Saturday, October 19, 2019

Navy 35, USF 3 - Final



Navy Defeats ACC Rival USF, Moves to 5-1





Post game



Fourth Quarter

USF had the ball for two plays before the clock hit 0:00.  The Mids picked up their fifth win of the season with a 35-3 win over USF.

Perry Olson took over the quarterback duties for Navy on their next drive.  The Mids were forced to punt with a three-and-out.  Owen White punted the ball 53 yards to the USF 21.

USF made a change at QB on their next drive.  On the second play of the drive, Kirk Rygol completed a 28 yard pass to Bryce Miller.  Three plays later, Rygol connected with Jacob Mathis for a 24 yard completion to the Navy 20.  The USF offense sputtered at this point.  The Bulls had a 1st-and-goal on the Navy 7, but ended up attempting a 33 yard field goal on the Navy 16.  The attempt hit the upright and went wide left and Navy gets the ball back.

The Navy offense got back on track following the USF short possession.  The Mids ran the ball 10 times and drove the ball 80 yards to increase their lead to 35-3.  Tazh Maloy found the end zone on a 26 yard carry down the USF sideline.

The Navy defense came up big again on the next USF possession.  The Mids forced another three-and-out forcing the Bulls to punt the ball away.

The Mids carried the ball 8 times on their drive.  CJ Williams had one carry for 6 yards and Nelson Smith had three carries for 22 yards.  The man of the hour once again was Malcolm Perry.  Perry called his own number four times carrying for 43 yards including a 21 yard TD run.  The Mids lead USF, 28-3 with 13:03 remaining in the game.  The Navy scoring drive was 8-76-3:26.

Third Quarter

USF had a confusing drive.  On their first seven plays they gained 40 yards and moved into Navy territory.  Kelly Joiner started the drive with an 11 yard run.  Three plays later, McCloud hit Mitch Wilcox for another 11 yard gain.  Three plays later, Trevon Sands picked up 10 yards on the ground.  The next two plays the Navy defense had consecutive sacks for a loss of 14 yards.  Joiner carried the ball again for 11 yards, but USF was forced to punt facing a 4th-and-13 on the USF 49.

The Navy defense bailed out the offense and the Mids take over on their own 27 yard line.  The offense was unable to move the ball and the Bulls forced a 3-and-out.  Navy punted the ball away and USF gets the ball at their own 12 following a holding penalty on the play.

USF took over at their own 39.  The Bulls ran three times with a big 25 yard carry coming from Cronkrite to the Navy 32.  USF then went to the air and completed just one of four passes for 5 yards.  The big play was a 4th-and-5 on the Navy 27.  The Bulls decided against a FG attempt and the pass fell incomplete turning the ball over on downs.

Navy gets the ball first in the second half.  The Mids started at their own 25 yard line.  The Midshipmen carried the ball 8 times for 36 yards.  Tazh Maloy had a 12 yard carry and Malcolm Perry had a 10 yard run.  With a 1st-and-10 at the USF 39, Perry fumbled the ball and USF recovered.

Second Quarter

Navy took a knee and first half ended with Navy leading USF, 21-3.

The Bulls drove the ball looking to score quickly before halftime.  McCloud rushed for 15 yards and completed a 4-yard pass to Cronkrite.  With the ball at the Navy 48, McCloud’s pass was intercepted by Navy’s Chelen Garnes ending the USF scoring threat.

On the fourth play of Navy’s drive, Malcolm Perry was picked off again by USF.  Nick Roberts intercepted the errant pass at the USF 33 yard line.

USF started the drive on the Navy 21.  The Bulls were only able to move the ball to the Navy 16.  Spencer Shrader connected on a 33-yard FG making the score Navy 21, USF 3.  The USF scoring drive was 4-5-2:03.

Navy ran the ball two times for 11 yards to start the drive.  On the next play, Malcolm Perry was intercepted by KJ Sails.  A penalty on the Bulls nullified the pick six and USF is in scoring position.

On an important drive for USF to get back in the game, USF started at their own 19 yard line.  The Bulls used the running game heavily on their drive.  They ran the ball 5 times for 33 yards.  The big play was a 20 yard scramble from Jordan McCloud to the Navy 43.  The Bulls could get to closer and punted the ball to the Navy 9.

Navy has great field position to begin the next drive.  After a passing attempt on the first play of the drive that fell incomplete with a wide open Ryan Mitchell, the Mids carried the ball 7 consecutive times.  The 7 runs gained 36 yards to the USF 23 yard line.  On the next play, Perry pitched the ball to CJ Williams who then threw the ball to a wide open OJ Davis who scored is first career TD on the 23 yard completion.  Navy leads USF 21-0 with 10:03 remaining in the first half.  The Navy scoring drive was 9-59-3:53.

The Navy kickoff goes out of bounds and USF began their drive on their own 35.  The Bulls could not get a first down and the Mids forced another 3-and-out.  Winn returned the punt 17 yards to the Navy 41.

Navy began the second quarter 3rd-and-1 on their own 42.  On the first play of the quarter, Carothers broke through USF defense for a 58 yard TD run.  Navy leads USF, 14-0 with 14:50 remaining in the first half.  Navy’s scoring drive was 3-67-1:01.  The Mids have 164 yards rushing in the game already.

First Quarter

Navy started at their own 33 after a 12 yard return by Garrett Winn. Jamale Carothers carried the ball twice for nine yards before the quarter ended with Navy leading, 7-0.

USF began the drive on their own 18 yard line.  A 9-yard pass from McCloud to Randall St. Felix was the big play of the drive.  The Bulls were able to get a first down with a one yard carry, but the Navy defense held USF and forced a punt.

The Mids started deep in their own territory at the 9 yard line.  Navy ran the ball seven straight times before Offensive Coordinator Ivin Jasper called a pass play with the ball at the Navy 33.  Malcolm Perry could not find an open receiver and scrambled for 67 yards for a Navy TD.  The carry put Perry over 3000 career rushing yards, one of only four players at Navy to reach this milestone.  Navy leads USF, 7-0.  The scoring drive was 8-91-3:51.

South Florida ran 7 plays on their drive but could only manage 29 yards.  The drive stalled at the USF 44 and the Bulls punted to the Navy 9.  Jordan Cronkrite and Trevon Sands had runs of 10 and 9 yards respectively gaining most of the yards on the drive.

Navy struggled to get any offense moving and gained just six yards on their opening drive.  The Midshipmen are forced to punt and Owen White (43 yards) pins the Bulls deep in their own territory at the USF 15.

USF will start on their own 25 yard line.  After a 5 yard carry on the first play from scrimmage, the Navy defense forces a three-and-out and the Mids will get the ball on their own 36.

Navy won the toss and deferred to the second half.  USF will get the ball first in today’s game.

Navy Hosts ACC Rival USF

Navy hosts ACC rivals USF this afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.  This will be just the third meeting between these two teams.  Each team has a win against the other with the home teams winning each time.

Navy enters today’s game with a 4-1 record (2-1, AAC) and USF is currently 3-3 (1-1, AAC).

The Midshipmen are led by senior captain, Malcolm Perry.  Perry leads the team in rushing with 604 yards and 12 TDs.  He also has 489 yards through the air with 3 TDs.  His leading receivers are Mychal Cooper who has 7 catches and 146 yards and CJ Williams who has 5 grabs for 171 yards and 2 TDs.  The defense is led by Florida sophomore, Diego Fagot who has 32 tackles.

USF quarterback, Jordan McCloud has completed 49 passes for 624 yards and 8 TDs.  McCloud also has 4 rushing scores.  Jordan Cronkrite is the Bulls leading rusher with 383 yards and 2 TDs.  John Ford and Mitch Wilcox lead the USF receiving corps 13 and 12 receptions respectively.  Linebacker Patrick Macon  leads the Bulls defense with 42 tackles and 2 sacks.

The traditional flyby this afternoon features four F/A-18E Super Hornets and a parachute jumper from team Fasttrax will also jump into the stadium during pregame.

The Mids will be wearing the same all blue uniforms that were worn when the defeated Air Force on October 15.

Senior center and team captain, Ford Higgins is on the cover of today’s game day program.


Saturday, October 05, 2019

Navy 34, Air Force 25 - Final

Fourth Quarter

The Air Force drive started at their own 27.  DJ Hammond threw three incomplete passes and Navy called a timeout with one second remaining in the game.  On the next play, Air Force fumbled and the ball was recovered by Navy’s Tony Brown who returned the ball 8 yards for the TD as the Midshipmen rushed the field.  The Mids win the first leg for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, 34-25.

Navy’s drive started at their own 25 yard line.  Chance Warren is in the game for an injured Malcolm Perry.  Warren completed am 18 yard pass to Tazh Maloy to the Navy 43.  Perry re-entered the game and completed a 32 yard pass to CJ Williams to the Air Fore 35.  Navy faced a 4th-and-1 on the Air Force 15.  Following the TO, Perry converted the first down with a one yard carry to the AF 14.  On the next play, Perry made a great run for 11 yards and took a vicious hit as he tried to dive into the end zone.  On the next play, Perry scored from three yards out giving Navy the lead, 28-25 with 22 seconds remaining in the game.  Navy’s scoring drive was 11-75-2:53.

Air Force took over at their own 28 yard line.  Stevenson completed a 41 yard pass to Waters to the Navy 6 yard line.  After three consecutive runs, Taven Birdow punched it in from one yard out.  Air Force takes their first lead of the game, 25-21 with 3:15 left in the game.

The Navy offense could not move the ball and were forced to punt on a 3-and-out series.

DJ Hammond completed a 10 yard pass to Kad Waguespack and a 9 yard pass to Geraud Sanders, moving the ball to the Navy 16.  Later in the drive, Hammond called his own number and scored on a one yard TD run.  The Air Force score cut the Navy lead to 21-19 with 7:38 remaining in the game.  The Falcon scoring drive was 8-37-3:48.

Navy started on their own 19 yard line.  After gaining one first down, Nelson Smith fumbled and Air Force recovered at the Navy 37.

Air Force QB Hammond completed a 29 yard pass play to Remsberg down to the Navy 47. A Navy personal foul call moved the ball to the Navy 30 yard line.  Hammond completed another pass, this time a 19 yarder to Ben Waters to the Navy 9 yard line.  The Navy defense once again forced an Air Force FG attempt.  Koehnke made the 26 yard attempt making the score, Navy 21, Air Force 12.  The Air Force scoring drive was 8-68-3:16.

Third Quarter

On Navy’s second play, fullback Nelson Smith ran up the middle for 37 yards to the Air Force 29.  Three consecutive short runs force a field goal attempt by Nichols who couldn’t connect on a 41 yard attempt giving the Falcons the ball back at their own 24.

Air Force was called for an offensive pass interference penalty on the first play of the drive moving the ball back to their own 13 yard line.  On the next play, Hammonds completed a 47 yard pass to Kadin Remsberg to the Navy 40.  The Navy defense stiffened and force a turnover on downs to the get the ball back on their own 33.

The Mids take over with great field position at the AF 44.  Malcolm Perry carries the ball two times down to the Falcon 28 yard line.  On a third-and two from the AF 20, Perry breaks free and finds the end zone.  Nichols converts the PAT and Navy leads Air Force, 21-9.  Navy’s scoring drive was 5-44-2:17.

The Navy defense matches the effort of AF and force a three-and-out of their own.

Chance Warren took the AF kickoff to the Navy 40 yard line where the Mids will start their opening drive of the half.  The Falcons force a three-and-out and the Midshipmen punt the ball back to AF.

Air Force got the opening kickoff of the second half and start at their own 30 yard line.  On the second play of the half, DJ Hammond breaks free for a 42 yard carry to the Navy 25.  On a 3rd down and 9 on the Navy 24, Hammond was sacked by Paul Carothers forcing a 4th and 16.  Jake Koehnke connected on a 49 yard field goal.  The Falcons cut into Navy’s lead, 14-9.  The Air Force scoring drive was 6-39-2:26.

Second Quarter

Air Force took a knee and the half ended with the score, Navy 14, Air Force 6.

Navy returned the AF kickoff to the Navy 33.  Navy gained 8 yards on the drive and punted the ball back to AF with 36 seconds remaining.  Owen White punted the ball 54 yards to the AF 10 yard line.

Air Force started at their own 25 after Navy’s kickoff went into the end zone.  Hammond completed a 13 yard pass to Sanders to move the ball to the AF 37.  Hammond then carried the ball for 17 yards to the Navy 46.  Hammond converted a 4th down attempt later in the drive moving the ball to the Navy 34.  Hammond called his own number again, this time rushing for 12 yards to the Navy 22.  The drive stalled and Jake Koehnke kicked his second FG of the game, this time from 40 yards out.  Air Force cuts into Navy’s lead.  The Mids still lead, 14-6 with 2:17 remaining in the first half.

Malcolm Perry hit CJ Williams for a 23 yard pass to the Air Force 43. Chance Warren carried the ball for Navy on an end around for 9 yards to the AF 33.  Then Perry hit Cooper again, this time for 28 yards to the AF 3.  The catch was Cooper’s third of the game for 90 yards.  On the next play, Nelson Smith ran for his second TD of the game.  Nichols converted the PAT.  Navy leads Air Force, 14-3 with 7:39 left in the first half.  Navy’s scoring drive was 8-66-3:52.

Air Force started their next drive on their won 25 yard line.  The Falcons were unable to get a first down and punted the ball to Navy.  Navy called a fair catch at their own 34 yard line.  An Air Force player ran into Navy’s Garrett Winn after the catch, but no flag was thrown.

Today’s attendance is 37,957, the fourth largest crowd in Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

On Navy’s first play of the 2nd quarter, Malcolm Perry completed a 38-yard pass to Mychal Cooper to the Air Force 25.  On the next play, Perry found Cooper again, this time for 24 yards to the Air Force 1 yard line.  Two plays later, Nelson Smith scored on a 1-yard TD run.  Bijan Nichols converted the PAT and Navy has a 7-3 lead with 13:24 remaining in the second quarter.  Navy’s scoring drive was 5-64-1:44.

First Quarter

Navy ran one plays and the quarter ended with Air Force leading 3-0 on a sloppy first quarter.

Air Force was able to gain just 3 yards on their drive and punted back to Navy.  Navy muffed the punt but were able to recover at their own 37.

The Mids started the drive on their own 28.  The offense could not get a first down and Navy punted from their own 34.  Air Force gets the ball back at heir own 22 following a 44 yard punt.

On Air Force’s third play of the drive, Kadin Remsberg fumbled and it was recovered by Navy’s Jackson Pittman who returned the ball the Navy 33.  After the play was reviewed, it was determined that Pittman then fumbled and Air Force recovered on the Navy 33. Jake Koehnke kicked a 42 yard field goal to give Air Force the early lead, 3-0.  The Falcon scoring drive was 4-8-2:14.

Malcolm Perry carried the ball for 11 yards on Navy’s first play of the drive.  On the second play, Perry fumbled the snap and Mosese Fifita recovered a the Navy 29.  Turnovers have ended the last two drives in the game.

Air Force was able to move the ball through the air on their first drive.  DJ Hammond completed passes to Geraud Sanders and Kade Waguespack for 22 and 25 yards respectively to the Navy 28.  Facing a 3rd down play, Hammond was picked off by Evan Fochtman at the Navy 15.  The INT was Fochtman’s first career interception.  The Mids take over at their own 19.

On Navy’s opening drive, the Midshipmen started at their own 25 yard line.  On a 3rd-and-10 from their own 25, Malcolm Perry scrambled for 13 yards to give the Mids a first down at the 38 yard line. On the ensuing play, Navy was called for a chop block and moved the ball back to the 23.  Navy was forced to punt and Owen White booted a tight spiral to the Air Force 23.

Air Force won the coin toss and deferred to the second half.  Navy will get the ball first.

Navy and Air Force Meet in Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy Battle

Navy hosts the Air Force Academy this afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in the first leg of the battle for the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy. Both teams come in to the contest with one loss.  Navy lost last week at Memphis, 35-23 and Air Force’s lone loss was on the road at Boise State, 30-19.

Today’s game will be a battle on the ground.  Navy and Air Force boast the top two rushing offenses. The Mids are first, rushing for 344.7 yards per game.  The Falcons are right behind them averaging 332.8 yards per game.  This will be a game where mistakes could be the deciding factor in the game.  With two dominant rushing attacks, the number of possessions that each offense will have will be minimal. Navy is averaging 37:38 time of possession and Air Force is averaging 33:31.

The two teams have two of the least effective passing offenses based on yardage.  However, when they do pass they are efficient.  Aif Force is averaging 20.95 yards per completion and Navy is averaging 18.8 yards per completion, good for second and third in the NCAA respectively.

Navy is led by dynamic quarterback, Malcolm Perry.  Perry leads the Midshipmen in rushing with 275 yards and 7 TDs.  He also has 336 passing yards with 3 touchdown passes.  CJ Williams has three receptions for 117 yards and 2 TDs.

The Air Force running game is handled by Kadin Remsberg and Taven Birdown.  Remserg has 342 yards on 58 carries and 3 TDs.  He is complimented by Birdown who has 338 yards and 2 scores on 64 carries. Quarterback, DJ Hammond has completed 18 passes for 369 yards and 4 TD passes.  His top target has been Gerald Sanders.  Sanders has 13 receptions for 291 yards and 3 scores.

Navy and Air Force have each won the last game that they hosted and this year’s game will be the first step in taking the CIC Trophy from Army who won the award last year with wins over both Navy and Air Force.  Today’s kickoff is scheduled for 3:33 on CBS Sports Network.