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John Carroll University, ranked #8 in national preseason polls, defeated Saint Vincent by a score of 26-3 at Chuck Noll Field in the season opening game.

Both teams played well on defense in the first quarter, with teams trading punts through the first four possessions.  On its third series of the game, the Bearcats were again forced to punt, but Mark McCracken's kick was blocked by Joe Pool of John Carroll, giving the Blue Streaks the ball inside the SVC 10 yard line.

On the first play of the second quarter, Jake Schaefer completed a pass to Jordan D'Orazio for a 9-yard touchdown, and the extra point put the visitors ahead, 7-0.

With just under 10 minutes left in the first half, Schaefer and Arin Pruitt teamed for a 49-yard touchdown pass-and-run.  The extra point attempt failed, leaving the score at 13-0, and another touchdown later in the quarter made it 20-0 at the half.

Early in the third quarter, the Bearcats got on the board with a 20-yard field goal from Steven Scherer.  Earlier in the drive, SVC took a chance on a 4th-and-7 play, and a roughing the passer penalty made it first and goal for SVC, but the JCU defense held, forcing the field goal.  

Midway through the third, the game was delayed for 30 minutes due to lightning in the area.  Once play resumed, neither team was able to add to the score the remainder of the quarter.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, John Carroll completed a drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Schaefer to Marshall Howell, the first of his four receptions in the quarter.  The score put the visitors ahead, 26-3.

Near the 14-minute mark of the fourth, SVC quarterback Evan Shimensky connected with Damon Black for a 48-yard completion, but the play was called back due to a penalty, and forced the Bearcats into a 3rd-and-24 situation.  Freshman Ariel Martinez caught a 20-yard pass from Shimensky, but the yardage wasn't enough, forcing another SVC punt.

The Blue Streaks then drove the ball down the field, but the scoring threat ended when former wide receiver, now defensive back Alex Charles intercepted a Schaefer pass in the end zone.

Shimensky, a fifth-year senior making his SVC debut, went 13-for-29 through the air on the day for 111 yards, and was sacked 6 times by a strong JCU defense.  Shavonta Craft carried the ball 14 times for 63 yards, while Jhanard Dorsett had 12 carries for 34 yards.

Black led all receivers for SVC with 5 catches for 29 yards, while DJ Oceant-Kelly had three catches for 32 yards.  

For JCU, Schaefer went 23-36 for 271 yards and four touchdowns.  Howell caught 11 passes for 137 yards.  On the ground, Pruitt had 16 carries for 66 yards.

Defensively, Devin Anderson (10) and Matt McCarthy (9) led the Bearcats in tackles.  Dylan Hall had five tackles, including 2 sacks for 17 yards in losses.

The Bearcats (0-1) will return to action on Saturday, September 12, hosting Waynesburg University at Chuck Noll Field at 1PM.