/notables/2016/11/week11-roundup

John Carroll ends Mount Union's streak

More news about: John Carroll | UW-Oshkosh | Wesley

John Carroll's was a celebration 22 years in the making, as the Blue Streaks won the Ohio Athletic Conference title for the first time since a three-way tie in 1994.
Photo by Dan Poel, d3photography.com
JCU saw an early lead evaporate but rallied in the fourth quarter.
Photo by Dan Poel, d3photography.com

Freshman Dom Davis faced big defensive pressure all day in his biggest start as Mount Union quarterback.
Photo by Dan Poel, d3photography.com

Anthony Moeglin hit William Woods for a 24-yard touchdown pass with 39 seconds to play to give John Carroll a 31-28 lead, and the Blue Streaks succeeded where 112 previous regular season opponents failed, defeating Mount Union

The top-ranked Purple Raiders had rolled up 21 consecutive points to take a 21-13 lead in the third quarter, but Moeglin hit Nico James for a 40-yard touchdown pass and Dylan Hall recovered a Mount Union fumble and returned it 45 yards for the score to give JCU a 25-21 lead. Dom Davis marched Mount Union (9-1, 8-1) 70 yards in five plays, hitting Braeden Friss for a 37-yard TD with 3:30 left before Moeglin and the Blue Streaks answered.

It's the first automatic bid in football for any OAC team other than Mount Union. The Purple Raiders should comfortably qualify for an at-large bid. While UW-Oshkosh should be chosen ahead of Mount Union based on the common opponent (UW-Oshkosh beat John Carroll in September), the Purple Raiders would be unlikely to be held out by the NCAA selection committee.

The Blue Streaks (9-1, 9-0) sacked Davis seven times and B.J. Mitchell was held to 53 yards on 18 carries. Ro Golphin had nine carries for 119 yards and a touchdown, an 80-yarder to get the Blue Streaks on the board first. Moeglin was 18-for-33 passing for 239 yards and three scores in the win. Davis completed 19 of 39 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns but also turned the ball over three times, twice on interceptions.

Alfred secured its automatic bid and knocked St. John Fisher deep onto the bubble, as the Saxons won the Empire 8 to go 10-0 for the first time. St. John Fisher scored first, but Alfred scored the next four times to take a 24-7 lead and never looked back en route to a 38-17 win. 

UW-Oshkosh made its final statement for an at-large bid, defeating UW-Eau Claire 48-13 and finishing the regular season 9-1. Oshkosh, with a strength of schedule of nearly .600, should be the first at-large team chosen for the six spots.

No. 8 St. John's remained on track for an at-large bid, scoring 21 points in the final 6:11 to make a tight game seem more comfortable in a 31-7 win at Concordia-Moorhead. Dusty Krueger ran for 173 yards and a touchdown in the win, while the Johnnie defense held the Cobbers to 179 yards of total offense.

Wash U clinched a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2013, as the Bears defeated the University of Chicago 43-34, then had to wait as Berry finished off Centre 21-19. Wash U wins the Southern Athletic Association automatic bid in its final season in the conference by virtue of a head-to-head win vs. Berry from earlier this season. "It was a great victory for the WashU football program, and it's awesome that 50 of our former players were at the game," said WashU coach Larry Kindbom. "It's a goal every year to play an 11th game. Any time you reach a goal, it's exciting. They earned it."

Wesley clinched its 12th consecutive trip to the NCAA playoffs, erupting for 28 points in the second quarter and 17 more in the third to roll past William Paterson 59-14. Nick Falkenberg threw five touchdowns while going 19-for-24 for 285 yards in the win.

Stevenson wrapped up its first trip to the Division III football playoffs, defeating Lycoming 28-10 and winning the Middle Atlantic Conference automatic bid. Preston Addo had an 80-yard touchdown catch and Devote Williams ran for 108 yards and a score for the Mustangs (9-1, 8-1). Albright played itself off the bubble with a loss at Lebanon Valley.

Carnegie Mellon survived two successful onside kick attempts from Case Western Reserve and knocked off the No. 21 Spartans 26-21 on Saturday, likely ending Case's chance at getting an at-large bid to the NCAA playoffs. CWRU, which does not play Thomas More this season, likely needed to run the table to get an at-large big because of its low strength of schedule. Sam Benger ended the game with 158 yards on 31 carries and a pair of touchdowns to become Carnegie Mellon's all-time leader rusher, with 4,243 yards for his career. 

Rose-Hulman put the official seal on the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference title, rolling out to a 53-0 halftime lead and cruising to a 74-6 win vs. Earlham. Five players threw passes for the Fightin' Engineers and 14 players got carries in the season-ending romp.

Wittenberg scored the first 38 points and made it look easy in clinching the North Coast Athletic Conference automatic bid with a 45-8 win at Allegheny. Similarly, Lakeland took care of business vs. Rockford, clinching the NACC automatic bid by winning 52-30 despite giving up 24 third-quarter points.

UW-Whitewater didn't pull away until the fourth quarter, but got past UW-Stout 34-16. It was a one-score game with six minutes left before Will Meyer hit his second field goal of the day. Cam Maly led the Warhawks with 165 yards and three touchdowns on 36 carries, while Cole Wilber and Chris Nelson combined to go 18-for-30 for 198 yards.

Dec. 15: All times Eastern
Final
Cortland 38, at North Central (Ill.) 37
@ Salem, Virginia
Video Box Score Recap Photos
Dec. 9: All times Eastern
Final
North Central (Ill.) 34, at Wartburg 27
Box Score Recap
Final
Cortland 49, at Randolph-Macon 14
Box Score Recap Recap Recap Photos
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