The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Mentor grad impresses in JCU scrimmage
QB, Mentor graduate leads Blue Streaks to three touchdowns vs. Case Western Reserve
It took a few series, but after that, Jake Floriea and the JCU offense looked sharp and productive.
Throughout the offseason, Coach Rick Finotti has talked up his new starting quarterback Jake Floriea.
On Aug. 31 at Case Western Reserve, the Mentor graduate played the part in the Blue Streaks’ annual scrimmage with their crosstown neighbor.
It took a few series, but after that, Floriea and the JCU offense looked sharp and productive.
The first-teamers played a half and the Blue Streaks held the advantage after two quarters, 21-7.
Floriea’s ability as a dualthreat should put the Ohio Athletic Conference on notice. The junior can make things happen with his right arm and his feet.
On JCU’s first drive, a Floriea scramble helped it get out of a third-down hole deep in their own territory. Then he used an assortment of passes to drive the Blue Streaks into the red zone, where he eventually finished the drive with a 1-yard option keeper to pay dirt.
“It was good to brush the rust off a little bit,” he said. “We’re clicking, and I feel good where everyone’s at. We’re going to watch some film and get better from this.”
Film study of Floriea from the scrimmage should be pleasing for Finotti and offensive coordinator Jeff Fink because the three first-half scoring drives varied.
While the first was methodical, the second was a quick strike as Floriea connected with wide receiver Evan Nugent on a 70-yard pass and catch in which the QB hit his receiver in stride.
On the final TD, Floriea directed a two-minute drill with quick passes and timely runs, the last a 9-yard scramble to the corner of the end zone, where he pushed his way through two defenders. Meanwhile, the tough JCU defense faced an equally tough test in Case QB Drew Saxton, who
threw for more than 3,000 yards and 34 TDs as a freshman in 2018.
The Spartans attacked mostly through the air during the scrimmage, and after trailing, 140, Saxton showed off his touch.
Case’s scoring drive started with a 71-yard pass by Saxton to the
JCU 4, where he eventually connected with preseason Division III All-American receiver Colt Morgan in the corner of the end zone.
“John Carroll, we know they’re long, they’re fast, they get to the ball,” said Saxton of the Blue Streaks’ D.
Safety Joey Bates of Kirtland
was impressed by Saxton’s moxie. But overall felt the D held its own except in one category.
“We want to emphasize takeaways, which we didn’t get today so we have to work on our ball awareness this week in practice so Week 1 we get some takeaways,” said Bates. “We had six Week 1 last year against
Stevens Point so we gotta get something going with that.”
JCU gets that chance Sept. 7 at Don Shula Stadium, where it welcomes Wisconsin-Stevens Point for a 1 p.m. kickoff in the regular-season opener. Case travels to Rochester for its 7 p.m. season opener, also on Sept. 7.