Navy Midshipmen

Trevor Replogle

Mid-Atlantic Sports

Zerbin Singleton rushed for three rushing touchdowns and led the Navy Midshipmen to a 35-24 victory over the Northern Illinois Huskies at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. On the way, Navy broke the school record by scoring at least 30 points in eight straight games. The defense also came up big after giving up 254 points in its last five games and 62 last week at North Texas.

"I thought we did a much better job defensively," Coach Paul Johnson said. "Some guys were flying around and we did some good things."

"Today was all about the defense," said linebacker Ross Pospisil, who was credited with 20 tackles.

The Midshipmen ground game was once again extremely productive. Singleton rushed for 101 yards on 11 carries. His 37-yard catch also led the Midshipmen in receiving yards. Backup quarterback Jarod Bryant, in for injured quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, filled in on the ground. Bryant carried the ball 27 times for 140 yards and a score. The Navy defense forced a season-high four punts in their best effort of the season.

Justin Anderson paced the Huskies (2-9) by rushing for 140 yards and a touchdown. He also led the team with seven receptions. Quarterback Ryan Morris and Matt Simon hooked up five times for 100 yards and two scores. Morris finished 21-of-35 through the air for 206 yards and an interception.

On the first drive of the game, Morris and Simon connected on a 46-yard hookup for an early 7-0 Northern Illinois lead.

Singleton answered for the Midshipmen with touchdowns runs of one and 26 yards in the first quarter.

Shun White capped off an eight-play, 92-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter.

Anderson closed the 14-point gap right before the half with a one-yard dive into the endzone.

Navy took the second half kickoff and marched off a 14-play, 80-yard drive culminating in a Bryant one-yard TD run.

Morris and Simon connected on the Huskies' next possession with a 24-yard score, and NIU trailed by just seven heading into the fourth quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, NIU had to settle for a 42-yard Chris Nendick field goal after the offense controlled the ball for six minutes.

Singleton sealed the win with his third touchdown of the game coming from 12- yards out, and Navy's defense held the Huskies off the scoreboard the rest of the way.