Observations from an Olde Poolie - Delaware 59 Navy 52

NAVY Football No. 8. Observations from an Olde Poolie

October 27, 2007. Delaware 59 Navy 52. After three days of much needed rain in the Annapolis area the skies opened to a sunny and warm day (70 degrees) and a large crowd of over 35,000 sat through an offensive battle that the last team with the ball - Delaware - won. The crowd included 925 attendees celebrating the Class of 1957's fiftieth reunion. No defense, two lost fumbles, and a couple of penalties in key moments doomed Navy. Delaware (7-1) was ranked number 8 in Division 1-AA and has a 6-6 230 pounds quarterback who transferred from Pittsburgh. He is a bonafide NFL candidate. The two teams combined for 1187 yards of offense.

Delaware took the opening kick-off and marched 73 yards - mostly through the air - to take a 7 - 0 lead with 11:38 left. The Midshipmen moved to the Blue Hens 33. On fourth down Navy lined up for a field goal attempt but place kicker Bullen passed to WR Suddeth who was all alone on the sideline for a 30 yard gain. Enhada scored from there to tie 7 - 7. The drive took over 5 minutes. The Midshipmen actually stopped he Blue Hens and forced a punt. Navy then drove 72 yards in 2:30 minutes to lead 14 - 7. All on the ground.

Delaware scored early in the second quarter then Navy’s FB Adam Ballard burst through the line and raced 55 yards for a TD and a 21 - 14 lead. Navy scored another TD with 59 seconds left in the half and led 28 - 21. Behind QB Flacco the Blue Hens covered 65 yards and scored on 11 yard pass with three seconds remaining. 28 - 28 at the intermission.

Reggie Campbell brought the crowd to it’s feet with an electrifying 80 yard kick-off return to start the second half. FB Kettani carried three times to give the Midshipmen a 35 - 28 lead. It took Delaware 6 passes to tie the game at 35 - 35 after only four minutes in the quarter. Navy failed to score on their next possession and the Blue Hens quickly scored on 34 yard pass to lead 42 - 35. In their next possession with QB Bryant at the helm Kettani fumbled at midfield and Delaware got a FG to lead 45 - 35 early in the fourth quarter. Navy then drove 66 yards to close to 45 - 42. Navy had Delaware pinned at their own ten but with the passing of Flacco the Blue Hens went ninety yards to lead 52 - 42. A 50 yard pass from Bryant to Singleton helped Navy to another TD and close to 52 - 49. An almost perfect on-side kick-off recovered by Navy was nullified by Navy being off-sides. After a deep kick-off Delaware next scored on a 37 yard run off the right side to increase the lead 59 - 49 with 2:02 remaining. The Midshipmen had to settle for a 29 yard FG with 30 seconds remaining. The on-sides kick-off was recovered by Delaware. Final score Delaware 59 Navy 52.

Navy’s offense piled up 342 yards on the ground and gained 164 yards passing on 10 - 15 - 0. They lost two fumbles that resulted in Delaware points. Delaware had 434 yards passing on 30 - 41. They did not turn the ball over. Navy actually had two sacks in the first quarter. At one point Delaware had a first and goal at the five. Two off-sides penalties against the Midshipmen gave the Blue Hens six tries before they finally scored from about six inches out. Navy has lost four or five key defensive players and D/C Buddy Green has had to revamp the secondary for each game. It is not from lack of effort as the players give their best. The defensive line is usually about 30 - 40 pounds lighter than the opponents and have difficulty getting to the quarterbacks.

Next week the Midshipmen journey to South Bend to meet the Fighting Irish who are in one of their worst seasons ever ast 1 - 7. They have been shut out twice and are only averaging 10 points a game. They had yesterday off. Notre Dame undoubtedly is anxious to feast on Navy’s poor defense. They will have to contain Navy’s ground game. If Navy had any defense at all this might be the year - but at South Bend - too bad!.

The Sprint Team beat Penn 56 - 7 at Franklin Field to improve to 5 - 0 Friday night. Air Force played New Mexico Thursday night. Army had the day off and plays at Air Force next week.

Navy’s Record. (4 - 4)

Aug. 31 Navy 30 @ Temple 19
Sept. 7 @ Rutgers 41 Navy 27
Sept. 15 Ball State 34 @ Navy 31 ot
Sept 22 Navy 46 Duke 43
Sept. 29 Navy 31 Air Force 20
Oct. 10 Navy 48 @ Pittsburgh 45 (2 OT)
Oct. 20 Wake Forest 44 @ Navy 24
Oct. 27 Delaware 59 Navy 52
Nov. 3 @ Notre Dame 2:30 pm (NBC)
Nov. 10 @ North Texas (CSTV)
Nov. 17 Northern Illinois 3:30 pm
Dec. 1 Army 12 pm (CBS) Baltimore

Notre Dame Record. (1 - 6)

Sep. 1 Georgia Tech 33 Notre Dame 3
Sept. 8 @ Penn state 31 Notre Dame 10
Sept. 15 @ Michigan 38 Notre Dame 0
Sept. 22 Michigan State 31 Notre Dame 14
Sept. 29 @ Purdue 33 Notre Dame 19
Oct. 6 Notre Dame 20 @ UCLA 6
Oct. 13 Boston College 27 Notre Dame 14
Oct. 20 Univ. Of Southern Calif. 38 Notre Dame 0
Oct. 27
Nov. 3 NAVY
Nov. 10 Air Force
Nov. 17 Duke
Nov. 24 @ Stanford



GO NAVY, BEAT NOTRE DAME!