Navy 45, Holy Cross 7 - Final

Fourth Quarter

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

Navy Hosts Holy Cross in Season Opener

Navy hosts Holy Cross from the Patriot League this afternoon at 3:30 in the season opener for both teams.  The Midshipmen are coming off a disappointing 3-10 season, the worst since Ken Niumatalolo became head coach in 2008.  The Crusaders finished the 2018 season with a 5-6 record with four consecutive wins to end the season.

A home game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is different than any other. You must arrive early to experience all the unique activities and traditions that make a Navy football game special.  The team arrives about two and a half hours before kickoff.  The team buses stop at the Blue Angel and the players and coaches walk down the sidewalk into the stadium.  The March-On by the Brigade of Midshipmen is a must see.  This takes place about 20 minutes before kickoff.

Normally around the time the Navy team takes the field, the traditional fly-by takes place.  Today, two F/A-18 Hornets will provide the excitement.  Ten minutes before kickoff, the National Anthem is performed and feels a little bit more special at the Naval Academy.  This afternoon, a parachute jumper will carry an American flag onto the field just before kickoff.

After the game, both teams will gather on the field in front of the Brigade to sing the academy’s alma mater, Navy Blue & Gold.

Today’s game will be televised by CBS Sports Network.  You can also get updates throughout the afternoon here on Mid-Atlantic Sports.

The Navy Midshipmen open the 2019 campaign with a home game at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium against Holy Cross on August 31.  The Mids look to improve on last season's disappointing 3-10 record, Ken Niumatalolo's worst season since becoming the head coach in 2008.  You can follow the Mishipmen all season long here at Mid-Atlantic Sports and
ESPN 1380 WCBG.

Navy Falls to AAC Rival Houston, 49-36

Navy entered Saturday's contest against the Houston Cougars with a 2-4 record and three consecutive losses.  With a difficult remaining schedule, a bowl bid was also in question. 

Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium was energized early by beautiful fall weather, the march-on of Midshipmen, a flyover of F/A-18E Super Hornets, and a crowd of 33,924.  The Midshipmen used that energy to score on their first four drives of the game.  Navy led 24-14 with 5:19 remaining in the first half.

Unfortunately for Nayv, Houston's number three scoring offense in the country came alive in a big way at that point.  The Cougars scored touchdowns on five of their next seven drives to snatch the lead and the win from the struggling Mids.

The Houston defense also came up big, shutting out the Navy offense until just 4:03 remained in the game.  By that point, Houston held a 49-30 lead.  Some sloppy play by Houston backups late in the game gave Navy another scoring opportunity, but the Cougars came away with a big AAC West Division win, 49-36.

D'Eriq King was a thorn in the side of Navy all afternoon.  The Houston quarterback finished the game with 413 yards passing and 56 yards on the ground.  He was responsible for four total TDs, one on the ground and three passing.

Marquez Stevenson, Keith Corbin, and Courtney Lark all had over 100 yards receiving for the Cougars.  Stevenson finished with 141 yards on eight catches.  Corbin and Lark had 104 and 106 yards respectively with each receiver catching a TD pass from King.

Navy head coach, Ken Niumatalolo spoke highly of Stevenson. 

"Number 5 (Stevenson) was dynamic.  We haven't seen too many guys like him here in our stadium.  We had a hard time tackling him."

Navy played very much like they did in last week's 24-17 loss to Temple.  The offense started strong, but couldn't maintain that success through the second half.

Navy's offense was clicking early on the game.  Bennett Moehring tied the school record for most points in a career (192) for kickers when he kicked a 43 yard field goal to give Navy a 3-0 lead.  Later in the first half, Malcolm Perry found the end zone on a 32 yard touchdown run.  Moehring's PAT gave Navy a 10-7 lead and Moehring the career points leader record with 193 points.  

Zach Abey was called in to play quarterback on a short yardage situation in the second half.  Abey called his own number and scored from one yard out.  The touchdown gave Abey a touchdown in 13 of the last 17 games that he's played in.

Late in the second quarter offensive coordinator, Ivin Jasper made a great call.  Quarterback Garret Lewis pitched the ball to former QB, Malcolm Perry who found Taylor Jackson wide open for a 43 yard completion to the Houston 32 yard line.  Slotback Tazh Maloy scored his first career touchdown on the next play giving Navy a 10-point lead.  Maloy made a great read on a lead block and sprinted 32 yards for Navy score.  

Navy didn't score again until Myles Fells scored on a 14-yard carry with just 4:03 left in the game.  Taylor Jackson capped off Navy's scoring when he scored his first career touchdown on a 15-yard pass from Lewis with six seconds remaining in the game.

Navy falls to 2-5 on the season and travels to San Diego next Saturday to host undefeated Notre Dame.

Temple 24 - Navy 17 - Final

Fourth Quarter -

6:45 - The clock hits zero and Navy falls to 2-4 on the season with a 24-17 loss to Temple.  The Owls improve to 4-3.

6:42 - Navy calls their final timeout with 1:32 left.  Temple faces a 2nd-and-15 on the Navy 25.

6:40 - Navy can't convert a fourth-and-ten and the Mids turn the ball over to Temple on the Navy 20 with 1:42 left in the contest.  Temple holds a 7 point lead.

6:38 - Jarid Ryan picks off Anthony Russo's pass in the end zone,  Navy takes over on their own 20, down by 7 with 2:06 left in the game.

6:36 - Temple has the ball first-and-goal at the 10 with 2:56 left in the game.

6:34 - Navy takes a timeout to stop the clock with 4:07 remaining in the game.  The Mids D can't find an answer for the Temple offense who has a second-and-six on the Navy 31 yard line leading by 7.

6:32 - Temple is methodically moving the ball into Navy territory.  Temple has the ball on the Navy 44 yard line.

6:30 - Russo completes a 14 yard pass to Isaiah Wright for a Temple first down at their own 38.

6:25 - Navy is unable to get a first down on the drive and the Mids punt the ball back to the Owls.  Temple has the ball on their own 20 yard line with 8:13.  White boots a 52 yard punt.

6:22 - Navy returns the Temple kickoff to the 27 yard line.

6:18 - Anthony Russo completes a 62 yard TD pass to Ventell Bryant.  The PAT was good and Temple leads Navy, 24-17 with 9:14 left in the game.  The Temple scoring drive was 1-68-0:10.

6:15 - Navy couldn't convert the fourth down play and Temple gets the ball at their 38 yard line with the score tied 17-17.

6:15 - Navy faces a fourth-and-eight on the Temple 38 yard line with 9:46 remaining in the game.

6:11 - LT Jake Hawk is banged up and is helped off the field.  His backup, Kendel Wright, is not dressed for today's game due to illness.

6:09 - Nelson Smith carries the ball for 10 yards to go over the 100 yard mark for the first time in his career.

6:05 - On a third-and-14, Anthony Russo was sacked forcing a fourth-and-long and Temple punts the ball back to Navy.  The Mids take over on their own 39 yard line.

Third Quarter - 

6:00 - Temple chips away and moves to the 31 yard line.  A shotgun snap mishandled by Russo takes the ball back to the Temple 20 where they face a second-and-21.

5:57 - Malcolm Perry carries the ball 30 yards for a Navy TD, but the Mids were called for an illegal block in the back.  The ball will be spotted at the Temple 35, for a fourth-and 13.  The Mids take a delay of game and the Mids will punt from the ball back to Temple.  The Owls take over at their own 17.

5:55 - Navy faces a fourth-and-eight from the Temple 30.  Navy calls a timeout to discuss the play.

5:53 - Malcolm Perry carries the ball 15 yards to the Temple 32.

5:51 - Garret Lewis carries the ball for 7 yards to the 34.  A personal foul call after the play on Temple moves the ball to the Navy 49.

5:50 - The Temple kickoff goes into the end zone and the Mids take over at their 25.

5:46 - The TD stands and following the PAT, Navy and Temple are tied, 17-17 with 5:53 remaining in the third quarter.  The Temple scoring drive was 8-65-2:52.

5:44 - Rob Ritrovato carries the ball one yard for the Temple TD.  The scoring play is under review.

5:42 - Temple faces a fourth-and-goal at the one foot line.  The spot is under review and confirmed.

5:41 - Anthony Russo completes a 40 yard pass to Ventell Bryant to the Navy 8 yard line.  Jager Gardner carries the ball 7 yards to the Navy 1.

5:36 - Navy is not able to sustain the drive and Owen White punts the ball 32 yards to the Temple 35 yard line.

5:31 - Navy starts at their own 25 yard line.

5:27 - Anthony Russo completed two passes for 28 yards on the drive and Will Mobley kicked a 31-yard field goal to cut into Navy's lead.  The Mids lead 17-10 with 10:47 left in the third quarter.  The Temple scoring drive was 6-29-2:26.

5:24 - Temple fumbled the kickoff after a 39 yard return, but recovered at the Navy 43.

5:20 - Nelson Smith carries the ball 12 yards for his first career TD.  Navy leads Temple 17-7 with 13:13 left in the third quarter.  Navy's scoring drive was 4-75-1:47.

5:19 - Anthony Gargiulo carries the ball to the Temple 12.

5:17 - Temple kicks off to Navy to start the second half.  The Mids start at their own 25 yard line.  On the first play, Nelson Smith carries the ball 45 yard to the Temple 30.  He has 74 rushing yards in the game.

Halftime Stats - 

STAT
Total Yds	165	142
Pass Yds	107	10
Rush Yds	58	132
Penalties	4-28	4-25
1st Downs	11	11
3rd Downs	1-4	4-7
4th Downs	0-0	1-1
Total Plays	29	34
Avg Yds/Play	5.7	4.2
Avg Yds/Completion	10.7	5
Avg Yds/Rush	4.5	4.3
Sack-Adj Rush Yd(Avg)	58 (4.5)	132 (4.3)
Red Zone	1-3	2-2
Time of Poss	11:10	18:50
Turnovers (Def Pts Off)	1 (3)	1 (0)
Fumbles-Lost	1-1	2-1
Sacks (Def Yds)	0 (0)	0 (0)
TFL (Def Yds)	1 (4)	1 (2)

Navy Stat Leaders - 

Passing
Garret Lewis 2-3-10

Rushing
Garret Lewis 10-51-1 TD

Receiving
Taylor Jackson 1-14

Defense
Hudson Sullivan 5 tackles

Temple Stat Leaders - 

Passing
Anthony Russo 10-15-107

Rushing
Tyliek Raynor 3-25 1 TD

Receiving
Ventell Bryant 3-29

Defense
Delvon Randall 5 tackles

Second Quarter - 
4:56 - Navy runs out of time and the first half ends with Navy leading Temple, 10-7 at halftime.

4:51 - Today's announced attendance is 30,106.

4:49 - Temple punts the ball away and Navy takes over at their own 12 yard line.  2:18 remain in the first half.

4:48 - Temple is now called for an illegal substitution call moving them back to the Navy 44 facing a third-and-fourteen.

4:47 - Navy has an illegal substitution penalty called on them following the Temple timeout.  The Owls convert the fourth down without running a play.

4:44 - Temple is facing a fourth-and-one on the Navy 45 with 3:07 remaining in the half.  The Owls take a timeout to discuss the situation.

4:40 - Temple returns the Navy kickoff to their own 31 yard line.

4:35 - Lewis carries the ball for one yard for a Navy TD.  Moehring's PAT gives the Mids a 10-7 lead with 5:45 remaining  in the half.  The Navy scoring drive was 11-75-5:46.

4:33 - Navy holds a 16:28 to 7:43 time of possession advantage so far in the half.

4:30 - Myles Fells carries the ball for Navy for 12 yards.  A face mask penalty moves the ball to the Temple 12.  Garret Lewis carries the ball 11 yards to the Temple 1.

4:26 - Garret Lewis carries the ball for 20 yards to midfield.

4:24 - Navy fair catches the kickoff and the Mids start at their own 25.

4:20 - Temple decided to reply on Russo's arm on this drive and it was successful.  Russo completed 5 of 6 passes for 52 yards down to the Navy 15.  On the next play, Tyliek Raynor carried the ball 15 yards for a Temple TD.  Temple's scoring drive was 9-77-3:24 and the Owls lead, 7-3.

4:16 - Temple returns the kickoff 10 yards to their own 23 yard line.

4:13 - Bennett Moehring kicked a 24-yard FG to give Navy a 3-0 lead.  Navy's scoring drive was 17 plays, 71 yards, and took 10:01 off the clock.

4:10 - Navy recognized the 1963 Navy football team between quarters.  Roger Staubach threw three autographed footballs into the stands where the Brigade of Midshipmen stand.

Roger Staubach throwing an autographed football to the Midshipmen

First Quarter - 

4:08 - The first quarter ends with Navy facing a fourht-and-two at the Temple 7 yard line.

4:03 - Navy converted their second fourth down on the drive, this time by a Temple offside penalty moving the ball to the Temple 15 yard line.

4:02 - Lewis completed a surprising 14 yard pass to senior WR, Taylor Jackson to the Temple 29.

3:56 - Navy faced a fourth-and-one and Lewis converted with a two yard carry to the Temple 44.

3:54 - Navy keeps their drive moving behind the fullbacks.  Nelson Smith and Anthony Gargiulo carried the ball four of the first five plays of the drive moving into Temple territory.

3:51 - On Temple's second play deep in Navy territory, Russo completed a pass to Isaiah Wright and Navy forced a fumble recovering at the 22 yard line.

3:47 - Garret Lewis started the game at QB with Malcolm Perry at slot back and Zach Abey at WR.  All three Navy QBs were on the field at the same time.  Navy fumbles on their second play and Temple recovers at the Navy 19 yard line.  Navy's Tre Walker was banged up on the play.

3:45 - Temple's Anthony Russo completed a 38 yard pass to Jager Gardner to the Navy 1 yard line.  Temple was called for a false start, Navy forced a tackle for a loss, and then Temple missed a 26-yard FG attempt wide left.  Navy dodges a bullet and takes over at their own 20.

3:39 - Navy was called for a personal foul and Temple has the ball with a first down at their own 33 yard line.

3:35 - Temple won the coin toss and elected to receive.

Pre-Game -

Navy (2-3, 1-1) hosts Temple (3-3, 2-0) in an American Athletic Conference match up at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.  The Mids look to break a two game losing streak while Temple looks to maintain their winning ways as the Owls have won three of their last four games.  Navy will honor the 1963 team this afternoon between the first and second quarters.  The '63 team finished 9-2 and was led by Heisman Trophy winner, Roger Staubach.