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Mount Union 33 John Carroll 30 by Dick Ross |
EQUINOX
John Carroll University was started in 1886 by a group of German Jesuits from Buffalo on the near west side of Cleveland at the location that is now St. Ignatius High School, known as a College prep school and a perennial statewide football power. In 1923 the school purchased
land in Warrensville Township, southeast of Cleveland, for their eventual relocation and
after a brief period as Cleveland University, the school adopted the current name.
In 1925 the Village of Idlewood changed its name to University Heights, becoming a city in
1940. Construction of the main University structure began in 1931 and the move was
completed in 1935. Today there are more than 20 buildings, primarily gothic in
style, on 60 acres. Two major projects currently under
Because of these two projects,
JCU had to find a substitute location for this year's game. Bedford's
"Bearcat" stadium, near the intersection of Rockside and Northfield Roads, is a
first class facility with an artificial playing surface, surrounded by a red rubberized
track, which looks very much like BW's Finnie Field. The stadium features aluminum
stands, trimmed with tan brick, a large free standing locker room and concession building
at the south end with the score board mounted in the facade. It is truly a handsome
facility. Just about a half hour across town, this one was almost a home game for me. Meeting friends and family for a pregame dinner, we arrived to find that the spacious parking lots of the high school were already filled and that the game was already a victory for the PTO parents who were selling parking spots at St. Peter Chanel High School, across the street. With the very heavy turn out for both sides, and no presale of tickets, the first game played by JCU at this location produced some very long lines at the ticket counters and at the gates. The Blue Streaks took the
field in solid dark blue uniforms with their logo-less gold Notre Dame style head gear;
Mount arrived in white over white with purple numerals and helmets. This week's
opening
Depending on who you ask, the overall series between the two schools is either 13 or 14 wins for Mount, with two losses (last in 1989) and two ties (most recent in 1991). John Carroll includes a 1920 "St. Ignatius" game in their statistics - Mount does not. Kick off temperature was in
the lower 70's with a "good news" clearing sky to the West - bad news was that
it meant the crowd in the visitors stands had to deal with the brilliant setting sun in
the opening quarter. Mount took the opening kick off and went 75-yards on 11-plays
Mount called a time out and #
42, Jr. RB Vincent Ilacqua of Willoughby/Lake Catholic went in as the blocking back.
Just about everyone in the stadium knew what was coming: # 10, Sr. Chuck Moore of
Mogadore hit the line for the first of at least three touchdowns on the day. # 1,
Sr. Rodney Chenos of Galloway/Hilliard Davidson contributed the conversion to up the score
seven.
JCU's tailback DeGeorge scored again, early in the second half, after an interception by their # 17 Sr. CB Perry Kraft of Amanda/Clearcreek, to tie the score at 14. It looked for a bit as if JCU
would go up by seven, as vociferous cries for "Defense" arose from the visitors
side: the drumming of stomping feet on the aluminum stands sounded like a squadron of
B-17's warming up. The Purple Gang, wearing white this week, held the Blue Steaks to
a 27-yard field goal, The Bluecoat offense had
barely restarted when our # 17 Jr. CB Chris Kern of Fairbault, Minn. picked off a Tom Arth
pass and took it back 18-yards for the touchdown. The extra point was blocked; Mount
had closed the quarter with 13-points in less than 30-seconds. No one was headed
home yet.
In a rule that I don't
understand, JCU was given possession at their own 20, and proceeded to take advantage by
speeding 80-yards in three-plays, with a 75-yard touchdown reception by # 18 Brian
Shellito Sr. TE of Bainbridge/Kenston to take the lead 30-27. A ferocious surge by
the kick defense team blocked the conversion to keep the margin at three: 30-27, JCU. Back to business, the Raider offense dug in and marched back down to the score board end wearing down the Blue Streak defense, who used its final time outs. The "Good Guys" in white went down the far sideline with passes to # 9, Candle and # 10 Moore, highlighted by a fourth and three catch which bounced in the air three times before it was caught by # 5 Jr TE Josh Liddell of Bemus Point surrounded by blue shirts, for a critical first down, and polished off by a Chuck Moore special for a seven-yard touchdown, tipping the scales back to our side 33-30, after the conversion was missed. The quasi Home Team was left with 26 seconds, and a hope to win or tie, but in serious trouble, without any timeouts.
Dick Ross
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Twice each year, in March and September, the Sun crosses the Earth's equator. In the
northern hemisphere the days are longer than the nights, from March to September.
Equinox in Latin is, literally, "Equal Night." It could, as easily, been
named "Equal day" but they are the point, each year, where the hours of daylight
equal the hours of darkness; from now until late December, the hours of darkness will
increase daily. I've read someplace that, at the time of the Equinox, it is possible
to balance an egg on its small end - not sure how that may apply to football, but the
Equinox was due at 7:05 p.m., 5 minutes after the kick off.
Unlike the mystery of Philip Otterbein, John Carroll is featured prominently at the
university that bears his name. Born in 1735 to a well known Maryland family.
Carroll traveled to France where he studied at St. Omer College, in Flanders, a Jesuit
school run by English priests. Carroll was ordained as a Jesuit in 1769 and returned
to America in 1774. In 1776 he was asked to serve on a commission, which included
Benjamin Franklin, to enlist the aid of Canada in the American Revolution. Fr.
Carroll was made the head of all missions in America in 1784, is credited with the
founding of Georgetown University in 1789, and was named as the first Roman Catholic
Bishop of the United States in 1790. His Eulogy of George Washington, delivered in
February of 1800, is considered the premier example of his eloquence.
construction are a
science and technology building, funded by Charles (brother of the Indians owner) and
Helen Dolan, cable television pioneers and a new stadium at Wasmer field, named for the
principal donor, Don Shula, professional football player and coach. (All three are
JCU Alums)
ceremonies included the captains of
both teams holding a very large American Flag, while JCU's pep band played the National
Anthem. 
on a drive, mostly on the ground, that
came down to 4th and one, at the one yard line. 
Darkness began to overtake the game, with a first quarter moon rising in the southwest, as
Carroll QB # 3, Sr. Tom Arth of Mentor/Lake Catholic dropped back into the
"Shotgun" formation, to attempt to buy some passing time against the Mount Union
defense while Mount took the ball south 44-yards in 8-plays, climaxed by Moore around the
right side for 11-yards and his second touchdown. Carroll "streaked" back,
going 80-yards in 10-plays with the final 13 to # 42 Soph. tailback Ryan DeGeorge of
Akron/Hoban, on a crossing pattern.
by # 16 Franco Barile Sr.of North
Royalton/Holy Name, but the three points gave the Blue and Gold its first lead of the
evening, midway into the third period. Mount responded with a workman like march up
the field, with a very nice "soft hands" catch of a pass from # 7 Jr. Rob
Adamson of Akron/Manchester by # 9 Sr. WR Jason Candle of Salem/West Branch for the
touchdown.
The Blue team played tough into the 4th quarter but Monty's D-men answered the challenge
with hard nose defense by # 97 Jeff "Nuclear" Knoblach Jr., of Pickerington and
# 23 Sr. OLB, Jason "Pancake" Perkins. # 92 Sr. DE Todd Braden of
MacArthur/Vinton County, was around the right side of Carroll's line and in the backfield
on almost every play, but the next series saw Blue # 88 break away for a 45-yard touchdown
catch. Filling in for # 24 Jeff Lerner of North Olmsted, Jr. WR Antoine Dunkin of
Cleveland/VASJ turned on his speed and got behind everybody to close the gap to
three. The Mount Union defense continued to play tough, with an interception by # 22
Jr. CB Dustin Blake of Fairlawn/Copely, who had been playing on the offense, last season.
On the following series Mount drove down to the far end 5-yard line. What looked,
from the opposite corner of the field and on the televised replay, to be another Chuck
Moore TD and then a loose ball, was signaled as a touchdown by at least one referee and
everyone still standing on the Mount Union team, but was eventually ruled to be a fumble
through the end zone.
After the kick off, the Streaks ran a couple of sideline plays, including the ol'
"Hook and Ladder." They got to the 30-yard line in the center of the
field, with the clock stopped for the first down, and the team spread all over the
field. I really would not care to accuse anyone of "faking" a serious
injury, but the Carroll player who went down, apparently in serious pain, did so only when
the ref. prepared to signal the clock to restart. QB Arth was able to organize his
squad for one quick play; spiking the ball to give the coaching staff time to decide on
their final move. They sent in # 19, Josh Hose, who is usually their kick off man,
to try a 47-yard field goal. For one tense moment, the kick rose above the battling
linemen: it was high enough and straight, but dropped about five feet in front of the bar,
for another fantastic finish. A "W" that Mount might be considered
lucky to come home with after three fumbles lost and two interceptions. 
A televised tape of the game is available for sale (with lots of JCU commercials) as long
as supplies last. Contact: