue Streaks' defense once again refused to break, stopping W&J short deep in JCU territory. But just when all looked to be going the Blue Streaks' way, a crucial fumble by the JCU offense at their own 21-yard line ripped away all happy feelings.

Four plays later, W&J fired home an 8-yard passing touchdown, pushing ahead now by two scores, 35-20.

With 9:08 left in the fourth, the Blue Streaks again were bit by the turnover bug. A fourth-down interception at the W&J 24-yard line negated a 56-yard Mintz kickoff return. Thankfully, the hard-nosed JCU defense proved clutch, forcing a punt and giving Collins & Co. another shot. 

The Blue Streaks did respond with a score. Collins connected with Brennan Fugh for a 14-yard TD strike to the right corner of the end zone. However, the ensuing 2-point conversion went for naught, keeping JCU behind by multiple scores at 35-26. JCU tried an onside kick, which was unsuccessful, and the comeback ended. 

Collins finished 19-of-36 passing for 291 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Joe Torok led the way with 5 receptions for 78 yards, while Tyler Mintz was close behind with 3 catches for 75 yards and a score. Tatarunas and Fugh hauled in the other touchdowns. Evan McVay led the ground game with 12 attempts for 86 yards and a score. Demerius Goodwin compiled 13 carries for 57 yards. 

On defense, Josh McLean stood as JCU's leading tackler with 9 stops and 1 tackle for loss. Kiefer Askew debuted with 8 tackles. Tyler Thimons was all over the field with 7 tackles, including 2 tackles for loss. Chris Golson and Jahiem Peake also tallied tackles for loss.

The Blue Streaks will now hit the reset button, as another tough test awaits. John Carroll will host Baldwin Wallace on Saturday, September 17 for the Cuyahoga Gold Bowl after enjoying a bye week next Saturday. 
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