Johns Hopkins got what it wanted yesterday - most of it, anyway.
The Blue Jays capitalized on seven McDaniel turnovers, scored twice off the miscues, and beat the No. 15 Green Terror, 27-7, at Homewood Field.
The win gave Hopkins (8-2, 5-1) its first eight-win season, plus a share of the Centennial Conference championship with Muhlenberg and McDaniel (8-2, 5-1). It is the first time in school history that the Blue Jays have claimed even a share of that title.
Muhlenberg, which beat Moravian, 8-0, yesterday, will probably get the conference's NCAA Division III playoff bid when the bids are announced today. Both Hopkins and McDaniel remain alive for an ECAC bid. Those will be announced tomorrow.
"We played very well, and they couldn't get over the turnovers," Hopkins coach Jim Margraff said. "If we play next week, it may be a letdown after the emotional high we're on."
McDaniel took a 7-0 lead just 3:25 into the game, when running back French Pope scored from 6 yards out.
Late in the quarter, Hopkins responded. Mike Barrasso blocked a McDaniel punt at the Green Terror 28, and the Blue Jays' Matt Campbell returned the ball to the 22. Five plays later, Hopkins quarterback George Merrell scored from 1 yard to tie the score 7-7 late in the first quarter.
Two possessions later, Hopkins got its second turnover when Pope fumbled a punt and the Blue Jays' Jake Kail fell on the ball at the McDaniel 29. Six plays later, Merrell found Jason Lehman open in the back of the end zone from 13 yards out to make the lead 14-7 with 7:06 left in the first half.
Hopkins' defense held McDaniel on the next series, but the attempted punt sailed over the McDaniel punter's head, and Barrasso fell on it at the McDaniel 28. Hopkins capped an eight-play, 28-yard drive when Merrell bulled his way in from 2 yards out to increase the margin to 21-7.
The Blue Jays got their last touchdown on another McDaniel mistake. Punt returner Dave Fedorchak dropped a fair catch at the McDaniel 36, and Hopkins' Jim Sanders recovered at the 9. Two plays later, quarterback Zach DiIonno, replacing an injured Merrell, scored from 9 yards.
"Maybe we thought we were a little better than we are," said McDaniel coach Tim Keating. "We self-destructed today, and the best team won. I'm totally disappointed that we didn't play better in a game like this."
Said Merrell: "I'm disappointed that we won't make the playoffs, but if this is our last game this year, then it's great to go out with a win like this."
McDaniel 7 0 0 0 - 7
Johns Hopkins 7 14 6 0 - 27
First quarter McD-Pope 6 run (Getchell kick), 11:35 JH-Merrell 1 run (Smolyn kick), 2:27 Second quarter JH-Lehman 13 pass from Merrell (Smolyn kick), 7:06 JH-Merrell 2 run (Smolyn kick), 2:09 Third quarter JH-DiIonno 9 run (kick failed), 13:40 A-1,200.
McD JH
First downs 14 13
Rushes-yards 33-80 50-145
Passing 174 112
Comp-Att-Int 14-31-2 10-22-0
Return yards 111 53
Punts-avg. 4-34.5 8-31.9
Fumbles-lost 8-5 1-0
Penalties-yards 9-72 5-44
Time of possession 24:48 35:12
Rushing-McDaniel, Pope 11-66, Canine 6-15, Johnson 8-13, Maybank 3-9, Hartman 1-2, Crowell 2-2, team 2-(minus 27). Johns Hopkins, Lyons 14-57, Merrell 12-29, DiIonno 6-16, Wolcott 3-15, Cook 5-14, Johnson 5-14, Miller 2-1, Lightfoot 1-0, Readal 2-(minus 1). Passing-McDaniel, Luster 7-18-2-101, Canine 6-10-0-43, Crowell 1-3-0-30. Johns Hopkins, Merrell 5-11-0-57, DiIonno 4-9-0-26, Fernand 1-2-0-29. Receiving-McDaniel, Ellis 3-60, Jegede 2-29, Venuto 2-12, Unger 2-11, Myers 1-30, Johnson 1-11, Browne 1-9, Hutsell 1-8, Hartman 1-4. Johns Hopkins, Wolcott 3-37, Moriarty 2-28, Lyons 1-17, Lehman 1-13, Stache 1-7, Miller 1-6, Readal 1-4.