The announced attendance for today’s game was 28,531. The attendance was much lower when Navy’s drive started. Junior Garret Winn carried the ball on the first play for 24 yards to midfield. Fullback James Harris II got several carries on the drive keeping the interior of the Holy Cross defense honest. The Navy drive ends on the Holy Cross 9 yard line as time expired. Navy starts the season 1-0 and goes to 11-1 on home openers under Ken Niumatalolo’s leadership.
The Crusaders began their next drive on their own 8 yard line with 9:05 left in the game. The Mids defense did not let up and forced a 3 and out. Navy has the ball 1st and 10 on their own 26.
Navy ran three QBs in to the game on their next drive. Tyger Goslin, Perry Olsen, and Dalen Morris all got time under center for the Mids. The carousel of quarterbacks didn’t have much success and the Mids punted from their own 46 yard line.
The Holy Cross offense couldn’t find much success against the stifling Navy defense. Degenhardt completed one pass for 18-yards on the drive and then through three incomplete passes forcing a Holy Cross punt
Navy starts the fourth quarter facing a 3rd and 2 on the Holy Cross 49 yard line. Nelson Smith converted that third down with a 49-yard TD run. The 49-yard run was Smith’s career long and his three TDs are also a career high. Nichols converted the PAT to give Navy a 45-7 lead. Navy’s scoring drive was 7-80-2:12.
Third Quarter
Navy’s starting quarterback, Malcolm Perry got banged up on an incomplete pass. Sophomore Tyger Goslin came in as his replacement.
Holy Cross was able to drive into Navy territory once again, but was forced to punt facing a 4th and 1 on the Navy 43. Degenhardt was 2-3 passing on the drive for 24 yards. The Holy Cross punt traveled into the end zone giving the Mids the ball on their own 20.
The Crusader defense was unable to slow down the Navy offense on their next drive. The Mids ground game is hitting on all cylinders. CJ Williams has 91 yards on 10 carries in the game. Keoni Makekau had a 6-yard carry and a 29-yard reception on the drive. Sophomore Isaac Ruoss got his first career carry and TD on the same play, a 2-yard scoring run that gave Navy a 38-7 lead with 4:27 left in the third quarter.
Holy Cross was able to move the ball on their next position. Degenhardt was 3-3 early in the drive moving the ball into Navy territory. The Navy defense stiffened forcing two incomplete passes and giving up just one are on the ground. On a 4th-15, Degenhardt rushed for 10 yards, but Navy took over on downs at their own 20 yard line with 7:52 left in the third quarter.
Navy took advantage of great field position and capped off a 5-play, 20 yard drive with a 1-yard TD run by Nelson Smith. Four different players touched the ball on the drive. Navy leads Holy Cross 31-7 with 10:56 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Holy Cross struggled on their opening drive of the second half. Connor Degenhardt was sacked for the second consecutive play and fumbled and Navy’s Nizaire Cromartie recovered at the Crusader’s 25 yard line.
Second Quarter
Holy Cross took a knee and the half ended with the score, Navy 24, Holy Cross 7.
Navy answered Holy Cross’s scoring drive with one of their own. Big plays led to a one yard scoring run by Malcolm Perry. CJ Williams started off the drive with a 16-yard carry. Later in the drive Perry completed a 44-yard pass to Michael Cooper to the Holy Cross one yard line. Two plays later Perry found the end zone. Navy’s scoring drive was 7-75-1:38. Navy leads Holy Cross 24-7 with 10 seconds remaining in the half.
Holy Cross started their next drive on their own 25 yard line following a fair catch on the kickoff. QB Connor Degenhardt began to get in a rhythm during the drive and Miles Alexander found success on the ground. Alexander capped off the 12-play, 75-yard drive with a 16-yard TD run. Holy Cross’s scoring drive was 12-75-5:41. Navy leads the Crusaders, 17-7 with 1:48 remaining in the half.
The Navy triple option was clicking following the missed Holy Cross field goal. The Mids carried the ball 7 times for 80 yards capped off by a 16-yard TD run by CJ Williams. Four different players carried the ball on the drive. Nichols hit the PAT and Navy leads Holy Cross, 17-0 with 7:29 remaining in the half. Navy is outrushing Holy Cross 183-3 so far in the contest.
Holy Cross took advantage of the Navy turnover driving the ball to the Navy 6. On a 4th-and-3, Derek Ng hit the right upright on a 23-yard FG attempt. Navy dodged a bullet and took over at the 20 yard line.
Navy’s drive continues with the ball spotted at their own 43. On the first play of the second quarter, Perry was sacked and fumbled the ball and Holy Cross recovered at the Navy 33.
First Quarter
Navy began at their own 18 following the Holy Cross punt. Tazh Maloy carried the ball 14 yards on his first carry of the game. Perry followed with a 9 yard carry on a pass play that had no one open down field.
Holy Cross began moving the ball in their second drive, but Navy still forced another punt. On the punt there was confusion with the Navy return team and they appeared to fumble the ball deep in their own territory. However, there was an inadvertent whistle on the play along with a Navy personal foul. Instead of having the ball on the Navy 28 yard line, the ball was placed at the Navy 48. Holy Cross was unable to move the ball from there and were forced to punt again.
Navy had great field position to start their second drive. A 30-yard Holy Cross punt gave the Mids the ball at their own 48 yard line. Navy drove to the Crusaders 27 yard line but was forced to attempt a field goal. Bijan Nichols split the uprights on a 44-yard FG attempt giving the Midshipmen a 10-0 lead with 5:56 remaining in the first quarter.
The Midshipmen forced a three-and-out on Holy Cross’s first drive holding the Crusaders to negative three yards on the drive.
Navy drove 75 yards for a TD on their first possession of the game. QB Malcolm Perry led the Midshipmen on a 9-play driver capped off by a four yard TD run by Nelson Smith. Perry had a 12 yard carry on the drive and a 12-yard completion to Chance Warren, his first career reception. Myles Fells had the play of the drive with a 51-yard run to the Holy Cross four yard line. The Mids lead 7-0 early in the first quarter.
Holy Cross won the coin toss and deferred to the second half.
Pre-game
It’s going to be a warm afternoon for the home opener between Holy Cross and Navy. The projected temperature at kickoff is to be 85 degrees with a real feel of 90. The Mids open the 2019 season with four team captains - Nizaire Cromartie, Paul Carothers, Ford Higgins and Malcolm Perry. This is the first time in 139 seasons of Navy football that the team will have four captains.
You will notice, if you watch the game, that the 27 yard line is marked in memory of Navy’s first Heisman Trophy winner, Joe Bellino who passed away in March. Navy will also wear a helmet sticker in Bellino’s honor.
 |
| Joe Bellino Heisman sticker |
 |
| The Brigade of Midshipmen |
No comments:
Post a Comment