DePauw & John Carroll Advance into NCAA Football Third Round

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OH/WHITEWATER, WI - John Carroll (10-1) collected a 35-6 win over Randolph-Macon (9-2), while DePauw (10-1) captured a 26-23 victory over Wisconsin-Whitewater (8-3) in the second round of the NCAA Division III football championships on Saturday, November 29.
 
The Blue Streaks will take on Mount Union (11-0), while the Tigers will face Wheaton (IL) (10-2) on Saturday, December 6 in the third round.
 
JOHN CARROLL (10-1) 35, RANDOLPH-MACON 6 (9-2)
  • John Carroll struck first in the opening quarter with a methodical 12-play, 76-yard drive capped by graduate student quarterback Nick Semptimphelter’s (Franklin, TN/Battle Ground Academy) three-yard rushing touchdown to take a 7-0 lead. Randolph-Macon responded with a short touchdown run by Dante Casciola to pull within one, but the Blue Streaks answered late in the second quarter with a six-play, 40-yard drive that ended in a two-yard touchdown reception by sophomore tight end Nolan Tanner (Hudson, OH/Hudson) on a pass from Semptimphelter. John Carroll’s defense held firm the rest of the half, entering the break with a 14-6 advantage.
  • The Blue Streaks took control in the third quarter, opening the half with a quick scoring drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Semptimphelter to graduate student wide receiver Tyren Montgomery (Woodlands, TX/The Woodlands College Park), followed later by a 24-yard strike to junior wide receiver Shane Lindstrom (North Lima, OH/South Range) to push the lead to 28-6. John Carroll put the game away early in the fourth quarter with a time-consuming 17-play, 80-yard drive that concluded with a five-yard touchdown run by first-year running back Cohen Klimak (Streetsboro, OH/Streetsboro), extending the margin to 35-6.
  • John Carroll’s offense was powered by Semptimphelter, who completed 31-of-33 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns, spreading the ball to multiple targets. Montgomery led the receiving corps with nine catches for 84 yards and a touchdown, while Lindstrom added six receptions for 63 yards and a score. Running backs, senior Nemo Jenkins (Bradenton, FL/Braden River) and first-year Cohen Klimak (Streetsboro, OH/Streetsboro) paced the rushing attack with 53 and 48 net yards, respectively, as Klimak also found the end zone on the ground. On defense, linebackers, senior Mason Rus (Kirtland, OH/Kirtland) and fifth-year Chris Golson (Streetsboro, OH/Streetsboro), led the way with six and four total tackles, respectively, combining for three tackles for loss, while senior defensive end Ben Day (Brecksville, OH/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) and senior defensive back Lamar Thomas (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) each added four tackles and one tackle for loss. The balanced offensive performance and strong defensive presence helped John Carroll sustain drives and limit Randolph-Macon’s opportunities throughout the game.
DEPAUW (10-1) 26, WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER (8-3) 23
  • DePauw came out aggressive in the first half against Wisconsin-Whitewater, mixing a strong ground game with timely passing to move the chains. Running backs, junior Carson Johnson (Indianapolis, IN/Cathedral) and senior Caden Whitehead (Indianapolis, IN/Park Tudor), led the rushing attack, highlighted by a 21-yard run from Whitehead, while sophomore quarterback Scott Ballentine (Crown Point, IN/Andrean) connected with junior tight end Palmer Samuels (Muncie, IN/Delta) and Whitehead for key completions. The Tigers’ methodical drives paid off on the scoreboard, with junior kicker Matthew Berry (Jacksonville, FL/Bolles School) converting a 21-yard field goal and Whitehead punching in a touchdown from three yards out, giving DePauw a 10-7 lead.
  • UW-Whitewater scored a touchdown four minutes into the third to take a 14-10 lead. The Tigers responded with a touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Robby Ballentine (Crown Point, IN/Andrean), reclaiming the lead at 17-14. UW-Whitewater tied the game at 17-17 with just 23 seconds left in the third quarter. Early in the fourth, DePauw regained the lead when Ballentine connected with sophomore wide receiver Evan Pitzer (Erlanger, KY/Covington Catholic) for a touchdown, making it 23-17. Berry later added a field goal to extend the advantage to 26-17, before UW-Whitewater narrowed the margin to 26-23. DePauw’s offense combined with timely defensive stops, allowed the Tigers to maintain control through the fourth quarter.
  • DePauw’s offense was powered by the Ballentine brothers, as Scott completed 16-of-32 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns while adding 48 rushing yards, while Robby led the receiving corps with five catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. Samuels added six receptions for 37 yards and Johnson and Whitehead paced the rushing attack with 73 and 59 net yards, respectively. On defense, senior linebacker Jack Roland (Greenfield, IN/Greenfield-Central) led the Tigers with nine total tackles, and senior defensive lineman Luke Nolan (Zionsville, IN/Zionsville) added five tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss for 18 yards. Senior defensive back Holt Heldebrand (Tulsa, OK/Holland Hall) contributed four tackles and a key interception.

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