BEREA, Ohio – The No. 20 nationally-ranked Baldwin Wallace University closed out the regular season portion of its schedule as it fell to crosstown rival John Carroll University in an Ohio Athletic Conference, seniors' Day, Veterans Appreciation Day and the 33rd Cuyahoga Gold Bow Trophy game by a final score of 29-28 on the Tressel Field inside the George Finnie Stadium.
BW (8-2, 7-2 OAC) falls to 31-26-4 in the all-time series with John Carroll (7-3, 7-2 OAC) and 19-14 in the Gold Bowl Series.
Prior to the game, the University, Athletics Department and the football program honored and recognized its senior student-athletes and student assistant coach. At halftime, the senior cheerleaders, marching band members and veterans in attendance were honored and recognized.
Offensively for BW, senior Academic All-OAC quarterback Keagan Armitage (Ashland) completed 12-of-21 passes for 184 yards with two touchdowns. Junior running All-OAC running back John Murray, Jr. (Cincinnati/Withrow) led the ground game as he rushed for 77 yards on 25 carries. Murray, Jr. finished the season as the OAC leader in touchdowns with 17 as well as setting the school-record for rushing yards in a career with 2,715. Senior wideout Darius Stokes (Canton/GlenOak) led the receiving corps as he caught four passes for 85 yards with one touchdown. Defensively, junior linebacker Dillon O'Donoghue (Canonsburg, Pa. / Cannon-McMillian) recorded a career-high 11 tackles.
The Blue Streaks were led by senior All-OAC quarterback Jake Floriea as he completed 25-of-40 passes for 281 yards with three touchdowns. Freshman running back Evan Mcvay led the rushing attack as he rushed for 86 yards on 17 carries. Junior All-OAC wideout Brennan Fugh led the receiving unit as he caught 12 passes for 144 yards. Defensively, senior All-OAC defensive lineman Jack Burton tallied 11 tackles.
FIRST QUARTER (JCU, 3-0)
- 4:46 Grant Gonya 24-yard field goal
SECOND QUARTER (BW, 21-3)
- 14:21 Stokes 32-yard pass from Armitage (Junior kicker Dean Sarris (Canton/GlenOak) kick is good)
- 8:20 Armitage 5-yard run (Sarris kick is good)
- 0:32 Senior All-OAC defensive back/wide receiver Iyan Mitchell (Tampa, Fla./Robinson) 29- yard pass from Armitage. (Sarris kick is good)
THIRD QUARTER (BW, 21-10)
- 5:22 Devin Limerick 9-yard pass from Floriea (Gonya kick is good)
FOURTH QUARTER (JCU 29-28)
- 11:52 Armitage 1-yard run (Sarris kick is good)
- 8:21 Mcvay 1-yard run (2-pt conversion no good)
- 4:02 Mcvay 33-yard pass from Floriea (Kick no good)
- 0:45 Joe Tork 25-yard pass from Floriea (Gonya kick is good)
