Football Vs Otterbein defensive action shot

Peter Wangechi

Week 10 Football Preview: Blue Streaks Host #22 Marietta with Playoff Implications

11/15/2024 2:17:00 PM | By: Jack Stephens, Staff Writer

The winner of Saturday's game could get an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Playoffs

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS — In their final matchup of the season, the John Carroll Blue Streaks play host to #22 Marietta Pioneers, with a potential trip to the NCAA Playoffs on the line. This game will also be Senior Day, Faculty Appreciation, and the 1994 OAC Champions will be honored.

It was a total team effort for the Blue Streaks on Saturday, winning their seventh straight game in a 56-0 drubbing of the Otterbein Cardinals. It was a game that saw JCU outgain Otterbein by over 300 yards, 433-107, as the Blue Streaks only gave up -7 yards rushing.

For the Pioneers, they took the #3 Mount Union Purple Raiders to the brink of their first regular-season defeat since 2016. But an incredible catch in the final seconds propelled the Purple Raiders to their ninth win of the year, sealing another OAC championship, and giving Marietta their first loss of the 2024 campaign.

Despite the losses for both squads this season, this game sets up the biggest matchup in the history of this series. This matchup has been dominated by the Blue Streaks since the start in 1929. John Carroll currently sits undefeated against Marietta, winning 35 of the 36 matchups with one tie in 1995. Marietta has gotten close to finally snagging that first win, as three of the last six matchups have been within one possession. But the Pioneers are still on the hunt to take down the Blue Streaks for the first time.

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The Offenses

JCU

The John Carroll offense has been on a rampage ever since they dropped their first two games. Recently, a lot of the damage they have done has been in the first half. JCU averaged nearly 40 points in the first half against Wilmington, Ohio Northern and Otterbein. It has been harped on every week, but a big reason for this has been the passing game of JCU, anchored by quarterback Nick Semptimphelter. The Bucknell transfer continues to lead the conference in passing yards per game (259.3), touchdowns (26) and a completion percentage (75.2%). Semptimphelter's staggering completion percentage sits third in the entire country. His 26 touchdown passes are tied for fifth most in a single season in JCU history with Tom Arth (2002) and Joe Collins (2022).

Consistently, Semptimphelter has looked in the direction of his fellow transfer, Tyren Montgomery, and he has put up some crazy numbers in the last few weeks. In his last three games, the Nicholls State transfer has combined for 17 catches for 411 yards and eight touchdowns. On the season, Montgomery has 843 receiving yards and a conference best 13 touchdowns receptions, sitting only one touchdown away from tying the John Carroll program record held by Marshall Howell (2014). Other weapons on the outside include fifth year senior Tyler Mintz and sophomore Dorian Facen Jr, who have combined for 747 yards and four touchdowns between the two of them.

It has been a three running back situation for Head Coach Jeff Behrman '95 all season long, but all three have been efficient and very productive. Wilmington transfer Nemo Jenkins currently holds the team lead in rushing yards with 488, averaging nearly seven yards per carry. In fact, his 6.8 yards per carry is currently tied for third best in a season in program history. Senior Evan McVay has been a dual threat tailback all season long. Last week, the Aurora product tallied 112 total yards and three touchdowns. On the season, McVay has racked up 638 all-purpose yards, which sits second on the team, behind only Montgomery. The final piece to the puzzle is sophomore Quincy Newsom, who has 338 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the year. That includes a four touchdown performance against Capital.

The Blue Streaks will have their hands full against one of the best defenses in the country, and they will need to score early and often in order to pull off one of the biggest wins in program history.

Marietta

One of the top reasons that Marietta is off to one of its best starts in program history has been the dominance of the Pioneer offense all season long. Averaging over 44 points per game on the season, they will lean on their offense in order to get their first win in program history over the Blue Streaks.

A lot of their success can be pointed to the excellent play of their senior quarterback Connor Viestra. The Lakewood product has completed 68.9% of his passes for 2,096 yards and 22 touchdowns. The veteran, who holds all Marietta passing records, ranks 33rd in Division III in passing offense and third in the conference in yards per completion. Last week, against a terrific Purple Raider defense, Viestra completed 26-of-38 attempts for 266 yards and two touchdowns and one score on the ground.

The real catalysts of the Pioneer offense have been their running back duo of Taz Morris and Vante' Hodges. Each has exceeded 600 yards rushing, with 14 combined touchdowns between them. Morris gets a bulk of the load, racking up 109 carries for 630 yards. Hodges has also been exceptional all year, averaging eight yards per carry on 77 attempts. The junior from Mississippi also had a game earlier in the year against Capital in which he ran for 210 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries. The Blue Streaks will need to shut down this duo because they can wreck a game instantly with their big play ability.

Like the Blue Streaks, Marietta also has a receiving that has been terrorizing defenses all season long. Senior Dawson Snyder sits third in the OAC with 820 receiving yards on 68 receptions, and only sits behind Montgomery in touchdowns with 10. Last week, Snyder had a career performance, racking up a season high 12 catches for 103 yards and a touchdown. Junior Jay Melchiori has also been very effective for Head Coach Andy Waddle with 671 yards receiving on 39 catches and five touchdowns.

A balanced offensive attack from the Pioneers poses a real threat to ending the Blue Streaks seven game win streak.

The Defenses

JCU

The Blue Streaks defense has been up and down all year long, but lately they have found their stride and became one of the best units in the country. Sitting 65th nationally and third in the OAC in total defense, JCU has only allowed under 10 points per game in their seven game win streak, since dropping their first two.

The captain of the defense has been graduate student linebacker Tyler Thimons, who has been flying around the field all year long. The Bethel Park grad has tallied a team high of 64 total tackles and three and a half tackles for loss. His 249 total tackles over the course of his five year career, puts him solidly 10th all time in career tackles.

On the defensive line, Joe Thimons and Ben Day have been wreaking havoc in the backfield all season. The duo have combined for nine sacks and 15 tackles for loss in their nine games. Day has also totalled four pass breakups and four quarterback hits. Sophomore linebacker Tony Tirado has also made a big jump in his first season of consistent action with 33 total tackles, six and a half tackles for loss and three sacks.

In the secondary, freshman Dylan Crasi has been very impressive in his debut year at cornerback. The Aurora product is tied with Jacob Hufnagel with two picks with 21 total tackles and a forced fumble and fumble recovery. At safety, JP Germano and Lamar Thomas have both been very solid. In the way of this balanced JCU defense is a Marietta offense that has been lethal all year, so they are going to need their "A" game in order to finish 8-2.

Marietta

Much like their offense, Marietta's defense has dominated every opponent they've seen this season, boasting one shutout and five games where they gave up less than 10 points. The Pioneers as a unit sit seventh in the entire country in total defense.

Marietta has the potential OAC Paul Hoernemann Award candidate in defensive end Chance Knight. The senior from Bridgeport, Ohio has a conference-best 12 sacks and 16 tackles for loss. Knight also has an interception, four quarterback hits, a forced fumble and a safety. The Linsly School product has wrecked games all season long, and looks to cap off his senior year with another impressive performance against the Blue Streaks.

Their success has been anchored by junior linebacker Harley Hopkins. The Zanesville product sits tied for third in the entire OAC with 77 total tackles, good for 70th in the country. Hopkins also has 11 tackles for loss, five and a half sacks, a pass break up and two quarterback hits.

The secondary of the Pioneers is built through defensive backs Tanner Bills, Brady Panucci and Sal Laure. The trio has combined for 99 total tackles and six interceptions, and also led the Pioneers as one of the league's best passing defenses. The secondary also sits 16th nationally in passes intercepted and passing yards allowed. They will need to shut down this elite JCU passing attack with a ton of weapons to reach nine wins for the first time in program history.

This matchup in University Heights is shaping up to be an instant classic between two teams on the hunt for a postseason berth. With their destiny not within their own hands, all both teams can control is winning the game on Saturday, which should set up a tremendous football game Saturday afternoon.

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