Defense Leads JHU to 10th Straight Win ... 34-0 Over Juniata
HUNTINGDON, PA - 20th-ranked Johns Hopkins scored 34 points in the first three quarters and held host Juniata to three first downs and 37 yards of total offense as the Blue Jays posted a 34-0 victory over the Eagles at Knox Stadium Saturday afternoon. The win improves JHU's record to 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the Centennial Conference, while the Eagles slip to 0-5 overall and 0-4 in the Centennial.
Johns Hopkins also extended its overall winning streak to 10 games dating back to last season. The 10-game winning streak is one shy of the Johns Hopkins record of 11 and is also tied for the second-longest active Division III winning streak in the nation. The 5-0 start this season is the sixth in school history for Johns Hopkins.
The 37 yards the Blue Jays allowed are the fewest in school history. The previous record for fewest yards allowed was 40 by Muhlenberg in 2006.
Playing in a cold, steady rain, neither team had much success moving the ball early as the first six drives of the game ended with punts. That changed late in the first quarter when the Blue Jays used just under four minutes to go 81 yards with sophomore Robbie Matey capping the drive with a 22-yard touchdown pass to senior Sam Wernick. The drive was extended early on when the Blue Jays converted a fourth-and-one from their own 29.
After forcing another Juniata punt on its ensuing possession, the Blue Jays extended the lead to 14-0 midway through the second quarter with a 13-play, 63-yard scoring drive that Matey polished off with a seven-yard touchdown pass to junior Scott Cremens. With the Eagles unable to generate a first down offensively in the first half, the back-to-back touchdowns gave the Blue Jays some breathing room.
The Blue Jay defense forced another three-and-out late in the second quarter and for the first time in the game the Johns Hopkins offense used a quick-strike attack to push the lead to 20-0.
After taking over at the Juniata 47-yard line with just under five minutes remaining in the first half, Matey connected with sophomore Dan Wodicka on a 22-yard completion and junior Jonathan Rigaudraced untouched into the end zone two plays later from 22 yards out to give the Blue Jays the 20-point lead.
Any hopes the Eagles had of making a comeback were dashed in the first two minutes of the third quarter. Junior punter Owen Phillips mishandled the snap on a punt attempt on the Eagles' first possession of the third quarter and freshman Michael Longoscooped up the ball at the Juniata 20-yard line and raced into the end zone to make it 27-0.
Hopkins closed the scoring midway through the third quarter when Matey directed a nine-play, 65-yard drive that junior Scott Barlettacapped with a 12-yard run that accounted for the 34-0 final score.
Matey was 17-of-31 for 161 yards with the two touchdowns, while Wernick had a game-high seven receptions for 52 yards and the one score. The Blue Jays out-gained Juniata 381-37 and the Eagles' three first downs all came after halftime.
Taylor Maciow posted a team-high seven tackles, including one sack, for the Blue Jays, who also got six tackles and a tackle for loss from senior Kale Sweeney.
Juniata's Ward Udinski was just 2-of-14 for 17 yards as the Eagles managed just 16 net yards passing and 21 net rushing yards.
Johns Hopkins will return to action on Friday, October 14 when the Blue Jays host Dickinson at 7 pm. The Red Devils posted an impressive 31-24 win against Franklin & Marshall today as they erased a 21-0 halftime deficit to grab the victory.
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