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Season Preview: Team 98 Psyched for Football Season Like No Other

| By: Kyle Kelly, Senior Staff Writer
UNIERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- John Carroll University has played football for 101 years. But never in the springtime. 

During a pandemic, anything goes — and that includes Rick Finotti and the Blue Streaks suiting up for their first game of the season on March 12. 

The 2020-21 season will look different in many ways; Limited capacity at Don Shula Stadium, five games instead of 10 and athletes being tested for COVID-19 as often as necessary, just to make sure that a season can commence. 

COVID-19 pandemic or not, Finotti and 'Team 98' have been waiting for this moment ever since the Ohio Athletic Conference gave them the green light.

"These guys have been in quarantine, they've lifted in their basement and ran around the block. It's going to be different," Finotti, who is entering his fourth season as head coach, said. "Our guys have so adapted so well. We just want to play football."

If anything resembles normalcy, it will be the Blue Streaks' first opponent to kick-off the season. Tonight at 7 p.m., JCU will host crosstown rival Baldwin Wallace in the annual Cuyahoga Gold Bowl. It will be the 60th meeting between the two teams (John Carroll has played no more than 40 games against any of its 99 opponents since the inception of the team in 1920) and an opportunity for JCU to extend their winning streak over the Yellow Jackets to a record eight-games in a row. 

The way last season ended, against Baldwin Wallace, was a thriller. 

Tonight marks 462 days since Jake Floriea found Keyshawn Colmon for a 28-yard touchdown on 4th and 8 with 24 seconds to play at George Finnie Stadium. The Blue Streaks escaped Berea with a 17-10 win to finalize a 9-1 record, which eventually secured their standing as the No. 13 team in the country.

Despite being recognized as one of the top teams in Division III, John Carroll was left out of the 32-team postseason tournament. That was nearly 16 months ago and the Blue Streaks have put being left out of the playoffs in the rearview mirror.

"That was last year. That was Team 97. We've moved on and we're Team 98," Finotti said. "Each year, you have your own identity. I am excited to see what type of football team that we are going to become. I am excited to see all of the great things that this season will bring."

The Blue and Gold return all but two starters on offense (First Team All-OAC running back Michael Canganelli and Second Team All-OAC receiver Evan Nugent) this season. Floriea will take the reins under center for his 11th career start and will be protected behind two Second Team All-OAC linemen in Blake Herideen and Will McGennis. They will be directed by Drew Nystrom, who makes his debut as offensive coordinator, in his second season with the team. 

Floriea has proved he can be among the best quarterbacks in the conference at his peak. 

In his sixth career start against Ohio Northern on Oct. 19, Floriea threw six touchdown passes. The record-amount of six touchdown throws accompanied Tom Arth '03, Anthony Moeglin '19 and Mark Myers '15 as the only other quarterbacks to toss that many in one game. 

Floriea enters this season first all-time in yards per attempt (9.5). 

Floriea is no longer the new kid on the block. In his third season with the Blue Streaks, it's now his team. All eyes are on Floriea to guide JCU to a winning season. 

"One of the things that I focus on is being consistent with how I lead the guys," he said. "Things are going to go well at times and things are going to go poorly at times. No matter what, I want to be the voice that tells everyone that we just need to keep going and keep attacking with everything we are doing."

Devin Limerick (55 carries, 282 yards, 4 rushing touchdowns; 12 receptions, 151 yards, 1 receiving touchdown) and Colmon (16 receptions, 276 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns) will be the focal points on offense for the 2020-21 campaign. 

In the backfield, Matthew Buser (29 carries, 152 yards, 2 touchdowns) and Demerius Goodwin will resemble a thunder and lightning duo. They will run behind the offensive line tandem of Anthony Amata, Sam Bornhorst, Anthony Bonacci, Herideen and McGennis.

"The big expectation for us is execution. We've tweaked a few things in our system to tailor it to the skill of our players," Finotti said. "We are going to put the best guys in the best position to go make plays. We're going to build the offense around those guys."

On defense, JCU returns seven starters including Second Team All-OAC defensive backs Nate Leopold and Tyshawn Jones and All-OAC Honorable Mention defensive lineman Harrison Richardson. 

Defensive backs Joey Bates, Jones and Leopold all led the Blue and Gold with two interceptions each. 

Last season, the Blue Streaks finished No. 4 in scoring defense and No. 8 in total defense. Associate head coach Jeff Long will conduct the defense. Long was promoted to defensive coordinator following the 2020 season.  

John Carroll will have to replace All-American defensive lineman Conner Bogard, All-Region defensive end Cal Reynolds and linebacker Chad Stalnaker, First Team All-OAC defensive lineman Tyler Frederick and All-OAC Honorable Mention cornerback Ariel Jiménez. 

"They all left a legacy at John Carroll. The way they worked, practiced and took care of each other. These guys that are stepping in their shoes have been molded to take over," said Finotti. "I am excited about the guys that we have. I miss the seniors on a personal level but I know those guys are excited to see who will take over the legacy."

Richardson and Daniel Garcar (18 tackles, 0.5 sack) will be tasked with leading a group of two new faces — Kyle Ulshafer and Ross Valenti — on the defensive line. 

Behind them, Luke Brown (21 tackles, 1 sack, forced fumble), Hunter Orlando (58 tackles, 6 tackles for loss) and Brian Robinson (37 tackles, forced fumble) all add experience to the linebacking corps. 

Leopold will command a secondary that will feature upperclassmen Jake Bunofsky (1 interception) and Alec Wallace and a sophomore in Josh McLean. 

"It's important for me to keep everyone calm and composed and to understand the moment. Last year we had so much experience that no matter the situation, we wouldn't flinch," Leopold said. "Now, with some new guys, it's on us because we were here the last two years to keep everyone in the moment and to understand the situation."

Stalnaker was one of four new position coaches hired this off-season; he will coach linebackers. Matt Baker (Pass Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks), Trent Voss (Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line) and Anthony Trotta (Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends) will all make their debuts in Blue and Gold. 

Following the season-opener against Baldwin Wallace, the Blue Streaks will play the remaining East Division teams: at Mount Union (March 19), vs. Marietta College (March 26) and at Muskingum University (April 2). A fifth game will take place on April 16 against the same-standing place team in the West Division. 

"It's a lot of excitement because football is back," Finotti said. "A lot of our guys choose John Carroll University to play football because of the brotherhood and great legacy that exists from being a part of the Blue Streak family."
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