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John Carroll Football Advances to NCAA Semifinals

MOUNT BERRY, GA - In the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division III football championships, No. 9 John Carroll (12-1) collected a 21-13 win over No. 17 Berry (11-2) to advance into the semifinal round for the first time since 2016. The Blue Streaks will take on the winner of the No. 1 North Central (IL)/No. 4 Bethel (MN) on Saturday, December 20.
 
JOHN CARROLL (12-1) 21, BERRY (11-2) 13
  • John Carroll controlled the early tempo and leaned on a balanced offensive attack to build a 14-point halftime cushion and then relied on timely defense to hold off a late Vikings rally.
  • After a scoreless opening quarter that featured strong defensive play on both sides, John Carroll broke through early in the second quarter. A methodical 10-play, 71-yard drive was capped by a one-yard touchdown run from junior running back Quincy Newsom (Twinsburg, OH/Twinsburg) at the 13:38 mark, giving the Blue Streaks a 7-0 advantage. The drive was fueled by several key completions from graduate student quarterback Nick Semptimphelter (Franklin, TN/Battle Ground Academy), who consistently moved the chains through the air.
  • John Carroll doubled its lead late in the half following a defensive stop. Semptimphelter again guided an efficient march downfield, finishing the eight-play, 57-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown pass to first-year running back Cohen Klimak (Streetsboro, OH/Streetsboro) with 1:50 remaining before halftime. The score sent the Blue Streaks into the locker room with a 14-0 lead.
  • The defensive battle continued throughout the third quarter, as Berry struggled to capitalize on its possessions. The Blue Streaks’ defense forced multiple turnovers, highlighted by interceptions from sophomore Dylan Crasi (Aurora, OH/Aurora), keeping the Vikings off the scoreboard and preserving the two-score cushion.
  • John Carroll delivered what proved to be the decisive score early in the fourth quarter. On a short field following another defensive stand, Semptimphelter connected with graduate student tight end Kenneth Rawls (Nashville, TN/Battle Ground Academy) for a seven-yard touchdown at the 13:27 mark, extending the lead to 21-0.
  • Berry mounted a late push, scoring twice in the final quarter. Quarterback Andrew Hunter found Nate Lyons for a six-yard touchdown with 8:48 remaining, and later connected with Cameron Coleman on a 24-yard scoring strike with 2:07 left to cut the margin to 21-13. However, John Carroll’s defense tightened in the closing moments, forcing the Vikings to use time and preventing any further scoring chances.
  • Semptimphelter finished the contest completing 20-of-28 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Graduate student wide receiver Tyren Montgomery (Woodlands, TX/The Woodlands College Park) led the receiving corps with nine catches for 126 yards, while Rawls added five receptions for 78 yards and the fourth-quarter score. Klimak contributed both on the ground and through the air, including his receiving touchdown, while Newsom powered the run game with the opening score.
  • Defensively, senior linebacker Mason Rus (Kirtland, OH/Kirtland) led the Blue Streaks with nine total tackles, and the unit forced five interceptions overall to stifle Berry’s comeback attempts.

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