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Sam Herr

Blue Streaks Bound for NCAA Division III Football Playoffs, Set to Host

| By: Joe Ginley '16, SID

JCU Football will make its first appearance in the football tournament since 2018

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – For the first time since 2018, John Carroll Football is headed to the playoffs. The Blue Streaks wrapped up the regular season in impressive fashion on Saturday afternoon, dominating Marietta College, 49-35.

Even with the dominant win over the #22 Pioneers, it was a close call. With the expansion of the playoffs this year to 40 teams, the Blue Streaks snuck in as the final at-large bid (aka Pool C) via the new ratings system, the NCAA Power Index (NPI).

John Carroll will host Mount St. Joseph in the First Round of the 2024 NCAA Division III Playoffs this Saturday at 12 pm at Don Shula Stadium. The winner of JCU vs. Mount St. Joseph will head to the University of Mount Union in the Second Round. 

This appearance marks the eighth in program history for the Blue Streaks, and the first under Head Coach Jeff Behrman '95. John Carroll owns a record of 9-7 in NCAA Tournament games. JCU's previous appearances were in 1989, 1997, 2002, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2018.

The ticket to the postseason follows a record-setting regular-season finale. Tyren Montgomery set the school's single-season record for receiving touchdowns in a season with 15, surpassing Marshall Howell's mark of 14 in 2014. Nick Semptimphelter tied the program mark for passing touchdowns in a game with six, all the more impressive considering Marietta had not allowed a quarterback to throw for two touchdowns in a game before Saturday.

John Carroll's defense also provided key stops on Saturday, and has been very solid this year. The Blue Streaks allow just 18.7 points per game this year. JCU has gotten contributions across the board down the stretch. 

John Carroll, ranked #24 in the latest D3football.com poll, has never faced Mount St. Joseph in program history. Mount St. Joseph University is a private, Roman Catholic university in Delhi, Ohio (outside of Cincinnati). 

The Mount St. Joseph Lions notched an 8-2 record in the regular season. The Lions tabbed an 6-0 record to secure their third consecutive Heartland Collegiate Atheltic Conference Championship, and third straight spot in the NCAA DIII Playoffs. 

This will mark the sixth time that Wasmer Field has seen an NCAA playoff football game. John Carroll last hosted in 2018. The Blue Streaks have a 3-2 record in home NCAA playoff games.

Full Bracket

Ticket information and much more to follow later this week. 
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