Anytime a John Carroll football team can associate itself with the fabled 1962 Blue Streak squad, that is considered a gold standard.
With today's 27-0 shutout of Heidelberg, the 2018 edition of the Blue Streaks became the first team since 1962 to record three home shutouts in one season.
The 1962 team accomplished the feat while playing at nearby Cleveland Heights High School -- six years before Wasmer Field came into existence.
Today's effort included limiting the visiting Heidelberg offense to 121 yards on 54 offensive plays, a 2.2 average per play. The only threats of scoring were a missed 41 yard field at the end of the first half, and a goal line stand in the fourth quarter.
"Just to watch those guys on a weekly basis, this is a gift for them to be out here to get to play in the game," said head coach Rick Finotti. "They work so hard watching film. It's a great group. From the front line all the way to the back end, they all support each other. We had a few injuries, so other guys stepped up. It is just great to see those guys work hard."
The JCU offense did enough today to get the job done. Two scoring drives put 14 points on the board in the first quarter for the Blue Streaks, and the drives could not be more different. One was a 66-yard pass play from Anthony Moeglin to Evan Nugent. The other was a 10-play march, capped by reigning Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the Week Josh DeLozier, who scored on a run from four yards out. That drive covered 64 yards total.\
"We came out with the mindset that we wanted to dominate," said Nugent. "Last week with the bad conditions at Wilmington we pounded the ball. Today, (Anthony) just let it fly and our wide receivers made some plays."
John Carroll improved its lead to 21-0 when Michael Canganelli scored on a four yard run of is own with 49 seconds remaining before halftime.
The only points of the second half were provided by a Moeglin connection with Darrin Davis on a fourth down-and-12 play. Moeglin found Davis on the far sideline for a 30-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was missed.
Heidelberg's best opportunity was a drive that was set up by a short punt into the wind at the end of the third quarter. The Student princes had called a time out with seven seconds left to take advantage of the stiff breeze that JCU would punt into.The Berg then marched down to the JCU six-yard line and had first and goal. But three running plays netted only two yards, and a fourth down pass fell incomplete.
John Carroll (8-1, 7-1 OAC) was led by Canganelli's 129 rushing yards on 28 carries. DeLozier added 65 as the Blue Streaks followed up a record-setting 614 yard effort last week against Wilmington with 226 yards this week.
The defense recorded seven sacks, raising the John Carroll season total to a Division III best 46. Conner Bogard (3.0 for -27 yards) and Jimmy Thomas (2.0 for -10 yards) led the way.
"These guys [Heidelberg] got us bad last year," said Bogard. "We had a chip on our shoulder all off-season. We knew it was revenge week. We had to go all out and ball out. We did not do that last year, so we had to show who we really are."
The Blue Streaks also collected two interceptions by Mike Connick and Connor Robinson.
Heidelberg (4-5, 3-5 OAC) was led on defense by Elijah Brechbill, who had a game-high 16 tackles.
John Carroll outgained Heidelberg, 398-121.
The Blue Streaks will host Baldwin Wallace (8-1, 7-1 OAC) next Saturday at Shula Stadium with a potential NCAA postseason bid on the line.
"It's hard to put to words on how big this game is," said Moeglin. "Winner goes to the playoffs. We play in one of the best conferences in all of America. It has been growing and getting better and is the best it's been a long time. Our mindset isn't going to change and we are going to approach every week like we always do. We are going to work hard, work hard at what we need to get better at and when Saturday comes … hopefully the stadium will be full. It does not get much better than that."