NCAA First Round Preview: Blue Streaks Start Playoff Journey vs. MSJ at Home

JCU will host an NCAA Tournament game for the first time since 2018

Football 11/21/2024 3:47:00 PM Jack Stephens, Staff Writer

NCAA First Round Preview: Blue Streaks Start Playoff Journey vs. MSJ at Home

JCU will host an NCAA Tournament game for the first time since 2018

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS — The John Carroll Blue Streaks are set to host the Mount St. Joseph Lions in the First Round of the NCAA Playoffs on Saturday, November 23 at 12 pm.

This is the first meeting between the two programs in their history. John Carroll, coming off of an 0-2 start to the year, has rattled off eight consecutive victories, including a 49-35 drubbing over the formerly #22 Marietta Pioneers. The Lions also had a similar start to the season. The Lions would split their first 4 games, and then win six straight to close the year, winning the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championship for the third consecutive season.

The two teams do have a common opponent in the Muskingum Muskies. MSJ fell to the Muskies at home in their first game of the season, 42-35. JCU defeated Muskingum to even their record at 2-2, with a 35-10 win in New Concord on October 5.

JCU is ranked #24 in the latest D3football.com poll and hosting its first playoff game at Don Shula Stadium since 2018, a game that saw the Blue Streaks lose 23-20 to Randolph-Macon. Last year, the Lions made the playoffs and lost to Wheaton College, 41-34.

Be sure to get your tickets in advance at the link below, as no passes will be accepted. Students will be admitted free with a JCU ID courtesy of U Club. Students, be sure to stop outside of Hamlin/Campion before the game for free cookies, pizza, hot chocolate, rally towels, and more. The Gridiron Club and parent tailgates will also be on South Belvoir before the game.

Game Notes
Gameday Program
Tickets
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The Offenses

John Carroll

The JCU Offense has been hitting on all cylinders since dropping the first two games, and this all came to a head in their last regular season contest against Marietta. The Blue Streaks scored 49 points and tallied 470 yards of total offense against the Pioneer defense, who came into the game ranked seventh in the country in total defense.

The Blue Streaks offense has been anchored by graduate student quarterback Nick Semptimphelter, who is having a season for the ages. The Bucknell transfer has completed a program-best 76.38% of his passes for 2,622 yards (8th in program history) and 32 touchdowns (2nd in program history). Last week, Semptimphelter threw for 288 yards and six touchdowns, which was tied for a program record for touchdown passes in a game. Semptimphelter also leads the OAC in every major category.

Another record-breaking season has come from Semptimphelter's favorite target, Tyren Montgomery. The Nicholls State transfer has been on a tear lately, recording at least 100 receiving yards in each of his last four games, hauling in 10 touchdown receptions in those four weeks. Last week, the Woodlands, Texas native had a season-high 10 receptions for 145 yards and two touchdowns. His two scores broke the single season record for touchdown receptions in a season with 15, the previous mark held by Marshall Howell. The graduate student also had a late carry for 63 yards and a touchdown to seal the Blue Streaks' victory.

Like it has been all year long, it was a group effort for John Carroll on the ground with three different tailbacks getting significant playing time. Senior Evan McVay got the bulk of the carries a week ago with 12 totes for 48 yards. The Aurora product has proven to be a dual threat back for the Blue Streaks this season, racking up 698 all purpose yards and 10 total touchdowns. Wilmington transfer Nemo Jenkins leads the team with 492 rushing yards and five touchdowns, averaging 6.7 yards per carry. Rounding out the running back trio is sophomore Quincy Newsom. The Twinsburg native has scored seven touchdowns in his last five games with a four touchdown performance coming against Capital on October 12th.

Averaging 46.5 points per game in their 8-game winning streak, the John Carroll offense will look to guide the Blue Streaks to their first playoff victory since 2016.

Mount St. Joseph

The Mount St. Joseph Lions possess one of the nations best offenses, which is led by their passing offense that ranks fifth in the country with 325.5 passing yards per game. Senior quarterback Tyler Prather has been at the helm for the Lions, leading the HCAC in passing yards and ranking second in touchdowns. Prather has totalled 2,876 yards and 28 touchdowns with a 60.27% completion rate. The Cincinnati native has eclipsed 300 yards passing in five games this season with two games reaching over 400 yards.

His top weapon has been freshman wide receiver Eli Aston, who is having a historic season in his first campaign with the Lions. The Cincinnati native has scored a touchdown in each of the last seven games, tallying 13 touchdown receptions over the course of the season. Aston has hauled in 60 catches for 1,262 yards, averaging over 21 yards per reception, good for fourth best in the country in receiving yards.

The bellcow back is senior Jackson Gifford, who is coming off one of his best performances of the season. Last week against Rose-Hulman, he rushed for 130 yards on 23 carries and hit paydirt three times. Gifford sits third in the conference in rushing with 831 yards on the year, and stands second in touchdowns with 16. The Lions will need their high powered offense that sits inside the top 10 in the country to keep pace with the Blue Streaks in order to pull off the upset on the road.

The Defenses

John Carroll

Similar to the offense, a big reason for the Blue Streaks eight game winning streak has been the success of their defense that has been clicking as of late. Graduate student linebacker Tyler Thimons has been the captain of the unit, racking up a team high 71 total tackles on the year. The Bethel Park product had a big day against the Pioneers, tallying 6 solo tackles, 2 tackles for loss and his first sack of the season. Another breakout star in the front seven has been sophomore Tony Tirado. The Chicago native has been a big play waiting to happen all year, racking up 6.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. Tirado was wreaking havoc on the quarterback against Marietta, recording his first career interception.

On the defensive line, the duo of juniors Ben Day and Joe Thimons have been getting to the quarterback at a tremendous rate. The two have combined for 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. Day has also hit the quarterback 4 times and totalled 4 pass breakups. In the middle of the D-line has been junior Tommy Wasinski, who has been doing it all for defensive coordinator Alex Gray. "Big Waz" has registered 26 total tackles, 2 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, and interception and 2 quarterback hits.

In a secondary that has been riddled with injuries this year, JCU has turned to some young guys and they have produced, namely freshman cornerback Dylan Crasi. The Aurora product has been a lockdown corner all year long tallying 2 interceptions and 29 total tackles on the year. Last week, Crasi made some big pass breakups down the stretch to force Marietta punts, snuffing out any chance of a comeback for the Pioneers. The leader of that secondary has been junior safety Lamar Thomas. The Buffalo, New York native has been flying from sideline-to-sideline from his safety position recording 40 total tackles and 8 pass breakups on the season. Wideout turned safety JP Germano plus corner Kevin Doyle have also been great. The JCU defense may have their hands full against a red-hot Lions offense, so they will need to have a big game as a unit to get the victory.

Mount St. Joseph

It has been an up-and-down year defensively for Mount St. Joseph, but they have done enough as of late to compliment their elite offense. However, they have gotten some big plays from sophomore linebacker Luke Paff over the last few games. The Elder product has a team-high 6 interceptions, all of them in the last 4 games. Paff also sits third on the team in total tackles with 42 and has also recorded 5 pass breakups and a forced fumble. Alongside Paff in their linebacking core is graduate student Evan Schlensker, who leads the team with 59 total tackles.

Off the edge, senior Jack Tucker has been a force for the Lions. The Cincinnati native has a team high 4.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss, while also sitting second on the team with 54 total tackles.

In their secondary, Miles Harding is their leading defensive back with 2 interceptions and 38 total tackles. Harding had a big game a week ago, registering 5 solo tackles and his second pick of the season. Freshman Luke Fortkamp is a hybrid safety/linebacker who has been very productive in his first collegiate season. In his last three games, Fortkamp has recorded 15 total tackles, along with an interception against Franklin on October 26.

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