The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
John Carroll dominates Capital, is 6-0 in OAC
All signs pointed toward John Carroll University being the prohibitive favorite Oct. 22 against visiting Capital.
The Blue Streaks performed according to form and then some, breezing to a 42-10 victory over the Comets on a sun-splashed afternoon at Don Shula Stadium.
Extending its winning streak to six games, JCU improved to 6-1 overall and 6-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference.
The Blue Streaks, ranked 25th in the d3football.com poll going into the game, remain deadlocked for first place in the OAC with No. 2-ranked Mount Union (7-0).
Paced by senior wide receiver Brennan Fugh and senior quarterback Joe Collins, JCU’s offense removed all doubt about the eventual outcome by racing to a 35-3 lead at halftime.
“That was a great first half for us. It was a combination of everybody doing their jobs,” Collins said.
In the first quarter, Collins and Pugh collaborated on TD passes of 53 yards and 63 yards.
“Brennan is an unbelievable player who uses his body to create space,” Collins said of Fugh.
Collins also connected with sophomore running back Evan McVay on a screen pass with two minutes remaining in the first quarter that McVay turned into a 70-yard TD jaunt.
The second quarter produced more of the same for JCU as McVay cashed in a 5-yard TD run and Collins threw a 5-yard TD pass to junior wide receiver Tyler Mintz with five seconds remaining in the first half.
Sophomore placekicker Yanni Volas converted all five PAT attempts in the half.
Collins had a banner first half, going 14-for-16 for 300 passing yards and four TD passes. He finished 17-for-22 for 342 yards.
Fugh had eight receptions
for 176 yards and two TDs. He moved into fifth place on JCU’s all-time career list with 1,947 receiving yards and into seventh place with 14 receiving TDs.
“Coming down to my senior
year, you do what you can do to help this team go out with a bang,” Fugh said.
McVay’s 5-yard TD run with just under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter was the final
tally for JCU.
The Blue Streaks return to action Oct. 29 at Muskingum. On the near horizon is the likely OAC title showdown Nov. 5 at Mount Union.