Box Score By: Ryan Gasser, sports information director
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Capital University Football lost its fifth consecutive game on Saturday afternoon after John Carroll University delivered the Crusaders a 48-21 defeat at Bernlohr Stadium.
John Carroll (4-3, 4-2 OAC) began the game by scoring the first 21 points of the contest, one on the ground and two through the air. JCU running back Ro Golphin served as the workhorse on the Blue Streaks' opening drive, accounting for all but 12 of the 67 yards acquired on the scoring drive. He capped it off with a 38-yard touchdown scamper to get JCU on the board first.
Capital then surrendered back-to-back passing touchdowns. Anthony Moeglin hit Jake Santiago from six yards out and then followed up with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Danny Disbrow to take a 21-0 lead at the top of the second quarter.
The Capital offense responded with an 11-play, 77-yard drive that ended in a two-yard quarterback keeper by senior Nick Iske (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson). That marked his first rushing touchdown of the season and his third overall in 2017.
Capital was unable close the gap any further after coming within 14 points of the Blue Streaks.
John Carroll ended the first half with a 35-yard field goal by Matt Danko to take a 24-7 lead into halftime. They then came out of the locker room and scored the first of 21 points in the third quarter on its first offensive possession.
Quarterback Thomas Wibbeler (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville) got the crowd back into the game by launching a 75-yard touchdown pass to hit sophomore David Barnett (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee) in stride. Barnett made the catch and took it 30 more yards downfield, successfully diving for the pylon for the score.
The Blue Streaks' run game kept the chains and clocks moving, and accounted for three of the six JCU touchdowns. Capital allowed 322 rush yards, 109 of which came from Golphin. Sam Kukura chipped in 95 yards and a score, as well.
Wibbeler threw his 19th and 20th touchdown passes of the season and had a total of 298 yards through the air. He is now 26 yards away from hitting 2,000 passing yards this season.
The Crusaders' running game was held in check with just 25 net yards being accumulated against the JCU defense. Through the air, two Cap players were able to pull down 100 or more receiving yards. Dartavious Stanford (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville) caught a team-high six passes for 100 yards and one touchdown, while Barnett finished with 114 yards on four catches plus one score.
Stanford's touchdown reception accounted for the last of Capital's points and was scored with 5:27 remaining in the third quarter.
Capital will hit the road for its next contest against Baldwin Wallace University (4-2, 3-2 OAC). The Crusaders and Yellow Jackets will hit the gridiron on Saturday, Oct. 21 with action starting at 1:30 p.m. from George Finnie Stadium.
