ALLIANCE, Ohio — When John Carroll made the shocking decision to leave the Ohio Athletic Conference for the North Coast Athletic Conference, it was assumed their rivalry with longtime national powerhouse Mount Union would go by the wayside.

Instead, the annual series between the Blue Streaks and Purple Raiders continued into 2025 — this time in the third round of the NCAA Division III football playoffs . And for now, at least, JCU stands atop the mountain in the Northeast Ohio amateur scene.

For the first time since 2016 and only the fourth time ever, the Streaks have knocked off the Raiders, earning a 10-7 double-overtime victory in Alliance to advance to the quarterfinals. Rather than attempt a field goal to send the game to a third extra period, Mount elected to go for it on fourth-

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