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When attempting to know the magnitude of the John Carroll-Baldwin Wallace soccer rivalry and what it means to the gamers concerned, hearken to JCU senior linebacker Brian Robinson, who on Nov. 13 has one sport remaining in his enjoying profession.
Following the Blue Streaks’ 45-35 win over BW in 2018 to clinch a 9-1 season and an NCAA Division III playoff spot, Robinson and his older brother Conner, a beginning cornerback on that crew, simply couldn’t get sufficient of the celebration with teammates, household, mates and the Cuyahoga Gold Bowl trophy.
“My brother and I have been celebrating so lengthy after the sport they needed to kick us off the sector as a result of there was a soccer sport after,” stated Robinson with amusing. “It was so enjoyable. That was the epitome of what our rivalry is. Two aggressive groups simply going at it. We wouldn’t depart.”
Robinson and his teammates and coaches need that feeling once more Nov. 13 when JCU (6-3, 6-2 Ohio Athletic Convention) travels to Berea to play BW, who’s 8-1, 7-1 within the OAC and with a win will likely be in rivalry for an NCAA D-III at-large playoff bid.
When John Carroll lost in overtime at Heidelberg final week, it formally ended the Blue Streaks’ hope for a Division III at-large playoff spot.
That doesn’t imply JCU’s regular-season finale at crosstown rival Baldwin Wallace on Nov. 13 loses any significance.
“On the finish of the day we’re enjoying for a trophy. It’s a rivalry sport, and it means lots,” stated JCU quarterback Jake Floriea of Mentor. “Everybody cares about this sport. Simply because the playoffs are out of attain, I don’t suppose it takes the meaningfulness out of the sport.”
JCU coach Rick Finotti is 4-0 towards BW, and three of the 4 video games have been dramatic, down-to-the-wire finishes.
• In 2017, Chardon grad Mike Connick’s interception within the last seconds clinched a 24-21 street win.
4th and 1 from midfield and @Lil_Cangs goes for lengthy, places him at 32-264-3TD pic.twitter.com/rIXmMSxSoJ
— Mark Podolski (@mpodo) November 10, 2018
• In 2018, Mayfield grad Michael Canganelli’s 275 speeding yards and three touchdowns keyed a 45-35 shootout victory that wasn’t determined till Canganelli transformed a 4th-and-2 play late within the sport close to midfield with a future into BW territory.
It’s been some time since I lined a school soccer sport. A lot of these performs (a John Carroll Hail Mary to beat rival BW in 2019) are why I miss it. @JCUFootball @jcusports @JFloriea2 pic.twitter.com/Z7xSYxj8H9
— Mark Podolski (@mpodo) November 23, 2020
• In 2019, Floriea’s Hail Mary TD move to Keyshawn Colmon within the last seconds accomplished a 17-10 victory.
For these sensing a JCU pattern on this rivalry, that will be correct. The Blue Streaks have received eight straight towards their rival. It’s the longest streak within the collection since BW received 5 straight from 1933 to 1937.
“Yearly, it’s introduced again up,” stated Floriea about JCU’s profitable streak within the collection. “However these (previous outcomes) don’t depend. That is the one which issues. It’s concerning the 12 months at hand.”
Hopes are all the time excessive inside the JCU program, and each season the D-III playoffs are all the time a objective. With the playoffs now not an choice, the subsequent neatest thing is a win towards its rival. So don’t count on Robinson and his teammates to hold their collective heads this week enjoying the position of spoiler.
“We’re enjoying with nothing to lose,” he stated. “And it’s been a very long time since we’ve been on this place. We are able to type of let issues fly. I’m excited.”
Going again to his days because the coach at St. Edward when his Eagles would butt heads with rival St. Ignatius, Finotti all the time preaches the significance of controlling feelings. That message received’t change this week however as all the time, he expects a hard-fought sport and his Blue Streaks — which is able to ship off greater than 30 seniors — to be prepared.
“They love enjoying on this sport. It’s greater than a rivalry,” stated Finotti. “Each sport has been so shut, you possibly can’t assist however get into it.”
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