The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
John Carroll University rallies in fourth to win
Brown’s stop, TD by Limerick lift Streaks over Marietta again
Statistically, it wasn’t the greatest day of the season for the John Carroll defense on Oct. 20.
But great doesn’t always have to be great. It needs to be great when it absolutely has to be great.
That’s what happened for the No. 10-ranked Blue Streaks in their dramatic 27-24 win over previously undefeated Marietta at Don Shula Stadium.
Senior defensive end Ray Brown smothered Marietta running Tanner Clark on fourthand-1 from the Pioneers’ 29 with 6 minutes, 52 seconds remaining in the game. The play changed the complexion of the game.
“The play before, (Clark) cut back in, so I thought he might try to put his head down and cut back in again,” said Brown, who along with teammate Jimmy Thomas stuffed Clark.
Said Marietta coach Andy Waddle of his decision to go for it: “It probably lost the game for us. I felt like if we could get it, we’re giving our offense a chance to go out and end the game with the ball in our hands ... Not an easy call. Probably not the right call. Hindsight, not the right call.”
“You’re down 10, and they have the football. You’ve just turned it over (on downs). You’re like, ‘Uh oh. We need something spectacular here.’ To everyone’s credit, everyone stuck to doing their job.” — John Carroll quarterback Anthony Moeglin
JCU had pulled within 24-21 with about 8 minutes to play before Brown’s big stop. The Blue Streaks responded with the eventual game-wining touchdown thanks to running backs Michael Canganelli (Mayfield) and freshman Devin Limerick.
Canganelli’s 22-yard run put JCU in position at the Marietta 9, and Limerick finished the deal on the next play with a nifty 9-yard TD run in which he spun through two tacklers. It was a sudden turn of events for the Blue Streaks.
“That was one of the more bleaker ones,” said JCU quarterback Anthony Moeglin, who threw for 240 yards on 12 of 25 passing. “You’re down 10, and they have the football. You’ve just turned it over (on downs). You’re like, ‘Uh oh. We need something spectacular here.’ To everyone’s credit, everyone stuck to doing their job.”
Marietta had a chance in the final seconds, but a fourth-and-8 play from its own 42 was batted away, and the Blue Streaks’ celebration begun.
“I believed in our players,” said JCU coach Rick Finotti. “I told them I believe in this team as much as any team that I’ve been on. They respect each other, and bring out the best in each other.”
The win was huge for JCU, and its quest to earn an at-large spot in the NCAA Division III playoffs. The win put the Blue Streaks at 6-1 with three games to play. They travel to Wilmington next week, then finish the regular season with home games against Heidelberg and crosstown rival Baldwin Wallace.
“In reality, if we lose that game, we’re done, and all (our hard work) goes down the drain.” said JCU linebacker Chad Stalnaker of Lake Catholic in regard to his team’s playoff hopes. “We just put it all on the line.”
Said Canganelli, who had 165 rushing yards on 26 carries with two TDs: “It was rough, but we knew it would come down to who had more heart.”
The Pioneers (6-1, 5-1 Ohio Athletic Conference) were in position to post their first-ever win over JCU. They led, 10-0, in the first half, then, 24-14, after a 53-yard TD run by Tanner Clark late in the third quarter. The Blue Streaks — now 30-0-1 alltime in the series — outscored Marietta, 13-0, in the fourth.
Canganelli also had two receptions for 33 yards and 48 yards on two kickoff returns — giving him 246 allpurpose yards. His season total for all-purpose yards is at 1,152. Limerick add 37 rushing yards on six carries and two TDs.
Marietta got big games from QB Darrien Fields (22 of 33 for 205 and two TDs) and Clark (25 carries, 142 yards and a TD) but couldn’t put away JCU.
After the Pioneers went ahead, 10-0, Canganelli scored on runs of 1 and 19 yards and JCU led, 14-10. Then with a few seconds remaining until halftime, Fields stunned the Blue Streaks with a 27-yard TD pass to Ryan VanMeter on a 4th-and-26 play as the half expired.
The second half was delayed about 45 minutes because of nearby lightning. Neither coach said it affected their team. Moments after play resumed, Clark’s 53-yard TD run put JCU in a hole, and its prospects for a win looked bleak.
That is until it got new life on a Limerick 13-yard with 8:35 remaining to make it a 24-21 game.
JCU’s defense gave up big plays early, but hung in there in time for the heroics from Canganelli and Limerick. Still, it held Marietta more than 100 yards below their season average of 460 yards with 349. The D also added to its nation-leading sack total of 33 with five more against Fields.
Stalnaker, JCU’s middle linebacker, was again all over the field making plays. He finished with 13 tackles, eight solos, and had a sack.
“I believed in our players. I told them I believe in this team as much as any team that I’ve been on. They respect each other, and bring out the best in each other.” — JCU coach Rick Finotti