Sept. 20, 2014
BALTIMORE, MD - The Johns Hopkins football team rolled up more than 400 yards of total offense for the 21st consecutive time in the regular season and controlled the ball for more than 34 minutes as the Blue Jays eased past visiting Moravian, 33-14, at Homewood Field Saturday afternoon. The win is the 14th straight in the regular season for Johns Hopkins, which also ran its winning streak in the month of September to 18 games dating back to 2010.
The Greyhounds led 7-3 after a six-yard touchdown reception by Jalen Snyder-Scipio capped a six-play, 50-yard drive with 6:53 remaining in the first quarter. By the time Moravian scored again with 15 seconds remaining in the game, the Blue Jays had scored 30 consecutive points to secure their sixth straight win in the series.
The 7-3 deficit was a 16-7 lead by intermission as sophomore Dionisio Roman polished off long and short scoring drives with scoring runs to account for Johns Hopkins' two first-half touchdowns.
Hopkins (3-0, 2-0 Centennial) answered Snyder-Scipio's score with a 13-play, 69-yard drive that took just over four minutes and was finished with a one-yard Roman touchdown run. Senior quarterback Braden Anderson was 4-of-5 for 34 yards on the drive, which was extended just before the touchdown when Roman gained four yards on a fourth-and-two from the Moravian five-yard line. His touchdown one play later gave the Blue Jays the lead for good at 10-7.
The Blue Jays extended the three-point lead midway through the second quarter after sophomore Jack Toner intercepted Moravian's Mike Hayes and returned it 21 yards to the Greyhound 12. Two plays later it was Roman going in from four yards to out to account for the 16-7 halftime lead for Johns Hopkins.
Any hopes for a Moravian comeback were dashed in the first 10 minutes of the second half. After the `Hounds came up with an interception on Johns Hopkins' first possession of the third quarter, they drove deep into Blue Jay territory and had a first-and-10 at the JHU 19. A short completion, two straight incompletions and another completion for no gain on fourth-and-seven from the 16 turned the ball over on downs.
Johns Hopkins responded with a methodical 16-play, 84-yard drive that ate more than six minutes off the clock and ended with an eight-yard Anderson scoring run to push the lead to 23-7. The Blue Jays mixed the run and pass effectively and Anderson connected with sophomore Quinn Donaldson four times for 59 yards to fuel the drive.
Johns Hopkins added a four-yard touchdown run by freshman Ryan Cary and a 22-yard field goal from classmate Jamie Sullivan to push the lead to 33-7 in the fourth quarter before the Greyhounds closed out the scoring with a 12-play, 67-yard drive late in the game. Hayes scored on a quarterback keeper on fourth-and-goal from the JHU two-yard line with 15 seconds left to account for the 33-14 final score.
While the offense rolled up 413 yards and the 33 points, the Blue Jay defense keyed the victory. The `Hounds gained 67 combined yards on their first two drives and 67 more on the last one, but just 177 total on 11 drives bridging the first and fourth quarters, during which time the Blue Jays recorded three sacks, came up with three interceptions and forced six punts. Only two of those 11 possessions for Moravian last more than 1:46.
Anderson was 25-of-34 for 218 yards and also rushed for 38 yards and the one score. Sophomore Stuart Walters rushed 23 times for 81 yards and Roman added 14 carries for 41 yards and the two scores and three receptions for 36 yards. Donaldson had a career-high eight receptions for 90 yards and was one of nine different players to catch at least one pass for the Blue Jays.
Toner had seven receptions, the one interception and one pass breakup, while senior Michael Longo added seven tackles, including one of Johns Hopkins' three sacks.
Hayes was 18-of-31 for 138 yards with the one touchdown against three interceptions. He also rushed for 51 yards and the one score. Eli Redmond had a team-high 73 rushing yards and Snyder-Scipio had five receptions for 76 yards and the first-quarter touchdown for the Greyhounds.
Johns Hopkins will return to action next Saturday when the Blue Jays travel to Muhlenberg for a key early-season matchup with the Mules. Muhlenberg moved to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the Centennial Conference with a 59-10 win at McDaniel earlier today.
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