[ad_1]
When the offenses of John Carroll and visiting Washington and Jefferson grinded to a halt within the first half Sept. 4 at Don Shula Stadium, it turned obvious late a handful of performs can be the deciding elements.
Make that three. All-America huge receiver Andrew Wolf’s three second-half landing receptions had been distinction as Washington and Jefferson spoiled JCU’s season opener with a 21-14 non-conference win.
John Carroll entered at No. 11 within the D3football.com rankings with Washington and Jefferson at No. 19.
It didn’t assist the Blue Streaks’ trigger that they dedicated 13 penalties for 114 yards. Many had been the drive-killer selection and led, partly, to the sport being a 0-0 sport at half, however nothing stung JCU greater than Wolf’s massive performs.
The primary was a 65-yard catch and run from quarterback Justin Heacock within the third quarter that tied the sport at 7. The Blue Streaks had taken a 7-0 benefit out of the locker room at halftime when Demerius Goodwin capped the house crew’s first drive of the second half with a 37-yard TD run.
.@JCUFootball begins second half robust as RB Demerius Goodwin scores on 38-yard run. JCU 7, W&J 0 early q3 @jcusports #d3fb pic.twitter.com/M3nQB5nhqG
— Mark Podolski (@mpodo) September 4, 2021
Early within the fourth quarter, Heacock and Wolf related once more — this time from 56 yards on an inside go-route — for a 14-7 lead.
When a JCU drive stalled and a brief punt gave the Presidents the ball inside their opponents’ 30, W&J went for the knockout punch. Wolf delivered once more.
He’s an All-American for a purpose. W&J WR Andrew Wolf TD catch No. 3 and leads @JCUFootball 21-7 with 10 minutes to play @jcusports #d3fb pic.twitter.com/UXIxyKLCKo
— Mark Podolski (@mpodo) September 4, 2021
His third TD — a 7-yard fade path to the nook of the tip zone — made it 21-7 with 10 minutes to play. Wolf completed with eight catches for 172 yards, and his three TDs — two of which lined 121 yards.
“These (two TD performs) had been in our sport plan all week, it was only a matter of time after we known as them,” mentioned Wolf. “We had a sense these issues can be open, and it turned out they had been.”
For an offense that struggled at factors through the sport, the two-touchdown deficit possible felt extra like three or 4 for the Blue Streaks.
.@JCUFootball not accomplished but as @JFloriea2 to @joey_torok on 4th down pulls JCU with 21-14 with 2:25 to play @jcusports #d3fb pic.twitter.com/KqEeyyGNWA
— Mark Podolski (@mpodo) September 4, 2021
JCU quarterback Jake Floriea (Mentor) discovered receiver Joey Torok (Kirkland) for a 22-yard TD with somewhat greater than 2 minutes to play to chop the deficit to 21-14, however the Blue Streaks’ onside try was unsuccessful. With no timeouts, JCU needed to watch as W&J ran out the clock, and the celebration started.
One other massive cease by @JCUFootball D on third down. Tyshawn Jones of Euclid having a giant half @jcusports pic.twitter.com/JhjJBfjGPy
— Mark Podolski (@mpodo) September 4, 2021
Senior linebacker Tyshawn Jones (Euclid) — who was in on six tackles — known as the end result a kind of “he want to have again.”
“The sport got here right down to these three performs,” mentioned Jones. “Simply have to concentrate to particulars and focus extra. Return to work, and proper these little issues. This sport, it actually got here right down to the little issues.”
Floriea — who was 24 of 35 for 257 yards and a TD — took it somewhat farther.
‘I feel the massive factor is we now have to take that one-play-at-a-time mindset,” he mentioned. “Generally we’re too anxious about, ‘We have to rating proper now’ or ‘we have to win this sport.’ No, simply concentrate on that one play, do your job and people little wins will add up.”
The Blue Streaks (0-1) have subsequent week off, after which open Ohio Athletic Convention play Sept. 18 at Otterbein. Finotti’s mentality as a coach — “simply go to work” — will little doubt be a go-to message the following two weeks.
“We’ll clear it up,” he mentioned. “I consider on this soccer crew, however we now have to scrub up the errors — the sloppiness, the penalties. It has to start out there. We’ve to scrub them up, and that’s on me as the top soccer coach. From there, perhaps it’s gamers. Possibly we now have to get totally different gamers in there.”
The Blue Sreaks outgained W&J in whole offense (323-306), however the 13 penalties offset these numbers.
Goodwin led JCU with 63 speeding yards on 9 makes an attempt. Vast receiver Brennan Fugh had 4 catches for 84 yards for the Blue Streaks, and Devin Limerick had 5 receptions for 42 yards. Defensively, Ross Valenti had two sacks, and Alec Wallace had an interception.
Ross Valenti massive sack on third down for @JCUFootball D pic.twitter.com/lLuW7uY2cx
— Mark Podolski (@mpodo) September 4, 2021
[ad_2]
Source link
