The Johns Hopkins football team, its chances of winning a Conference championship having been extinguished, would not quit. Nor would the Blue Jays be intimidated by the conference leading, ninth ranked team in the nation, as the Jays stunned the Western Maryland Green Terror, beating them 21-14. The story of the game, senior wide receiver Zach Baylin caught 14 passes for 120 yards and all three of the Blue Jays touchdowns.
Talking about the prospects of matching up with ninth ranked Western Maryland Head Coach Jim Margraff said, "It couldn't get more perfect."
The scoring began in the first quarter when the Green Terror marched down the field on a 79-yard scoring drive to open the game with a 7-0 lead. Undaunted, the Hopkins defense allowed only 41 yards in the rest of the half, allowing the offense to slowly find its groove.
It took the offense until late in the first half to find an answer, having wasted a couple of opportunities before, but finally senior quarterback Rob Heleniak was able to find Baylin for his first touchdown of the game in the back of the end-zone with only seconds remaining before the half. The touchdown tied the two teams at 7-7 heading into the second half.
The last minute touchdown in the first half was apparently exactly what the Jays needed to gain some confidence and momentum. From the opening kickoff, Hopkins marched 69 yards down the field in 11 plays and ended the drive with a two-yard pass once again from Heleniak to Baylin for their second connection of the day.
Heading into the fourth quarter, the score remained 14-7 until the Green Terror were able to field an eight-yard touchdown run to even the score at 14-14.
The Green Terror got the ball back again after a failed Hopkins drive and had the ball with good field position until sophomore defensive lineman Hayes Griffin recovered a fumble on the Hopkins 34-yard line.
On the ensuing possession, the Jays' offense was able to drive 66-yards down the field in just nine plays, capping the effort with Heleniak passing to Baylin for his third touchdown from two yards out.
With the score at 21-14 and just under eight minutes remaining, the game was far from over. The Green Terror drove their next possession all the way to the Hopkins' 16-yard line, but just as it seemed that the Terror would be able to tie the score, junior linebacker Mike Little picked off a pass on the Hopkins five-yard line.
On the ensuing possession, Hopkins managed only to get to its own 30-yard line before being forced to punt the ball back to the terror with three minutes remaining the match. A thirty-yard Green Terror pass had Hopkins fans nervous as the Terror were able to get to the Hopkins 36-yard line with plenty of time to score. Yet, the Jays' defense stood strong, forcing Western Maryland back to fourth down on the Hopkins 40-yard line.
The Terror went for it on fourth down, but had their chances of a comeback squelched when senior linebacker Marc Della Pia picked off a pass on the Hopkins 25-yard line. Hopkins was able to run out the remaining time ending the game with a win 21-14.
Baylin's efforts on the day earned him a school record for catches in a game with 14 and Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors. On the season Baylin moved himself into fourth all-time on the career receiving yards and career receiving touchdowns list for Hopkins.
The Jays' defense, which was a strong point for the team all season, did not allow a single passing touchdown on the year. They were able to hold all but two opponents on the season to 17 points or less.
The Hopkins offense ended the season with a total of 1504-yards rushing and 1440 yards passing, double the yards allowed by its opponents. Senior kicker Matt Andrade led the team in scoring with 47 points on the season, followed by senior running back Scott Martorana with 36.
The win ended the Jays season with a 6-3, 4-2 conference record and brought the Jays a win over their highest ranked opponent in football. Western Maryland on the other hand drops their first conference game in five years and their first loss of the season since Bridgeport back in September. The loss puts Western Maryland into a two-way tie with Muhlenburg for the conference championship.
On the season as a whole Margraff said, "We lost a few tough ones in the middle of the season, but being able to end the season by beating a team that's a little better than you, it's nice."
This is Margraff's eighth season leading the Blue Jays and he needs only three more wins to tie the school record for most wins.
Furthermore, the Blue Jays received more honors for their impressive season, placing 11 players on the All-Centennial Conference Team. Making first team on offense was Baylin, senior kicker Matt Andrade, and junior center Kevin Kostibos. Senior defensive end Erich Hellmold was named to the first team on defense.
Della Pia, defensive lineman Patrick Doyle, and senior defensive back Joe Angelosante were named to second team on defense while Heleniak, Martorana, junior offensive lineman Leif Glynn, and senior linebacker Craig Reinert were named to the honorable mention team.
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