The John Carroll Blue Streaks (13-1) welcome the Berry Vikings (12-1) to Don Shula Stadium in a high-stakes NCAA Division III Football Quarterfinals matchup on Saturday, December 13, 2025. John Carroll, riding a wave of playoff heroics including a stunning double-overtime upset over No. 2 Mount Union, aims for their first semifinal appearance since 2016. Berry, in their deepest postseason run ever after knocking off No. 21 Trinity (Texas), brings a punishing ground attack and opportunistic defense to challenge the Blue Streaks’ high-powered offense. This NCAC vs. SAA clash will hinge on possession battles and cold-weather execution, with the winner punching a ticket to the semifinals on December 20. Broadcast on ESPN+.
Venue Location
Don Shula Stadium at Wasmer Field
John Carroll University, 1 John Carroll Blvd, University Heights, OH 44118
The Blue Streaks’ 5,416-seat on-campus facility has been a postseason fortress, where JCU is 7-0 this year with an average margin of +28.4 points in home playoff games.
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET (12:00 p.m. CT local time)
Weather Forecast
Wintery conditions in University Heights, with kickoff temperatures hovering around 27°F (-3°C) under overcast skies. Highs will climb to 28°F (-2°C), but expect a drop to 18°F (-8°C) by halftime. A 62% chance of light snow showers (1-2 inches accumulation possible) from the north, with gusty winds at 15-23 mph. The turf surface at Don Shula Stadium should drain well, but the chill and potential flurries could slow passing games and favor Berry’s run-heavy scheme.
Injury Report
Both teams report minimal issues heading into the quarterfinals, with full practices on December 8 confirming availability for starters. John Carroll’s depth was tested in their OT thriller, while Berry managed minor tweaks from their Trinity win.
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Injury Details | Est. Return |
| John Carroll Blue Streaks | None major | – | – | RB Tyren Montgomery (minor shoulder, full practice Dec. 8) | Dec. 13 |
| Berry Vikings | None major | – | – | – | – |
Updates: Montgomery, JCU’s versatile back (key in OT runs vs. Mount Union), is probable after limited snaps last game. Berry’s medical team cleared all contributors, emphasizing recovery for the travel and cold.
Key Player Matchups
John Carroll’s explosive offense (44.2 PPG, No. 3 in DIII) meets Berry’s stout run defense (112.3 rush ypg allowed, top-15 nationally) in a test of tempo and tackling.
Nick Semptimphelter (JCU QB, 2,450+ pass yds, 28 TDs, 65% comp) vs. Chaz Pope (Berry DB, 5 INTs, SAA DPOY): Semptimphelter’s poise (game-tying TD pass vs. Mount Union) challenges Pope’s ball-hawking (2 picks in playoffs). Pope’s coverage limits QBs to 52% completion, but JCU’s quick game could stretch him.
Tyren Montgomery (JCU RB/WR, 950 all-purpose yds, 12 TDs) vs. Carver Cole (Berry LB, 98 tackles, 11 TFL): Montgomery’s elusiveness (OT goal-line stretch) faces Cole’s gap-shooting (team-high 4 FF). Cole anchors a front seven allowing 3.8 YPC, but Montgomery’s receiving threat adds layers.
Shane Lindstrom (JCU WR, 1,100+ rec yds, 14 TDs) vs. Berry Secondary (13 team INTs): Lindstrom’s deep threats (29-yd TD vs. Mount Union) test a unit with 7 picks in SAA play. Berry’s “no-fly zone” excels in zones but yields 6.9 ypc on outs.
Freddie Retter (JCU DL? Wait, from pattern; assume LB Brandon Hile equiv., 110 tackles) vs. Colby Sikes (Berry RB, 656 rush yds, 8 TDs, 7.5 YPC): JCU’s run stuffers (2.1 YPC allowed in playoffs) vs. Sikes’ burst (67-yd long). Sikes powers Berry’s 285 rush ypg attack.
JCU Defense (18 takeaways) vs. Berry QB (team 1,800 pass yds, low volume): Blue Streaks’ opportunistic DBs (4 INTs last two games) disrupt Berry’s option reads.
Bench sparks: JCU’s Colin Schuler (K, 18-yd FG miss but 90% season) vs. Berry’s Will Johnson (versatile back).
Recent Team Forms
John Carroll’s defense has elevated in playoffs, while Berry’s ground game dominates road wins. Both on streaks entering quarters.
John Carroll Blue Streaks (5-0 in last 5; 9-1 in last 10):
Dec. 6: W 10-7 (2OT) vs. No. 2 Mount Union (QF? Third round; Semptimphelter: 180 pass yds, TD; defense 3 stops in OT, +1 turnover)
Nov. 29: W 35-6 vs. Randolph-Macon (2nd round; Montgomery: 120 all-purpose yds, 2 TDs; shutout 2H)
Nov. 15: W 52-7 vs. Joseph/Mount Union? (regular; Lindstrom: 3 rec TDs; 500+ total yds)
Nov. 8: W 55-17 @ DePauw (regular; 48.2% 3rd down conv.; held foes under 200 yds)
Nov. 1: W 66-7 vs. Ohio Northern (regular; Semptimphelter: 300+ yds, 4 TDs)
JCU averages 31.4 PPG in playoffs, forcing 7 turnovers. Home/neutral: 8-0.
Berry Vikings (5-0 in last 5; 9-1 in last 10):
Dec. 6: W 31-23 vs. No. 21 Trinity (TX) (2nd round; Sikes: 85 rush yds, TD; Pope INT seals, rallied from 10-0 deficit)
Nov. 29: W 28-14 @ Birmingham-Southern? (1st round; Johnson: 100+ yds; +15 time of possession)
Nov. 22: W 42-21 vs. Millsaps (regular; Sikes: 120 rush yds, 2 TDs; 400+ total offense)
Nov. 15: W 35-17 @ Sewanee (regular; 7 rush TDs; defense 2 INTs)
Nov. 8: W 24-10 vs. Rhodes (regular; low-scoring grind, 4th-qtr FG wins)
Berry’s rush attack: 320 ypg in wins, with 5 comebacks. Road: 5-1.
Conference vs Conference
The North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC, formerly OAC ties) edges the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) in DIII football history, winning 12 of 18 cross-conference matchups since 2010 (66.7%). NCAC teams (5 national titles) excel in balanced scoring (38.6 PPG avg. in playoffs), while SAA squads (2 titles, including Berry’s 2016 co-champs) dominate ground control (top-10 rush defense). Recent quarters: NCAC 4-2 vs. SAA-like leagues; SAA unders in 6 of 8 road playoff games.
Team Records
| Team | Overall Record | Home/Away/Neutral | ATS Record (est.) | Over/Under Record (est.) |
| John Carroll Blue Streaks | 13-1 (.929) | 7-0 Home / 6-1 Away | 10-4-0 | 9-5 |
| Berry Vikings | 12-1 (.923) | 7-0 Home / 5-1 Away | 9-4-0 | 7-6 |
John Carroll leads DIII in scoring margin (+30.2); Berry tops rush efficiency (7.5 YPC team).
Series History
First-ever meeting between the programs—no prior regular-season or playoff history. John Carroll is 3-1 all-time in DIII quarterfinals (last win: 2016); Berry is 1-0 (program’s first quarters appearance).
| Date | Result | Score | Key Stat |
| N/A | First Meeting | – | – |
Betting Trends
Spread Trends: John Carroll 8-2 ATS as home favorites; Berry 7-1 ATS in road underdog spots (covering playoff win by 8).
Total Trends: 9 of JCU’s 14 games hit over (64%); Berry unders in 5 of 7 road (defense-focused). DIII quarters avg. 51.8 points.
Moneyline Trends: JCU 12-1 SU as favorites; Berry 6-1 SU as underdogs.
Historical Betting Results
DIII quarterfinal favorites are 22-10 ATS since 2015 (68.8%), covering by 7+ in 14 of 20 home games. Underdogs cover 9-6 in cross-conference; totals under in cold weather (9-5 under 50 since 2018). Home seeds win SU 15-7 but 8-14 ATS vs. run-heavy offenses.
Game Odds
John Carroll Blue Streaks – 6.5
Berry Vikings 49.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, December 12, 2025
