Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Nick Semptimphelter vs. Marietta on 11-16-24
Jose Figueroa
The Blue Streaks blew by the Pioneers' defense, setting records en route.
35
Marietta MAR 8-2 , 7-2
49
Winner John Carroll JCU 8-2 , 8-1
Marietta MAR
8-2 , 7-2
35
Final
49
John Carroll JCU
8-2 , 8-1
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
MAR Marietta 0 7 7 21 35
JCU John Carroll 14 7 7 21 49

Game Recap: Football | | Jack Stephens, Staff Writer

Blue Streaks Blast Past Marietta in Regular-Season Finale

The Blue Streaks now wait for the NCAA selection show, hoping for an at-large bid to extend the season

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS — In their final regular season game of the 2024 campaign, the John Carroll Blue Streaks sent a message to all of Division III, with a high-scoring 49-35 victory over #22 Marietta Pioneers on Senior Day. 

"It was cool, especially with my Dad's team being honored before the game," fifth year senior wide receiver Tyler Mintz said about being able to get the win at home on Senior Day, while the 1994 OAC Championship team was being recognized. "Hopefully everything works out and we will be a team coming back and getting recognition."

A lot was on the line for both squads as the Blue Streaks looked to clinch their first playoff berth since 2018, in need of help from around the country. For the Pioneers, they were on the hunt for their first-ever bid for the playoff, and their first win over the Blue Streaks in program history. 

The Pioneers' 18th nationally ranked offense got the ball to open the contest as the Blue Streaks won the toss and deferred to the second half. However, the JCU defense made their presence known early, forcing a Marietta three and out. On the ensuing Blue Streaks possession, the Pioneers' conference-best defense created significant pressure, forcing a three and out for JCU on their first drive.

On the second drive for Marietta, quarterback Connor Vierstra found his two favorite targets in Dawson Snyder and Jay Melchiori on the first two plays to get the offense in a rhythm. A nice play from Blue Streak junior safety Lamar Thomas set up third down and four. Vierstra looked the way of Melchiori again, but this time it hit the turf forcing another Pioneer punt. 

Sophomore tailback Quincy Newsom got the ball first for JCU on their next possession, and he hit the lane for a gain of 12. After a 15-yard completion from quarterback Nick Semptimphelter to sophomore Dorian Facen Jr, JCU looked in the direction of Newsom again. The Twinsburg native racked up a rush of six, a catch for seven, and another carry of four yards. After an incompletion on second down, Semptimphelter and Facen linked up again for a gain of seven and a first down inside the 10. Three plays later, Semptimphelter found his favorite receiving threat, Tyren Montgomery, on the left side of the end zone as the Blue Streaks drew first blood in this monster matchup. That touchdown was Montgomery's 14th of the season, tying the Blue Streak single season record, formerly held by Marshall Howell. 

The offensive woes for the Pioneers continued on their next possession, as great plays from juniors Tommy Wasinki and JP Germano on back-to-back plays, set up another Pioneer third down that they could not convert. 

On the first play for the Blue Streaks after the punt, Semptimphelter and Montgomery connected again for a gain of 30 yards. The JCU offensive line started to impose their will, as the Blue Streaks' ground game combined for 29 yards rushing on four straight plays, setting the Blue Streaks up on the nine-yard line. On the final play of the first quarter, Semptimphelter found graduate student tight end Kenneth Rawls with six seconds on the clock in the end zone for another touchdown. Giving the Blue Streaks a 14-0 advantage in the first period. 

"You always want to start fast and we did that today," Head Coach Jeff Behrman '95 commented about the game plan going into this big game. "Last year, we got up 21-0 on these guys and we ended up holding on. We knew they had the ability to score quickly and it was a complete team effort at the start." 

In desperate need of any kind of momentum offensively, Marietta leaned on their senior quarterback Connor Vierstra. The Pioneer signalcaller completed four straight passes for 26 yards, but it was a 20 yard rush from junior Taz Morris that got the Pioneers inside the red zone for the first time. Two plays later, Morris capped off a 11 play drive, hitting pay dirt to make it 14-7 Blue Streaks. 

All Marietta momentum would be wiped away immediately as fifth year senior Tyler Mintz took the ensuing kickoff to the 43-yard line on a gain of 30 yards. The Blue Streaks crossed into Pioneer territory on the first play on a completion from Semptimphelter to Montgomery for 16 yards. After consecutive negative plays for JCU set up a third and 19, Semptimphelter hit Montgomery on two straight plays of 17 and six on fourth down, moving the chains for JCU. On the next play after the conversion, Montgomery created space down the seam, and Semptimphelter found him in the end zone again for another touchdown. The score upped the lead to 21-7 Blue Streaks, and broke the single season touchdown record for the graduate student transfer. 

"It has been a rollercoaster ride filled with adversity so I have just trusted the process," Montgomery said about the impact that this season has had on him. "I have had my moments of doubt, but I put my trust in my teammates, coaches and training."

The Marietta offense continued to find their groove, driving all the way to the John Carroll 40 yard line. But on the first play after the two minute timeout, Vierstra's pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and picked off by sophomore linebacker Tony Tirado, stealing a possession for JCU. 

On the next JCU drive, Semptimphelter completed two passes to Mintz for 10 and 23-yard gains, setting up the Blue Streaks in the red zone again. However, Marietta got a much needed turnover off a one handed interception from senior cornerback Jaelon Quiero-Gordon. Marietta would not attempt to score to end the half, as the Blue Streaks hit the halftime break with a 21-7 lead. 

It was a big first half offensively for the Blue Streaks, out gaining Marietta 227-145 in the first half. Their success was anchored by their quarterback Semptimphelter, who completed 14 of 19 attempts for 170 yards and three touchdowns. Montgomery's streak of 100 yards receiving grew to four as he hauled in seven catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns. It was a relatively slow half on the ground for JCU, but Nemo Jenkins and Newsom combined for 51 yards on eight carries between the two running backs. 

Connor Vierstra completed 13-of-17 passes for 83 yards. The interception from Tirado late in the second quarter was only the senior's fifth interception of the year. Their rushing offense, which was ranked 31st nationally coming into the game, was held to just 62 yards in the first half. 

Jenkins lit up the JCU home crowd at Don Shula Stadium with a rush of 15 yards on the opening play of the second half. Three plays later, with the Blue Streaks faced with a fourth down and one, senior Evan McVay received the snap out of the wildcat formation, and got just enough to move the chains. The next play, Montgomery collected his eighth reception of the afternoon for 23 yards. Two plays later, Semptimphelter hit a wide open Rawls for his second receiving touchdown of the game, making it 28-7 Blue Streaks. 

Marietta opened their next drive with completions of 13 and 16 yards. Vierstra really started to settle into the contest, as he stood in the pocket and found Snyder down the seam for a gain of 32 yards. After a defensive pass interference penalty on the Blue Streaks set up the Pioneers on the two yard line, Morris crossed the goal line for the second time, cutting the deficit back to 14. 

The JCU offense continued where they left off on their last possession, with chunk running plays, opening up big passes. After a couple carries from McVay, Semptimphelter extended the play and hit Montgomery for 15 yards. Carries of 10 and five from McVay and another catch from Montgomery, ended the third second quarter with a 28-14 Blue Streak advantage. 

The Blue Streaks opened the quarter with an incomplete pass, but a roughing the passer penalty on Marietta, moved the chains for JCU and set them up on the seven yard line. Then, Semptimphelter found senior tight end Jon Tomcufcik on back-to-back plays, the second catch being for six, his first touchdown of the year. That touchdown regained the Blue Streaks 21 point lead, making it 35-14. 

John Carroll's defense made a big statement on the next Marietta possession, as freshman cornerback Dylan Crasi broke up two straight passes, forcing another Pioneer punt. 

After a short kick from the Pioneers, the Blue Streaks aerial assault did not let up. Semptimphelter's big day continued as he completed four straight passes on the next JCU drive, capped off with a nine yard completion to Mintz, his first receiving score of the year, making it 42-14 Blue Streaks over the #22 team in the country. That touchdown was the Bucknell transfer's sixth of the game, tying a John Carroll single game record for passing touchdowns. 

"I think that was the first time we both had touchdowns since our senior year of high school," Mintz stated about him and his former high school quarterback Tomcufcik both having receiving touchdowns. "I have known Jonny (Tomcufcik) since we were five years old, so it was definitely cool."

Marietta, moving in the hurry up down by four possessions, started to get big chunk plays through the air. A completion of 14 yards and a pass interference call put the Pioneers well into JCU territory midway through the fourth. A sack from graduate student Tyler Thimons and sophomore Ivory Travers put the Marietta offensive momentum to a halt. Two straight completions of 10 yards set up the Pioneers inside the red zone. After another pass interference and an encroachment penalty on JCU, the Pioneers finally punched it in courtesy of a rush from Vante' Hodges from two yards out. 

The Pioneers would attempt an onside kick, but they would kick it to the wrong guy, as Montgomery recovered it and hit the turf, securing possession for the Blue Streaks. On their second play of the drive, offensive coordinator Travis James drew up an end-around rush for Montgomery, the graduate student turned the corner and took it the distance for a 63-yard touchdown.

"I just wanted to thank my coaches and teammates for believing in me all season long," the transfer wide receiver said after his tremendous performance. "I don't really have a favorite touchdown this season, I like them all."

Marietta continued to stay alive in the contest, as a heavy dose of passes from Viestra drove the down the field. The senior racked up 52 passing yards, finishing with a completion to senior wideout Evan Gandee for six. 

After recovering another onside kick from Marietta, the JCU offense put the game into the hands of McVay. But the offense would not get a first down, and some timeouts from the Pioneers gave them the football back with just under three minutes left. 

The Pioneers did not go down without a fight, driving down the field at will down the stretch of the contest, as Viestra continued to hit his stride through the air. John Carroll was caught on their heels for a large portion of the fourth quarter, until junior Ben Day brought down Viestra for his fifth sack of the season. After another defensive pass interference penalty on JCU, Viestra hit Snyder on a screen pass, and the senior reached across the goal line for another Pioneer touchdown, with just over a minute left in the game. 

Marietta's comeback bid would be put to bed, as senior Mason Bala recovered the third onside kick attempt from the Pioneers. Semptimphelter would take two knees, sealing the big victory for the Blue Streaks. 

It was the Semptimphelter show all afternoon, as the graduate student completed 27-of-32 passes for 288 yards and a season-high six touchdown passes. His season-long 76.38% completion rate is currently tops in program history and his 32 touchdown passes rank him second now in program history, passing Tom Arth (31 in 2000), Anthony Moeglin (29 in 2016), and Mark Myers (28 in 2013). 

Montgomery also had a career game totalling 203 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. Beyond the TD record, he's now fifth in a single-season in program history with 988 receiving yards.

The Blue Streaks as an offensive unit tallied 470 total yards, with 182 on the ground and 288 through the air, the most given up by the Pioneers this season, who came into this contest ranked seventh nationally in total defense. 

"They have a great offense and we knew going in that it would be a dog fight," Semptimphelter stated about what the JCU offense needed to do to take care of business at home. "We focused on controlling what we could control on offense and our defense played great, that's how we got the win."

Defensively, Crasi racked up a team high eight total tackles and multiple pass break ups, leading the Blue Streak secondary. Thimons also had a big day in his final regular-season game, with seven total tackles and two tackles for loss. 

The Blue Streaks await their fate in the NCAA Playoffs, tune in tomorrow afternoon at 5 pm for the selection show on NCAA.com to see if JCU gets an opportunity to compete for a national championship.

"They did their job, and their job was to win today," Behrman said after the victory. "That was all they could control, it now comes down to computer rankings and who won and who lost. They have done everything they need to do and we will await the call at 5 o'clock tomorrow."

Postgame press conference
Print Friendly Version

Sponsors