Strong starts on the road are key. The sixth-ranked John Carroll University football team did not have a strong start last week in its road opener. The Blue Streaks made sure that did not happen again, turning in one of the top scoring performances in program history.
"I think we came out really well," said head coach Tom Arth. "That's something we really focused on. I don't think we did a really good job in starting well last week in our first road game. I thought we came out a little bit flat and slow (last week). It was great to see our guys come out and play as hard as they did right from the start."
John Carroll clicked from the get-go. Mark Myers connected with Hayes Chrispin for a 31-yard touchdown strike on the Blue and Gold's first offensive play. The touchdown marked the first of Chrispin's career.
Jordan D'Orazio set up the next score returning the Wilmington punt to the 12-yard line. The Blue and Gold needed just three plays to cap the drive with Myers floating up his second touchdown pass of the day to a leaping Marshall Howell from eight yards out.
JCU kept up the quick scores with a 4-play, 59-yard drive to make it a 20-0 game less than 10 minutes in. Michals capped the drive with a 16-yard touchdown run. The senior would plunge in from 10 yards out on the next drive, just 63 seconds later.
Myers would toss three more touchdown passes, a 9-yard strike to Zach Strippy, a 6-yard lob to Brandan Carozzoni and a 50-yard strike to the elusive Aramis Greenwood. He would finish 14 of 18 for 284 yards and five scores. Greenwood would end his afternoon with six receptions for 168 yards and a score.
"Aramis played really well," said Arth. "Again, he does a great job with the ball in his hands. He's a hard guy to get to the ground. He's not just going to fall over. These guys have to gang tackle him. He's a big, strong, physical kid and I love that about him."
Not to be outdone was the JCU defense, who forced 11 three-and-outs. The Fightin' Quakers were held to just 180 yards. Michael Hippler and Owen Reilly led the charge combining for 13 tackles.
Said Arth, "Defensively, just getting stops and keeping Wilmington pinned down allowed us to have that opportunity (to block a punt)."
Kevin Tyransky recorded JCU's third blocked punt of the year setting up John Carroll at the Wilmington 10-yard line. The Blue Streaks nearly blocked the Fightin' Quakers first three punt attempts with the furthest only traveling 31 yards.
"The blocked punt was great to see from Kevin," said Arth. "We had a couple of opportunities. We were close on a few of them and finally got one which was awesome. It's something our guys take a lot of pride in. We feel like we should go out there and get blocks on punts every game. It's something we focus on and it's great when it happens."
Once the starters were pulled, JCU kept plugging away with its reserves.
Josh Dasch scored from 10 yards out for his first touchdown of the season. The junior made it a 55-0 game with 6:09 remaining in the half.
JCU would score twice more in the second half. Johnny Watson would scamper in from seven yards out and Jake Schaefer would connect with Chrispin on a 55-yard strike.
Wilmington had a prime chance capitalizing on a JCU fumble and driving all of the way Blue Streaks' 4-yard line in the third quarter. JCU held strong keeping WC out of the end zone.
"The goal-line stand was great to see," said Arth. "We're not in the statistics and shutouts, but it's about playing our way and the best we can every play. That's what the goal-line stand comes down to. I'm proud of those guys the way they handled that and got off the field on fourth down.
"We have to do a better job offensively and on special teams," Arth continued eluding to the two second half fumbles by the Blue and Gold. "We're getting some younger guys in there. It's invaluable experience for them and they have to take advantage of that. We can't be putting the ball on the ground and turning it over. That's kind of the one negative, the one thing we're really going to focus on going forward."
John Carroll returns home to host Marietta at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18. The game is JCU's annual Blue-Gold Community Day. Admission is free.