The Muskingum football team will look to carry its momentum from last week's win to University Heights when the Muskies face 17th-ranked John Carroll on Saturday, October 5. Game time is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
Last week against Wilmington, Muskingum (2-2, 1-2) erupted for a season-high 520 yards of offense, which included 359 yards rushing. It marked the most yards by a Muskie squad since 1999 and the most rushing yards since 2014. Senior captain running back Bernard Johnson led the ground attack with a career-best 172 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 8.2 yards per carry. Johnson's outstanding performance was recognized on the national level by being named to the D3football.com Team of the Week. He was also named the Ohio Athletic Conference Football Offensive Player of the Week. Also aiding in the ground assault was freshman running back Jeffrey Curtis, who rushed for a career-high 133 yards and one score.
On the season, Muskingum is averaging 398.5 yards and 26 points per game. Junior captain quarterback Brody Hahn directs the Muskie offense. Hahn has thrown for 602 yards and three touchdowns on 47-of-79 passing. He's also rushed for 221 yards and four scores. Johnson is averaging 90.3 rushing yards per game and is registering 5.5 yards per rush. Curtis is tallying 50.8 yards per contest and 5.3 yards per tote. Freshman wideout Tyler Heinecke and senior receiver Darius Hayes-Carruth lead the Muskie receivers. Heinecke has a team-best 13 grabs for a team-best 195 yards. Hayes-Carruth has 10 receptions for 172 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Patrick Eanes has seven grabs for 133 yards and two scores.
Defensively, Muskingum is allowing 352.3 yards and 27.8 points per game. Junior linebacker Nehemiah Bowie, senior linebacker Caleb Gaiters and senior captain defensive lineman Tim Ousley lead the Muskie defense. Bowie has a team-best 30 stops, while Gaiters and Ousley each had 25 hits. Ousley, the Muskingum all-time career sacks leader with 22, leads the squad with four sacks for 21 yards. The freshmen defensive backs trio of Yo-Vonne Roberts, Willie Smith, and Kalib Dailey each has recorded one interception to pace the defensive secondary.
Sophomore kicker Gavin Costello leads the Muskie special teams play. Costello is a perfect 5-for-5 on the season in field goal attempts hitting from 25, 28, 30, 38, and 41 yards.
John Carroll (2-1, 1-1), which is celebrating homecoming this weekend, is looking to bounce back after droppings its first game of the season last weekend against 2nd-ranked Mount Union. The Blue Streaks are averaging 278 yards and 16.3 points per game. Junior quarterback Jake Floriea leads the JCU offense. He has thrown for 490 yards on 35-of-65 passing with two touchdowns. He's also rushed for 86 yards and one score. Junior running back Michael Canganelli leads the ground game with 145 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries. Canganelli also has seven receptions for 51 yards. Sophomore running back Devin Limerick has added 79 yards and one score and 77 receiving yards with one score. Freshman receiver Joe Torok has a team-best 11 receptions for 187 yards.
On defense, the Blue Streaks are allowing 289 yards and 17 points per outing. Senior linebacker Chad Stalnaker and senior defensive lineman Connor Bogard pace the team. Stalnaker has 32 tackles and 1.5 sacks, while Boggard has 23 stops and 1.5 sacks. As a unit, John Carroll has recorded 14 sacks.
Canganelli leads the JCI special teams averaging 27.2 yards per kickoff return, while sophomore defensive back Nate Leopold is averaging 8.6 yards per punt return.