Johns Hopkins-Hobart NCAA Football Notes

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The Game: Sixth-ranked Johns Hopkins (11-0) hits the road for the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs as the Blue Jays travel to Geneva, New York to take on seventh-ranked Hobart (11-0).
This week's Johns Hopkins-Hobart game is the only playoff game featuring two unbeaten teams.

A Look Back: Johns Hopkins improved to 11-0 on the year with a 24-16 win over Rowan in the first round of the NCAAs. Hobart made it a second-round matchup of 11-0 teams as the Statesmen topped Ithaca, 22-15, last Saturday.

How They Got Here: Johns Hopkins earned the Centennial Conference's automatic bid to the NCAAs, while Hobart grabbed an automatic bid as the Liberty League champion.

A Look Ahead: The winner of this week's second round game between Johns Hopkins and Hobart will play the winner of the Wesley-MIT game in the NCAA Quarterfinals on Saturday, December 6.

A Return to the NCAAs: Johns Hopkins is making its fourth straight and sixth overall appearance in the NCAA Playoffs this season. The Blue Jays are 4-5 all-time in NCAA action with a trip to the 2009 NCAA Quarterfinals and an appearance in the second round in 2012 highlighting their playoff history.

Series History: This will be just the second all-time meeting between Johns Hopkins and Hobart. Hobart won both previous meetings with a 27-14 win at home in 1965 and a 41-6 win at Homewood Field in 1966.

What They Have in Common: Johns Hopkins and Hobart had one common opponent this season in Dickinson. Hobart opened the season at home against the Red Devils and posted a not-as-close-as-it-looks 33-21 victory. The Blue Jays went to Dickinson on October 17 and came away with a 42-7 Centennial Conference victory.

All-Time vs. the Liberty League: This week's game at Hobart will be the 16th all-time Johns Hopkins game against a team currently in the Liberty League. The Blue Jays are 8-7 in the previous 15, including an 8-5 mark under head coach Jim Margraff.

First to 11: Johns Hopkins set a school record with its 11th victory of the season with last week's 24-16 win over Rowan. The Blue Jays had previously won 10 games in a season on five different occassions (2003, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013) before breaking through with their 11th win this season.
Johns Hopkins had never won more than seven games in a season prior to 2002, but the Blue Jays have posted eight or more wins 11 times in the last 13 years.

Centennial Conference Champions: Johns Hopkins won its fourth straight outright Centennial Conference title, its sixth straight overall title (JHU shared the 2010 title • won the '09 title outright) and the 10th CC title in school history this season. All 10 CC titles have come since 2002.

Simply Perfect: Johns Hopkins completed its third 10-0 regular season in the last four years with the 48-17 win over McDaniel on November 15. JHU also went 10-0 in 2011 and 2013. The only other time JHU went through a regular season unbeaten was in 1944, when the Blue Jays went 1-0-2.

A Perfect 10: Johns Hopkins became the first Centennial Conference team to win 10 league titles with this year's championship. Johns Hopkins had been tied with Muhlenberg and Dickinson atop the championship roll with nine titles. All 10 Johns Hopkins titles have come since 2002. The Centennial Conference was formed as a football-only league in 1983 and became an all-sports league with play beginning in 1993.

Last to First: Johns Hopkins was the last team in Centennial Conference history to win a league title as Hopkins didn't win its first title until 2002. Despite that, JHU is the first to get to 10 league titles.

Another 10: While many were focused on Johns Hopkins' 10 victory and 10th league title, head coach Jim Margraff's team posted another impressive 10 recently as 10 Blue Jays were named to the CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-District Team. Johns Hopkins' 10 selections were the most of any team in the district, represented 10 of the 14 selections from the Centennial Conference and were the most in school history.
To be eligible for the award, players must be a starter or significant reserve, at least a sophomore and carry at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average. Players named to the Academic All-District Team go on the ballot for national Academic All-America honors; that team will be announced on December 2.

Most in the Nation: The 10 Academic All-District selections for the Blue Jays this season were the most of any Division III team in the nation. In fact, only three other teams had six or more: Washington University (8), RPI (7), Rose-Hulman (6).

State of Affairs: The 2014 Johns Hopkins football roster consists of 88 players from 23 different states. The Hobart roster consists of 98 players from 11 states.

All-Centennial Jays: Johns Hopkins was well represented on the 2014 All-Centennial Conference Football Team, which was announced on November 25. The Blue Jays produced the league's Defensive Player of the Year in senior Michael Longo, the Coach of the Year in Jim Margraff, a school-record-tying 10 First Team All-Centennial selections and 12 overall selections to the team.
Below is a look at Johns Hopkins' honorees on the 2014 All-Centennial Conference Football Team:

Braden Anderson (Sr. • QB) - Honorable Mention
Rowan Cade (Jr. • OL) - First Team
Keith Corliss (Jr. • LB) - First Team
Colin Egan (Jr. • OL) - First Team
Kyle Flynn (Sr. • OL) - Second Team
Michael Longo (Sr. • DL) - First Team / Defensive Player of the Year
Jim Margraff (Head Coach) - Coach of the Year
Bradley Munday (So. • WR) - First Team
Ryan Rice (Sr. • DB) - First Team
Michael Rocca (Sr. • DL) - First Team
Jack Toner (So. • DB) - First Team
Stuart Walters (So. • RB) - First Team
Brady Watts (Jr. • LB) - First Team

Poll Position: Johns Hopkins is ranked sixth in the AFCA Division III Poll and seventh in the D3football.com Poll. The number six ranking in the AFCA Poll is the highest in school history, while the number seven ranking from D3football.com is the highest JHU has ever been ranked in that poll.
In addition to the national rankings, Johns Hopkins also checks in at #3 in this week's Lambert Meadowlands ranking of teams in the East.

Ranking Streaks: Johns Hopkins is ranked in the top 20 of the AFCA Poll for the 38th consecutive week dating back to early in the 2011 season and in the top 25 for the 39th consecutive week.

Honoring Our Seniors: Johns Hopkins held its senior day festitivies prior to the game against McDaniel. The current seniors have spearheaded one of the great four-year runs in program history. Below are a few of the accomplishments since this group arrived in 2011:

• Four Centennial Conference Championships
• Four NCAA Playoff appearances
• A cumulative record of 41-4 entering this week's game against Hobart
• A regular season record of 39-1

Seniors Set School Record: The seniors on the 2014 Johns Hopkins football team set a school record for most wins by one class with the 33-14 win at Franklin & Marshall on November 8. Since then, the Blue Jays have improved to 41-4 since this year's seniors arrived in 2011, moving past the seniors on the 2012 and 2013 teams (38 wins). The 41 victories also ties the record for most wins by one class in Centennial Conference history.

November Reign: Including the post-season, the Blue Jays are 21-5 in their last 26 games in November dating back to the 2008 season.

Can't Get More Even: The success of the Johns Hopkins football team since the start of the 2001 season has been well documented. Amazingly, that success has been nearly identical on the road and at home. Dating back to the start of the 2001 season, Johns Hopkins has played 77 home games and is 59-18 in those games. Remarkably, head coach Jim Margraff's team has been just as successful on the road as the Blue Jays are 59-17 in 76 games away from Homewood Field during that time.

Quick Starts: Johns Hopkins has jumped out to some quick starts of late as the Blue Jays have led at least 14-0 at the end of the first quarter seven times in their last eight games. Cumulatively, JHU has outscored the opposition 140-14 in the first quarter of the last eight games and holds a 204-44 first-half scoring margin in those games.

Margraff Sets State Record: Johns Hopkins head coach Jim Margraff became the winningest college football coach in Maryland state history with the 42-14 win at Ursinus (November 1) as that gave him 175 career victories, a mark he upped to 178 with last week's win vs. Rowan.
Margraff now sports a career record of 178-82-3 (.683) entering this week's game at Hobart. Margraff had been tied with legendary Morgan State head coach Eddie Hurt, who won 174 games from 1929-59.

Margraff Ninth on Division III Victories List: Johns Hopkins head coach Jim Margraff picked up career victory number 178 with the win last week vs. Rowan. In addition to ranking as the winningest coach in school and Maryland state history, Margraff also ranks ninth among active NCAA Division III coaches in career victories.

Balanced Ground Game Leading Offense: Four players are leading the Johns Hopkins ground game this season as sophomore Stuart Walters, junior Brandon Cherry, sophomore Dionisio Roman and senior Braden Anderson have combined for 1,868 yards and 29 touchdowns in 11 games.
With this group leading the way, Johns Hopkins is averaging 207.6 yards per game on the ground and has 33 rushing touchdowns on the year.
Below is look at JHU's three top running backs:

Stuart Walters - Leads the Blue Jays in rushing with 671 yards and also has seven touchdowns • Ranks 19th in school history in rushing yards (1,334) • Averaging 5.3 yards per rush this season and 5.4 in his career • Tied for the team lead in overall touchdowns (9) and ranks second in all-purpose yards (96.5) • Averaging 27.1 yards on eight kickoff returns on the year.

Brandon Cherry - Ranks second on the team in rushing yards with 513 and has six touchdowns as well • Also has 16 receptions for 120 yards and one TD • Ranks 12th in school history in rushing yards (1,751) and 14th in rushing TDs (17) • Has averaged 5.8 yards per carry in his career • Ranks fourth on the team with 633 all-purpose yards and rushed for a team-high 52 yards in the first round of the NCAAs against Rowan.

Dionisio Roman - Ranks fourth on the team in rushing yards with 279 and tied for second with seven rushing TDs to his credit • Has the 2nd longest run on the team this season (46T vs. Juniata) • Has 10 rushing TDs on 93 career carries (one every 9.3 carries).

Anderson Breaks Out: Senior Braden Anderson finished the regular season ranked among the Centennial Conference leaders in every passing category.
On the year, Anderson is 193-of-286 (.675) for 2,404 yards with 23 touchdowns against seven INTs. He has also rushed for 405 yards and a team-high nine TDs. Anderson has had a hand in 32 (23 passing • 9 rushing) of JHU's 58 touchdowns on the year.
Anderson has worked his way near the top in several of JHU's single-season passing categories as his 23 TDs are just one shy of the school record, while his 2,404 passing yards rank 6th. In addition, his 2,809 yards of total offense is second best all-time at JHU.
Anderson enjoyed one of the great post-season games in school history against Rowan as he was 27-of-36 for 286 yards with three touchdowns against one interception. His three TD passes are the most ever by a Johns Hopkins quarterback in an NCAA Playoff game, while his 286 passing yards rank second.
Anderson was at his best in JHU's five wins against Muhlenberg, Juniata, Dickinson, Gettysburg and Ursinus as he combined to go 92-of-130 (.708) for 1,304 yards with 16 TDs against just one intercpetion in those victories.

Deep Receiving Corps Excels: Senior quarterback Braden Anderson has done a good job spreading the ball around thus far this season as 17 different players have at least one reception and six players have 10 or more catches on the year. Like the rushing attack, there are several players fueling a passing attack that is accounting for 233.5 yards per game. The leaders include ...

Quinn Donaldson - Ranks second on the team with 45 receptions, which have gone for a team-high 749 yards and eight TDs • Had four receptions for 93 yards and two scores at Muhlenberg, four receptions for 86 yards at Dickinson and five receptions for a career-high 142 yards and two scores at Ursinus • Fueled JHU's win over Rowan in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs with seven receptions for 105 yards and two TDs - this was the first time a JHU receiver had two TD catches in an NCAA Playoff game.

Bradley Munday - Leads the team with 56 receptions, which have gone for 741 yards and six scores • Had 11 receptions for 77 yards and had 98 all-purpose yards in JHU's win over Rowan in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs - 11 receptions are tied for the third-highest total by a JHU receiver in an NCAA Playoff game. Enjoyed the best day of his career at Muhlenberg as he had 13 receptions for 150 yards and one touchdown - 13 receptions and 150 yards are both career highs, while his 56-yard TD reception with just over two minutes remaining in regulation sealed the victory. Added two receptions for 73 yards, including a 66-yard TD reception, at Dickinson ... 66-yard reception was the longest of his career ... and six receptions for 124 yards and a 50-yard TD reception vs. Gettysburg • Totaled four receptions for 77 yards and one TD at Ursinus and had seven receptions for 96 yards and one score and one kickoff return for 80 yards at Franklin & Marshall - the 80-yard KOR at F&M is tied for the 10th longest in school history and is the longest by a JHU player since Richard Hill had a 90-yard return at McDaniel in 2007 • Recently became the 22nd player in school history to reach 1,000 career receiving yards and now has 1,079.

Ryan Finkel - Ranks third on the team in receptions (20) and receiving yards (233) • Had three receptions for a 60 yards and one TD against Rowan in the first round of the NCAAs - TD reception against the Profs covered 48 yards and gave JHU a 14-0 lead • Had five receptions for 49 yards and one TD vs. Juniata and notched the 50th reception of his career in the win over the Eagles.

Boone Lewis, Jr. - Quietly ranks fourth on the team in receptions with 18 • 18 receptions have gone for 152 yards and one touchdown • Had just one reception for 11 yards last season.

In Case You Didn't Notice: Johns Hopkins has 214 completed passes through 11 games. Of those, 211 of the 214 have been caught by players who will return next season.

Defense Among Centennial's Best: While the Blue Jay offense grabs a lot of the headlines, the Johns Hopkins defense is enjoying a strong year as well. Through 11 games the Blue Jays are allowing just 14.5 points and 301.1 yards per game. The opposition is averaging just 3.61 yards per rushing attempt and has converted just 54-of-175 (.309) third down opportunities.

More Defense: In addition to allowing just 14.5 points per game, the Blue Jay defense has forced 28 turnovers and generated 31 sacks in 11 games.

Still More Defense: Johns Hopkins' 28 forced turnovers is 11 games this season are 14 more than the Blue Jays caused in 11 games last season.

Good Hands Team: The Johns Hopkins defense came up with just eight interceptions in 11 games during the 2013 season. Through 11 games this season, the Blue Jays already have 15 to their credit with three against Randolph-Macon, Moravian and Juniata, two against McDaniel and one against Susquehanna, Dickinson, Gettysburg and F&M.
Sophomore Jack Toner leads the way with three INTs on the year, while classmate Garrett Spek and senior Ryan Rice have a pair of intercpetions to their credit. Brady Watts, Sebastian Edwards, Keith Corliss, Curtis Antrum, Joe Trumbetti, Dan Johnson and Lance Hammand all have one thus far.

Hammond First DL in Five Years With an INT: Freshman defensive lineman Lance Hammond came up with the first interception of his career in the 42-7 win at Dickinson as his INT killed a Red Devil scoring threat at the Johns Hopkins 14-yard line. Hammond is the first Johns Hopkins defensive lineman to record an interception since Glenn Rocca had one in a 23-7 win at Hampden-Sydney in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Playoffs. Amazingly, Rocca had three interceptions that season.
Hammond is quietly enjoying a strong freshman year in the middle of the Blue Jay defensive line as he counts 32 tackles, including 4.0 for losses and 2.0 sacks, to go along with two forced fumbles and his one interception. His 32 tackles rank eighth on the team and first among freshmen.

Hitting the Century Mark: Johns Hopkins had two players reach the 100-tackle mark for their career vs. Moravian, another reach the mark in the win against Juniata and one more against Rowan in the first round of the NCAAs. Current players with 100+ tackles ...

• Junior linebacker Keith Corliss has 158 career tackles in 31 career games played. He also counts 6.5 TFLs, four PBUs, 1.5 sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery to his credit. Recently, he posted 10 tackles at Dickinson, six against Gettysburg, nine at Ursinus and 11 at F&M and now has a team and career-high 76 on the year. Corliss had six tackles and blocked an extra point against Rowan in the first round of the NCAAs.

• Senior defensive end Michael Longo leads all defensive linemen with 49 tackles this season and also leads the team with 13.5 TFLs and 10.0 sacks. He now has 139 tackles, 33.5 TFLs and 22.5 sacks in his career. Longo tied his career high with seven tackles against Rowan in the first round of the NCAAs, when he also added 1.5 sacks.

• Senior safety Ryan Rice eclipsed the 100-tackle mark when he got there against Juniata. Rice now has 115 tackles in his career, including 28 this season. In addition, his 16 career PBUs and six career INTs are the most among all active Johns Hopkins players.

• Senior Hani Annabi has 152 career tackles to his credit. He missed the first five games of the season, but has seen action in the last six games and has 12 tackles on the year.

• Senior Michael Rocca joined the 100-tackle club with six tackles against Rowan. Rocca's six stops vs. the Profs pushed his season total 42 tackles, including 7.0 for losses and 5.0 sacks. He now has 101 career tackles, including 15.0 for losses and 10.5 sacks.

Super Sophs: Two of Johns Hopkins' top four tacklers and six of the 16 players on the team with 20 or more tackles on the season are all members of the sophomore class. Defensive back Jack Toner (59 tackles) and linebacker Jack Campbell (42) lead the way among the second-year players, while Jesse Poore (29), Pat Runger (26), Dan Johnson (26) and Garrett Spek (23) are also members of the 20-tackle club.

On a Roll: Johns Hopkins is 43-1 in its last 44 regular season games dating back to late in the 2010 season. The only team to top the Blue Jays duirng that run? Franklin & Marshall, which topped the Blue Jays, 14-12, in 2012. JHU's 44-game regular season run began with a 49-24 win at Susquehanna on October 23, 2010.

On A Roll, Part II: Johns Hopkins is 46-4 in its last 50 games overall since late in the 2010 season. Three of the Blue Jays' four losses during that time have come in the NCAA Playoffs.

At Home at Homewood: Johns Hopkins has parlayed its home field advantage into victories in recent years. In fact, the Blue Jays are 26-3 (.897) in the home blacks since the start of the 2010 season.

Sustained Success: Since the start of the 2002 season the Blue Jays sport a 112-32 (.778) record. Taking it back farther the Blue Jays are 118-35 (.771) since the start of the 2001 season and 123-40 (.755) since the beginning of the 2000 season.

Seven's Heaven: Since the beginning of the 2003 season the Blue Jays are 103-23 (.817) when scoring more than seven points and 0-7 when they have been held to seven points or less.

- Pride and Poise -