JCU eyes start of its second season at BW

The John Carroll football team has been there, done that.

Been there being starting the season 0-1. Done that being winning out. The No. 9-ranked Blue Streaks opened their season Sept. 2 with a tough 23-17 loss to No. 3-ranked Wisconsin Oshkosh.

It was JCU’s third loss to Oshkosh since the start of the 2016 season, but the loss is behind the team, which was off last week.

Sept. 16 is the kickoff of the Ohio Athletic Conference schedule, and for the Blue Streaks, it doesn’t get easier.

They travel to Baldwin Wallace for a 2 p.m. kickoff at Finnie Stadium, where the Cuyahoga Gold Bowl trophy will be on the line.

JCU has won four straight in the series, but the last two have been close. The Blue Streaks won, 17-10, last season and 17-14 in 2015.

It could be another tough, close game between the rivals, as both teams are breaking in new coaches.

JCU’s Rick Finotti is still sorting through his offense, while BW’s Jim Hilvert guided his team to a season-opening 42-2 win at Defiance.

The coaches bring solid credentials to the Division III level. Finotti won two high school Division I state titles while at St. Edward, and Hilvert two D-II state titles at Cincinnati LaSalle.

The Blue Streaks missed a great opportunity to rise in the polls, but Top 25 poll voters took notice. After the loss, JCU fell just one spot from 8 to 9 in the D3football.com Top 25 poll.

“We’re 0-1, and that’s the same (as last season), but we’re still a hungry team,” said quarterback Anthony Moeglin, who guided JCU to 12 straight wins in 2016 after losing to Oshkosh in the season opener. “I think we’re a little more experienced this time around. Offensively, I definitely think we have things more in control. A year older and wiser. Our defense is in a good spot too.”

The JCU defense held Oshkosh to just 39 passing yards, but the issue was the rush defense, which allowed 306 yards.

On offense, Moeglin and

backup Riley Larkin struggled and were a combined 17 of 40 passing for 209 yards vs. the Titans.

Finotti would not reveal who would start vs. BW, so Moeglin is ready for anything.

“I have no idea (who will start),” said Moeglin. “If it’s Riley, he’ll go out and make plays. If it’s me, I’ll go out and try to make plays. We’re going to have each other’s back no matter what.”

Whoever starts at QB, he’ll need help from other areas. The offensive line couldn’t create much space for the running backs against Oshkosh.

Running backs Ro Golphin (Gilmour) and Sam Kukura (Kirtland) combined for 20 yards on 13 carries.

“As a team we had to realize we were this close,”

said Moeglin. “We didn’t play very well, and we lost by six points. We hammered home the fundamentals, and that’s what we focused on during the off week.”

JCU linebacker Mason McKenrick (Mentor) lamented missed tackles and assignments on his part in the season opener.

The margin for error going forward is slim, and McKenrick and his teammates are aware of that. Getting back on track starts Sept. 16 vs. their rival BW.

“In the back of your head I think it drives you, knowing you lost (the season opener),” said McKenrick. “It’s a new year, new team, new coaching staff, but the goals are the same as last year, so everyone’s working as hard, if not harder.”