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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Ivory Travers vs. CMU 9-6-26
Anthony McFarlin
Ivory Travers
17
Winner John Carroll JOHN CAR 1-0
7
Carnegie Mellon CARNEGIE 0-1
Winner
John Carroll JOHN CAR
1-0
17
Final
7
Carnegie Mellon CARNEGIE
0-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
JOHN CAR John Carroll 7 3 0 7 17
CARNEGIE Carnegie Mellon 0 7 0 0 7

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

Blue Streaks Stand Tough in Victory over Carnegie Mellon in the Steel City

John Carroll's defense shined in the road victory to open the season

PITTSBURGH – With high expectations heading into the 2026 campaign under new Head Coach Brian Polian '97, John Carroll Football delivered.

Facing a traditionally strong program in Carnegie Mellon University, the Blue Streaks played hard-nosed football in a 17-7 victory at Gesling Field in Pittsburgh.

The Blue Streaks never trailed in the season opener, looking especially fantastic on defense. JCU's offense did enough to win with a ground-and-pound approach while the special teams also played a vital role.

"I feel gratitude and pride in the team in how gritty a win that was," said Polian after his first win as leader of the Blue Streaks. "We knew that was going to be an ugly ballgame. I am proud of the way they persevered. We had some bad stuff, and we moved on to the next play. For me personally, to be back out there and have a win like that with these guys is a gift."

Cohen Klimak carried the water for the offense. The sophomore served as the bellcow, carrying the rock 38 times for 152 yards. His 38 carries marks the fourth-most in program history in a game, the most attempts for a JCU rusher since Willie Beers had 53 attempts on September 28, 1991 vs. Capital. Klimak also notched 7 receptions for 61 yards.

"They told me I would get my touches, but I didn't know I would get that many. But once it started working and clicking, there was no reason to go away from it. I'm thankful," said Klimak. "This is awesome. We had a long camp, I'm in the best shape I've been in. I'm not going to quit. The offense line are freakish. We knew that was going to happen and that they would be one of the best lines in the country. They're not a surprise." 

On the first drive of the game, both the Blue Streaks and Tartans experienced quick drives. On JCU's second drive, the Blue Streaks methodically drove down the field with effective runs and short passes. JCU drove down to the CMU 7-yard line but stalled there. Or so everyone though. 

Head Coach Brian Polian '97 unveiled a trick play on a 4th down field goal try. Shane Lindstrom raced around the left side for a surprise touchdown to cap off a 91-yard drive with 2:19 left in the first. JCU's 7-0 lead stood through the end of the opening quarter.

Early in the second, a JCU interception gave Carnegie Mellon some momentum, though deep in CMU territory. The Tartans drove close to the JCU redzone, but Davon Badley sacked the CMU QB on fourth down, turning the ball over on downs. 

After a JCU special teams touchdown in the first, CMU returned the favor with one in the second. A low snap on a punt led to a Tartans touchdown and thus a tie game with 3:19 left in the half. The teams traded punts before JCU drove down the field in a two-minute drill. With 9 seconds left in the half, Colin Schuler blasted a fantastic 48-yard field goal.

Schuler's field goal marked not only the longest of his career, but the third-longest make in program history and the longest since Matt Danko's 49-yard boot vs. Capital on October 6, 2018. 

At half, the Blue Streaks held a 10-7 lead. Carnegie Mellon managed just 56 yards on 25 plays in the first half. 

John Carroll used just over half of the third quarter driving down the field into the CMU red zone. But the Blue Streaks missed a 24-yard field goal. So JCU remained ahead at the end of the third, 10-7.

Early in the fourth quarter, the JCU defense came up with a huge play. On a short pass play, Greg Roman Jr. (making his first career start) stripped the CMU receiver and Gino Blasini leaped on the ball to give the offense the ball at the CMU 22-yard line.

Following a William Hanson 12-yard catch, Cohen Klimak powered through up the middle for a 3-yard rushing score with 10:51 on the clock in the fourth. Klimak's key score pushed the JCU lead to 17-7. 

"He is so good, he makes people miss with his low pad level," said Polian. "He runs hard, he knows what he's doing, and right now he is the heartbeat of this offense. We'll get better but we leaned on him no doubt."

The JCU defense continued to stifle the Tartans down the stretch. The hosts managed just one first down in the second half. Carnegie Mellon did not register a first down on the ground all day, quite the rarity for the Tartans.

Davon Badley, Greg Roman Jr., Adam LaCarte, and Hunter Kanotz all registered 4 tackles. Badley added 2 tackles for loss and 1 sack. Kanotz, Ivory Travers, Dylan Crasi, Ben Gabrich, Tommy Tartabini, and Eugene Gibbons all had sacks.

"Attacking [was the key]," said Polian. "We got after their front and we rattled the quarterback. We tackled well, we kept it front of us. They pitched a shutout today, the only points we gave up were a gift we screwed up on special teams. I thought the defense played lights out." 

John Carroll finished with a 311-115 advantage in yards in Polian's first win as JCU's head coach.

"It's awesome to see Coach Polian get his first win," said Klimak. "We had some question marks coming into the season but I think we answered them pretty well. Carnegie Mellon is a good team."

Next Up
John Carroll will remain on the road next week, as the Blue Streaks will begin North Coast Athletic Conference play. JCU will head to Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday. 
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