LANCASTER, PA – The Johns Hopkins football team used a 21-point second-half run to turn a 20-13 deficit into a 34-20 lead and the Blue Jays held off host Franklin & Marshall, 34-27, at rain-soaked Shadek Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Blue Jays, who entered the game ranked seventh nationally in the most recent AFCA poll and 10th in the D3football.com Poll, run their winning streak to nine games dating back to last season and improve to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the Centennial Conference with today's win. F&M slips to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the Centennial.
The Blue Jays trailed 7-6 at the half and were down 20-13 after a Ty Tremba-to-Gary Lewis eight-yard touchdown pass capped a seven-play, 71-yard drive midway through the third quarter. After spotting the Blue Jays an early 6-0 lead, Tremba's touchdown pass to Lewis polished off a 20-7 spurt for the Diplomats.
The seven point lead didn't last long as EJ Talarico returned the ensuing kickoff a school-record 98 yards for a touchdown and Joe Zahner added the extra-point to pull the Blue Jays even at 20.
After forcing a quick F&M punt after Talarico's kickoff return, the Blue Jays pieced together their second lengthy touchdown drive of the game to take the lead for good. Junior quarterback Bay Harvey took the final play of the drive three yards for a touchdown to polish off the 16-play, 83-yard drive that took 7:21 off the clock; Johns Hopkins converted a pair of third downs and one fourth down to keep the drive alive.
The Blue Jay defense then forced another quick punt and the offense got the insurance points it would need a short time later when Harvey hit Will Leger down the seam and Leger broke three tackles on the way to the end zone to push the score to 34-20.
The Diplomats made things interesting as Tremba directed a nine-play, 48-yard drive that he polished off with a one-yard touchdown pass to Brady Aselton with 4:53 on the fourth-quarter clock.
After Hopkins recovered an onsides kick after Aselton's score, F&M would not get the ball back as the Blue Jays were able to gain a pair of first downs – one on a five-yard Harvey-to-Cole Crotty completion on third-and-four and the other on a three-yard Spencer Uggla run on third-and-one – to seal the victory.
Inside the Box Score – Johns Hopkins
• Talarico's 98-yard return breaks his own school record for the longest in school history. He had returned one 96 yards for a score at Ursinus last season.
• Harvey was 19-of-31 for 297 yards with three touchdowns against one interception. He also rushed 16 times for a career-high 86 yards and the one score.
• Josh Polce (7-112-2), Crotty (7-72) and Leger (3-97-1) were on the back end of 17 of Harvey's 19 completions.
• Luke Schuermann and Josh Andersson tied for the team-lead with six tackles apiece. Schuermann had 1.5 TFLs and one sack among his six tackles.
• JHU outgained F&M 439-249 and controlled the ball for 36:12.
Inside the Box Score – Franklin & Marshall
• Tremba was 14-of-30 for 190 yards and four scores. He was sacked four times on the day.
• Mitch Wagner rushed for a team-high 74 yards, but overall the Diplomats had just 59 net rushing yards on the day.
• Aselton scored on both of his receptions – the one-yard catch in the fourth quarter and a 25-yard reception in the third.
• Matt Wertz paced the F&M defense with 12 tackles, while Nico Medlar added 10 stops, two pass breakups and one interception.
Notes of Interest
• Dating back to 2010, Johns Hopkins is now 100-10 in its last 110 Centennial Conference games.
• Since late in the 2010 season, the Blue Jays are 112-8 in their last 120 regular season games.
• With today's win, the Blue Jays improve to 39-3 in their last 42 games in the month of October.
• JHU pulled even in the all-time series against F&M with today's win (36-36-2). In the last 26 meetings, the Blue Jays are 22-4.
Johns Hopkins will return to action on Saturday, October 21 when the Blue Jays welcome Ursinus to Homewood Field (1 pm).
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