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| The Johns Hopkins defense has been happy to close out its playoff opponents. Photo by Mike Atherton, d3photography.com |
By Joe Sager
D3sports.com
The Johns Hopkins defense isn’t angry.
Quite the contrary, actually. The Blue Jays are quite happy having more chances to play together as a unit deep into December. However, one wouldn’t be able to tell that is the group’s demeanor after it keeps slamming the door shut on its opponents.
Johns Hopkins (12-1) has clung to a slim lead late in eight games this season – including all three during the playoffs – and the defense has closed them all out to help the squad reach Saturday’s semifinal at Mount Union (13-0).
“It’s definitely been fun. I give a lot of credit to our coaches,” Johns Hopkins junior safety Carson Bourdo said. “I think, during the week, they have us in position to win the day every single day, working to getting better. Then, on Saturdays with how they coach us and what they call — we have a lot of trust in them. I give them a lot of credit for how they prepare and how they get us prepared.”
Bourdo has been one of the standouts on the team’s defense. But, it’s a group that’s filled with opportunistic players. Consecutive sacks from Isaac Urquidi and Will Seibert sealed Saturday’s 17-10 win over Mary Hardin-Baylor.
“It’s definitely all 11 guys working together for one common goal. We don’t know who is going to have their best game that day, but we know every single Saturday that we’re all going to try to do our job to the best of our ability,” Bourdo said. “It usually works out well.”
The defense has iced wins over Grove City (17-14), DePauw (14-9) and Mary Hardin-Baylor (17-10) in the postseason. It’s only yielded a total of 87 rushing yards in those tilts.
“Our defense has been unbelievable, especially over the last half of the season, with so many close games we’ve had,” Johns Hopkins coach Dan Wodicka said. “Coming into the season, we knew with our nonconference schedule and our Centennial schedule that we’d be in a lot of close games. I credit our coaching staff and defensive staff for keeping poised and calm on the sidelines. Our defense is excited to go on the field, no matter what position they are in. I am really proud of what they have been able to do.
“It does seem like every week there is a different guy who plays his best game of the year,” he continued. “We’ve had multiple guys rotating in on the defensive line and we have a few guys playing in our two linebacker sports. It’s huge that everyone knows they can rely on each other. It’s everyone stepping up in key moments.”
Of course, having a comfortable lead in the fourth quarter wouldn’t be a bad thing, either.
“I would love that. I’ve let the guys know that. After a few of these close games, I reminded them that it doesn’t have to come down to the last play of the game every game,” Wodicka said with a laugh. “We go back and watch the tape of the game together and we see there are plays to be made on both sides of the ball. I am really pumped to see our guys continue to get better. But, I still think our best football is ahead of us.”
The team’s offense has been able to find success early in games and establish leads, which has been key, especially since starting quarterback Bay Harvey was lost to injury in Week 3. Senior James Rinello has stepped in and led the charge. He passed for a career-high 312 yards and one touchdown last week.
“I have been so proud of James. He is a senior for us and he knows the offense and what we’re trying to do on each and every play. I have been so impressed with him each and every week, in terms of how he’s growing with his confidence,” Wodicka said. “The trust all the guys have in him is huge. That’s built up over four years of him being a good teammate and being ready to go when he got his chance here. If something bad happens on one play, they know James will make a play on the next one.
“Our offense has been doing a great job, especially early on in games. Our offense has been able to go up and make big plays, giving us a little bit of room,” he continued. “We just have to play a complete game. We know it’s not going to be good enough to play one good first half on the offensive side of the ball. We’re going against such a great team that is so athletic and has so many weapons. On both sides of the ball, we have to play a great 60 minutes of Hopkins football.”
The winner advances to the national championship game. The contest has some extra meaning for Johns Hopkins, too. The last time it reached the semifinals was in 2018. That 28-20 loss at Mount Union turned out to be the last game for legendary head coach Jim Margraff, who passed away the following January.
“It’s a very unique situation. Our guys, they know a lot about Coach Margraff, both from me and Greg Chimera. He’s still living through this program,” Wodicka said. “The guys have heard a lot of Coach Margraff quotes from me this season.”
Wodicka, who played for Margraff and coached on his staff, is in his first year leading the Blue Jays.
“I think I am going to have to make sure I have my emotions in check, more so than the players, just with the history of program,” he said. “My No. 1 job here is to show up every day and make Coach Margraff proud, our alumni proud and everyone associated with the program proud. We’ve had a bunch of great battles with Mount Union over the years. We’re really excited at the opportunity we have ahead of us.”
Wodicka took over the Johns Hopkins program from Greg Chimera, who succeeded Margraff, but left to take over as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Pennsylvania prior to this season. Still, Chimera has kept track of the Blue Jays.
“I knew they’d be really good this year. With all the injuries and things they’ve dealt with, it’s just been a great job by the players and coaches. I couldn’t be more proud of everybody,” he said. “It’s been an amazing run. I was actually at the Grove City and Mary Hardin-Baylor games, which was nice. The defense is playing well. There’s such a 100 percent belief in what they’re doing, schematically. Guys are playing free and fast. I think that belief is contagious. Shout out to James Rinello as well. Coach Margraff used to always say, ‘Invest your time. Don’t spend it.’ That guy is a perfect example of that.”
He’ll be rooting on Johns Hopkins again on Saturday.
“It is a unique situation. I talked to Coach Wodicka about it. It seems like the proper next step for the scripted season would be to go there and get a win where Coach Margraff coached his last game,” Chimera said. “The last few times we played them, we feel like we’ve been right there with them. With the defense playing at the level it is playing, they feel like they can be in any game.”