Not every one of John Carroll's games in 2009 came down to the final minute -- but it certainly seemed that way.
The final game was no exception.
A potential tying score in the final minute came up a conversion short as John Carroll fell by a 24-22 score to #23 ranked Otterbein College Saturday afternoon in Westerville, Ohio.
Box Score
Trailing 24-16 with exactly three minutes to play, the Blue Streaks drove 77 yards in 11 plays, and scored a touchdown with 42 seconds left when Jeff Javorek connected with Scottie Williams in the back of the end zone.
Needing a two-point conversion to tie the game, Javorek again looked for Williams but could not complete the pass. An onside kick which followed was recovered by Otterbein and the Cardinals were able to run out the clock.
It was John Carroll's seventh game this season in which the issue was in doubt entering the final minute of play, but only two of those contests ended in a victory.
The game began well for JCU with Bobby Mangarelli's 40-yard kick return providing the impetus for a 54-yard touchdown drive. Javorek would cap the possession with a one-yard touchdown plunge for a 6-0 lead, but in a play that would ultimately affect the outcome, the point after was missed.
Otterbein would score it first touchdown later in the first quarter when Colton Coy's nine yard run to the end zone and David Brewer's PAT put the Cardinals ahead, 7-6.
The Cardinals kept up the pressure on its next possession that ended with a Brewer 32-yard field goal early in the second quarter that staked the hosts a 10-6 advantage.
Kyle Sheerer helped JCU shift the momentum midway through the second period. His interception of a long pass at the Blue Streaks' 34-yard line would lead to a long touchdown drive by John Carroll before the end of the half. On second and goal from the seven, DaQuan Grobsmith took a handoff on a "Statue of Liberty" style play and rushed seven yards to paydirt. Brad Marchese's extra point put John Carroll up 13-10 with 27 seconds left in the half.
Otterbein had one last chance to score points, but a field goal attempt from 40 yards out was blocked by Jim Gilchrist.
Neither team had success moving the ball in the third quarter until Otterbein took over in the final with 5:09 showing on the clock. Coy busted off a 47-yard run, setting up his own 1-yard touchdown run three plays later that gave the Cardinals a 17-13 lead.
JCU answered on its next drive when marchese drilled a 38-yar field goal to cut the Otterbein lead to one point at 17-16, but a Chase Bowman interception on the next Blue Streak possession set up what proved to be the game-winning drive. Austin Schlosser connected with Ryan Rowley from seven-yards away, and Brewer's point after put Otterbein up by eight points at 24-16 with just over eight minutes remaining.
The Blue Streaks attempted to answer right back and drove to the Otterbein 12-yard line, but Nick Steltzer intercepted Javorek to end that drive. JCU forced a three-and-out, however, and got the ball back on a punt with three minutes left in the contest.
John Carroll (3-7, 3-6 OAC), which dropped its fifth consecutive game, was led by Javorek's 224 yards passing as he completed 23 of his 31 attempts. he had one touchdown to go against two picks. Williams (78 yards) and Frank Ross (85 yards) each had seven receptions.
Otterbein (8-2, 7-2 OAC), which still has a chance at landing an at-large berth into the NCAA playoffs, was paced by Coy, who ended up with 100 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 16 carries.
The Blue Streaks outgained Otterbein on the afternoon, 374-286.
The seven losses are the most by a JCU team since the 1986 team finished the season 2-7 -- which was the last losing season the Blue Streaks endured prior to 2009.