John Carroll to host Mount Union in college football showdown

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — Editor’s Notice: The above video contains a beforehand recorded interview between 3News’ Nick Camino and Mount Union coach Geoff Dartt.

Two D3football.com High 25 groups will kick off in College Heights this weekend in an early-season rivalry showdown.

The No. 21 John Carroll College Blue Streaks (1-1) will host the No. 4 Mount Union College Purple Raiders (2-0) in an Ohio Athletic Convention (OAC) recreation on Saturday, Sept. 25, at Don Shula Stadium at 1 p.m. 

Saturday’s forty first assembly between these two OAC groups will mark a brand new episode in an thrilling rivalry. Mount Union holds a 35-3-2 benefit of their video games towards John Carroll, relationship again to their first assembly in 1920. 

Annually, Mount Union and John Carroll lead the pack within the OAC pre-season polls. This yr, the Purple Raiders have been picked to win the OAC Championship underneath the steering of second-year Head Coach Geoff Dartt. 

Over the previous few years, the Purple Raiders have dominated within the rivalry. Mount Union at the moment holds a four-game win streak towards John Carroll, with their most up-to-date win coming from a 52-27 victory in Alliance this spring. 

The John Carroll College Blue Streaks come into Saturday’s contest in search of to beat Mount Union for the primary time since upsetting the Purple Raiders on Nov. 2, 2016.

The Blue Streaks are led by Northeastern Ohio native Head Coach, Rick Finotti who’s in his fifth yr with this system. Finotti at the moment holds a 28-10 document on the helm of the Blue Streaks. Finotti hopes so as to add his first victory towards Mount Union to his resume on Saturday. 

When former Mount Union head coach Vince Kehres left to hitch the workers on the College of Toledo, Dartt was promoted as head coach after serving as offensive coordinator for 5 years. He additionally previously performed at Mount Union on the offensive line. After the NCAA Division III playoffs have been canceled final season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dartt hopes to information his staff to his first-ever Nationwide Championship look as head coach. 

John Carroll’s staff brings numerous management to the desk, with three-year beginning quarterback Jack Floreia guiding the Blue and Gold offense. In his first two video games, Floreia has accomplished 39 of 62 passes and has thrown for 3 touchdowns. 

The receivers for John Carroll have numerous expertise underneath their belts, with graduate pupil JJ Olivera, seniors Keyshawn Coleman and Devin Limerick and juniors Brennan Fugh and Joey Torok main the way in which.

Morgan State switch Demerius Goodwin is coming off a profession recreation towards Otterbein final Saturday. Goodwin rushed for 194 yards and scored three touchdowns in a 41-17 victory over the Cardinals. 

The offensive line returns an excellent group of athletes. D3Football Preseason All-American Fifth-year left deal with Black Herideen will lead the road alongside Fifth-year Anthony Amata and senior Jack Faron.  

Graduate pupil Tyshawn Jones comes into the competition because the chief of the Blue Streaks protection with 14 tackles and a fumble restoration. 

Junior Ross Valenti has proven a robust presence for the Blue and Gold protection as properly. Valenti has recorded three sacks and 5 tackles within the early season. Within the spring season, Valenti had a breakout with 12 tackles within the 4 video games. 

Hunter Orlando is one other risk to the Purple Raider offense with 12 tackles, together with six solos within the first two video games. 

Domination has been the important thing to Mount Union’s scoring success this season. 

Of their first two video games, Mount Union outscored their opponents 79-14. Their offense at the moment is on the high of the OAC and is ranked 14th within the nation. 

Veteran junior quarterback Braxton Plunk will sit behind heart for the Purple Raiders. Within the spring season, the Florida native was named All-OAC First Group. In Mount Union’s victory towards John Carroll within the spring, Plunk threw for 521 yards and a career-high seven landing passes. For his profession, he has thrown for 3,184 yards. 

In each video games this fall, Plunk has thrown for over 300 yards. 

Plunk’s most important targets have been the senior duo of Wayne Ruby and Derrick Harvey Jr. Ruby has caught 18 receptions for 247 yards within the 2021 fall season, whereas Harvey has obtained 10 passes for 117 yards and one landing. 

The main rusher for the Purple Raiders is senior Josh Petruccelli, who notched a career-high 4 touchdowns of their 48-7 win towards Westminster. Over his four-year profession, Petruccelli has rushed for 4,398 yards and 50 touchdowns. 

College of Akron switch Mason McMillen continues to dominate the opposition in his second season with the Purple Raiders. McMillen leads the staff in tackles with 13, together with 4 solo tackles.

Eli Beers will lead the defensive position in his senior marketing campaign. Beers has 3.5 tackles and 1.5 sacks on the season. 

Gates at Don Shula Stadium will open one hour (12 p.m) earlier than the kick-off. 

You should buy tickets for Saturday’s contest on www. JCUSports.com/tickets. 

Basic admission tickets are priced at $7, whereas premium reserved tickets on the 50-yard line are $10. Senior residents and college students obtain a reduction price with tickets for $5. Youngsters 5 and underneath can attend the sport free of charge. 

Those that can’t attend the sport in particular person can discover a stay broadcast and up-to-date statistics on JCUSports.com.