The John Carroll football team has new life and is ready for its second season. That’s the message for Coach Jeff Behrman and Co. as the Blue Steaks open the NCAA Division III playoffs as the last at-large team to make the field. All of that doesn’t matter much now, especially since JCU landed a home game in the first round. The Blue Streaks welcome Mount St. Joseph to Don Shula Stadium on Nov. 23 at noon. The winner advances to Round 2, where Mount Union awaits. But first, JCU needs to take care of business thanks to the boost it received last weekend. “High energy,” said Behrman about the enthusiasm after his team got a playoff bid, plus a home game. “The practices have been off the charts even with the (Nov. 20) weather being as bad as it was. … They understand the position they’ve put themselves in and what’s at stake. They’re focused.” After taking out Marietta, 49-35, in the regular-season finale Nov. 16, the Blue Streaks needed to wait until results from across the country were tabulated into the NCAA Power Index Ratings. The race for the final at-large spot was razor-thin close. JCU’s final NPI rating was 63.948, just ahead of Wheaton’s rating of 63.725. That was enough to secure the 12th and final at-large playoff spot in the 40-team field. The Blue Streaks have been on the other side of that bubble. In 2019, they were 9-1 but denied a playoff spot. That was the last legitimate shot at the playoffs for JCU, which last made the postseason in 2018 but was ousted in Round 1 at home against Randolph Macon. The season’s playoff matchup is the first meeting between the Blue Steaks and Mount St. Joseph, which started the season 2-2 then won six straight to take the Heartland Athletic Conference championship and an automatic NCAA bid for the third straight season. Muskingum is the one common opponent between JCU and MSJ. The Blue Streaks defeated the Muskies, 35-10, in its fourth game of the season, while Mount St. Joseph lost to Muskingum, 42-35, in each team’s season opener. The Lions will arrive in University Heights with an impressive passing attack. Quarterback Tyler Prather has thrown for 2,876 yards and 28 TD passes this season. Eli Aston is the Muskies’ top receiver with 60 catches for 1,262 yards and 13 TD receptions. Running back Jackson Gifford has a team-high 831 yards and 16 TD runs. The JCU offense isn’t lacking for production, either. The unit has scored a whopping 220 points its last four games, with QB Nick Semptimphelter leading the way with 2,622 passing yards and 32 passing touchdowns against just three interceptions. His 202.30 passing efficiency rating ranks No. 4 nationally in D-III. If the weather turns sour Nov. 23, the Blue Streaks have plenty of running backs to attack the MSJ defense. The leading rusher is Nemo Jenkins (72 carries, 492 yards, five TDs), followed by Evan McVay (73-414-8) and Quincy Newsom (65-357-9). Collectively, that’s 210 carries for 1,263 yards and 22 touchdowns. “Rain, snow, whatever comes our way, we’re going to be ready,” said McVay. “As a running back, I don’t mind the snow at all. That means we’re going to run the ball more. … It doesn’t matter what kind of weather comes our way, we’re going to be ready to go.” Mount St. Joseph at John Carroll What: First-round NCAA Division III playoff game When: Noon, Nov. 23 Where: Don Shula Stadium Records: MSU 8-2, JCU 8-2 Radio: WJCU-FM 88.7; TV: ESPN+