Thursday, November 24, 2016

Previewing Navy at SMU

Navy picked up a huge, 66-31 win last week at East Carolina which clinched the AAC West division championship putting Navy in the AAC title game on December 3.

Will Worth ran for 159 yards and scored 4 touchdowns to lead the Navy offense.  Worth is now just the 5th player in Navy history to rush and pass for over 1000 yards in the same season.

Navy enters Saturday's game at SMU with an 8-2 record as the Mustangs come in at 5-6.  Although Navy has already clinched an AAC championship game berth, they are playing this week for home field advantage in that game.

This is a big game for the Mids for another reason.  Navy's senior class is 36-13 over their four years at the Academy and needs just one more win to become the school's all-time winningest class.  Their win last week over East Carolina tied the class of 1909 team with their 36th victory.

SMU comes into the game led by QB, Ben Hicks who has nearly 2600 yards passing and 17 touchdowns.  He also has 13 INTs.  Keep in mind that Navy is 26-1 over the last 5 years when winning the turnover battle.  SMU has forced 25 turnovers this year, so the turnover battle could be the key in this week's battle.

Navy is lead by senior QB, Will Worth who leads the country's number three rushing attack with 22 TDs on the ground.  The pounding running game that Navy employs can create big opportunities in the passing game as well. Jamir Tillman leads Navy's receivers with 31 catches and over 500 yards receiving. The Mids are third in the country with 19.5 yards per completion.

Look for Navy to control the football and the time of possession and come away with the win in Dallas.

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Final - Navy 42, Tulsa 40

Post game notes - Navy improves to 7-2 (5-1) and Tulsa falls to 7-3 (4-2).  Navy travels to East Carolina next week in a make-up game that was postponed during Hurricane Matthew.

Post game press conference -



3:25 - The call was confirmed.  Navy has the ball 1st-and-10 on the Tulsa 35 with 1:00 remaining and Tulsa has no timeouts.  Navy will hold on for a 42-40 win over Tulsa and be in sole possession of the lead in the AAC Western Division.

3:22 - Will Worth with a QB keep on a 4th-and-1 for Navy runs for 1 yard to keep the drive alive. After the play the Tulsa defense was called for unsportsmanlike conduct.  The play is under review.

3:11 - Evans completes a 22 yard TD pass to Chris Minter and Tulsa cuts Navy's lead to 42-40 with 5:30 remaining in the game.  This was Evans' fourth passing TD today to four different receivers. Tulsa's scoring drive was 8-72-2:28.

3:08 - Tulsa is moving the ball quickly downfield with the ball at the Navy 35.

3:02 - Will Worth with the keeper for 44 yards and a Navy TD.  The PAT was good and Navy leads 42-33 with 7:58 remaining in the game.  Worth now has 120 yards on the ground today.  Navy's scoring drive was 5-69-2:36.  This is Worth's 5th consecutive 100-yard rushing game which is the first time this has occurred since 2009 by Ricky Dobbs.

3:01 - Gulley with a 19 yard run to the Tulsa 45.  Navy is driving with 8:40 remaining in the game.  Gulley has 75 yards rushing in the game.

2:57 - It was just announced that both teams have combined for 915 yards - 504 from Tulsa and 411 for Navy.

2:54 - Evans keeps the ball on third down for a Tulsa 1-yard TD run. Tulsa's 2-point conversion attempt was topped by Navy.  The Mids lead Tulsa, 35-33 with 10:34 remaining in the game.  Tulsa's scoring drive was 10-73-3:07.

2:52 - After a review, the receiver was down at the 1 yard line of Navy.  1st-and-goal Tulsa.

2:49 - Tulsa converts their third fourth down play (3-3). This time Evans completes a 45-yard pass to Hobbs for a Tulsa TD.

2:39 - Will Worth scores from 15 yards out giving Navy a 35-27 lead with 13:41 remaining in the game.  Navy's scoring drive was 9-73-4:47.  The TD run was Worth's 17th this season which is tied for second nationally.

2:34 - Worth completes a 28 yard pass to Bonner to the Tulsa 21, converting a 3rd-and-16 play.  That play will end the 3rd quarter with Navy driving and leading visiting Tulsa, 28-27.

2:33 - Navy called for holding and an ineligible receiver down field on consecutive plays.  Navy is only averaging 2.1 penalties per game.

2:30 - Gulley mishandles a pitch from Worth but the ball bounces right back into his hands and he gains 19 yards to the Tulsa 43.  Sometimes the ball just bounces your way,

2:21 - Evans completes a 31-yard TD pass to Keenan Johnson.  With the PAT Navy's lead is just one, 28-27 with 3:28 remaining in the third quarter.  Tulsa's scoring drive was 6-62-2:19.

2:19 - Brewer is the workhorse for Tulsa on this drive carrying three straight times for 26 yards.

2:15 - Will Worth is stopped on 4th-and-1 with a 2-yard loss.  Tulsa takes over on their own 38 yard line.  Navy is now 2-3 on fourth down conversions in today's game.  The defense has come up big for both teams on the last two drives.

2:13 - Navy is facing a 4th-and-1 on the Tulsa 36.  Will they go for it? My guess is yes.

2:04 - Evans' pass intended for Lucas is picked off by Tyrus Wooten in the end zone.  The INT is Wooten's first pick and just the fourth for Navy this season.  Navy takes over on their own 20 yard line.

2:00 - Evans completes a 17-yard pass to Hobbs to convert the second fourth down play of this drive. Navy and Tulsa are converting 100% (4-4) of their fourth down plays this afternoon.

1:58 - Tulsa takes their first timeout of the second half to decide whether to attempt another fourth down conversion on this drive.  Navy leads 28-20.

1:56 - Tulsa converts a fourth down moving the ball into Navy territory.  Each team has converted fourth down conversions in today's game - Navy 2 and Tulsa 1.

1:52 - An announced crowd of 36.397 (10th largest in Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium history) await the second half kickoff from Navy.

1:29 - At the half, Navy leads Tulsa 28-20.

1:27 - Jones kicks a 26-yard FG with 0:42 remaining in the second quarter.  Navy still leads 28-20 just before halftime.

1:21 - Evans completes a 25-yard pass to Hobbs to the Navy 46 yard line.  On the next play, Brewer carries the ball 22 yards to the Navy 24.  Tulsa quickly gets the ball deep into Navy territory with 1:30 left in the half.

1:15 - Worth completes an 11-yard TD pass to Tyler Carmona.  Navy extends their lead to 28-17 with 3:01 remaining in the first half.  Navy's scoring drive was 13-78-7:08.

1:09 - Navy converts another 4th down play, their second of the game.  Navy has a 1st-and-goal at the Tulsa 9 yard line.

1:07 - Worth carries the ball for 20 yards to the Tulsa 19.

1:04 - Worth completes a 24-yard pass to Tillman to the Navy 46 yard line

12:58 - Evans completes a 56-yard pass to Josh Atkinson for a Tulsa TD.  Tulsa cuts Navy's lead to 21-17 with 10:09 remaining in the first half.  Tulsa's scoring drive was 5-75-1:29.

12:51 - Worth carries the ball for 11 yards to the Tulsa 1 yard line.  He runs more like a fullback than a QB. On the next play, Worth powers the ball into the end zone.  Navy leads Tulsa 21-10 with 11:38 remaining in the first half following Moehring's PAT.  The TD is Worth's 16th rushing TD of the season.  He has now scored a rushing TD in all 9 games this year which is tied for second in school history with Chris McCoy.  Keenan Reynolds holds the record by scoring a rushing TD in 14 consecutive games.  Navy's scoring drive was 10-69-4:31

12:49 - Toneo Gulley carries the ball 22 yards to the Tulsa 15.

12:44 - The first quarter ends with Navy leading Tulsa, 14-10.  Navy has the ball 2nd-and-6 on the Tulsa 49.  There were 336 yards of total offense in the quarter, 179 for Tulsa and 157 for Navy.

12:41 - Evans is hit hard by Micah Thomas at the Tulsa sideline after a 6-yard carry on a 3rd-and-24 play.  Tulsa is forced to punt the ball back to Navy

12:38 - Evans completes a 22-yard pass to Justin Hobbs to convert a 3rd-and-9 and keep the Tulsa drive alive.

12:36 - Tulsa's Raymond Taylor fumbles the kickoff and is tackled for a 2-yard loss at the Tulsa 1 yard line.

12:33 - Dishan Romine carries the ball 41 yards for a Navy TD.  The touchdown was Romine's first career TD.  Navy regains the lead, 14-10.  Navy's scoring drive was 3-75-1:18.

12:32 - Will Worth completes a 32 yard pass to Jamir Tillman to the Tulsa 43 yard line.

12:28 - Facing a 4th-and-9 on the Navy 12, Tulsa kicks a 29-yard FG off the foot of Redford Jones.  Tulsa leads Navy, 10-7 with 6:11 remaining in the first quarter.  Tulsa's scoring drive was 9-61-3:18.

12:25 - James Flanders carries the ball 38 yards to the Navy 26.  Tulsa is moving the ball deep into Navy territory.

12:21 - Navy is forced to punt on their second drive.  Navy's punt goes out of bounds at Tulsa's 27 yard line.  Tulsa takes over with 9:29 remaining in the first quarter.  This was Navy's first punt in their last 13 possessions.

12:19 - Navy converted their first fourth down attempt facing a 4th-and-1 on their own 34.  Will Worth carried the ball for three yards to keep the drive alive.

12:11 - Dane Evans hits Keevan Lucas for a 74-yard TD pass on Tulsa's first play from scrimmage.  The Golden Hurricane quickly tie the game 7-7 with 13:25 left in the first quarter.  Tulsa's scoring drive was 1-74-0:16.  This is the 5th straight game that an opponent has scored a TD on the opening drive against Navy.

12:06 - Darryl Bonner carries the ball four yards to put Navy on the scoreboard first.  Bennett Moehring kicked the PAT and Navy leads 7-0 with 13:41 remaining in the first quarter.  Navy's scoring drive was 3 plays for 43 yards and took 1:19 off the clock.

12:05 - Romine runs the ball 31 yards on Navy's first offensive play.  First-and-goal Navy at the Tulsa 7.

12:03 - Dishan Romine returned the ball from the Navy 9 yard line to the Tulsa 43, a 48 yard kickoff return to start the game for Navy.

12:01 - Tulsa won the coin toss and elected to defer until the second half.  Navy will have the ball first in this AAC Western Division matchup.

Navy and Tulsa meet for the fourth time this afternoon with first place in the AAC West Division on the line. Navy - Tulsa Preview.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Previewing Navy vs. Tulsa

Navy (6-2, 4-1) and Tulsa (7-2, 4-1) will meet for the fourth time on Saturday in Annapolis. Navy holds a 2-1 series record against the Golden Hurricane. The teams will be playing for first place in the AAC West Division

Saturday's contest will also be Senior Day for the Midshipmen. 31 seniors will play in what will be their final game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Navy comes into the game with a 14-game home winning streak.

Navy is led by quarterback, Will Worth.  Worth leads the Midshipmen in rushing with 793 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has also completed 60 percent of his passes for 1035 yards and 6 TDs. Fullback, Chris High also has five rushing TDs. Jamir Tillman is the leading receiver with 27 catches for 403 yards. Tillman is currently second on the career receiving yards list with 1398, just 338 yards behind record holder Rob Taylor.

Micah Thomas leads the defense with 58 tackles. Josiah Powell has two interceptions and a forced fumble.

Tulsa comes into the game winning their last three games, averaging over 51 points per game in those contests. Tulsa's only two losses this season have come at the hands of Ohio State and Houston.

The Golden Hurricane offense has been equally efficient on the ground and through the air. Tulsa is averaging 253 yards rushing and 258 yards passing per game. QB Dane Evans has thrown for 2244 yards and 18 TDs this season. James Flanders leads the ground game rushing for 1080 yards and 14 TDs. D'Angelo Brewer has added 983 yards and five TDs.

Keevan Lucas is Evans' top target this season with 60 catches for 845 yards and nine TDs.

Tulsa's assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator, Brian Norwood was a former secondary coach at Navy between 1995-99. Norwood and Navy's head coach, Ken Niumatalolo grew up together in Hawaii and are good friends.

Navy's senior class has a 35-13 record and are two wins away from becoming the winningest class class in Navy history.

Kickoff is set for Noon on Saturday.