10/17/10

Observations from an Olde Poolie


NAVY FOOTBALL 2010 No. 6  NAVY FOOTBALL 2010 No. 6         Observations from an Olde Poolie
October 17, 2010. Navy 28 Southern Methodist University 21. On a beautiful fall afternoon with temperatures in the low 60's before close to 34,000 fans, Navy’s football team stumbled through the first half; falling behind 0 - 14 to the Mustangs; then - after some motivational dialog by the coaching staff at half time, plus enthusiasm from the Brigade of Midshipmen, - came back to win in a thriller 28 - 21.

Navy kicked off and forced SMU to punt. Navy used 13 plays to advance to the Mustangs 30 yard line but failed to convert on 4th and 3. SMU , using a quick passing attack, drove 71 yards and scored on a 5 yard pass. The Midshipmen moved to midfield but had to punt. This time SMU covered 74 yards in ten plays and scored on another short pass to lead 14 - 0 with 10 minutes left in the half. Navy got to the SMU 25 but Buckley’s field goal attempt failed.

The Midshipmen began the second half with much more intensity. They took the kick-off and marched 72 yards in 11 plays. On third and 18 from their own 11, Dobbs rifled a perfect strike to slotback Aaron Santiago for a 52 yard gain. After six running plays Dobbs found Santiago in the end zone for a 3 yard pass to make it SMU 14 Navy 7. The drive consumed five minutes. The defense held and SMU punted to the Navy 20. The Midshipmen drove 80 yards in 9 plays and 5 minutes with Slotback Green diving over for the TD. SMU 14 Navy 14 . SMU’s quarterback tried to scramble but fumbled when tackled and Navy had the ball at the SMU 31. It took the Midshipmen five running plays to score. FB Teich bounced in from the 2 early in the fourth quarter. Navy 21 SMU 14. After an exchange of punts the Mustangs started on their own 42 and used 10 plays to tie the game 21 - 21 with 2:51 remaining. Navy was three plays and punted to the SMU 30. A personal foul moved the Mustangs back to the 15. On first down LB Tyler Simmons stepped in front of the receiver and intercepted on the 13. FB Teich had nine yards then busted through a big hole for a 4 yard TD and Navy led 28 - 21 with 1:38 remaining. The Mustangs, relying on the pass, moved to the Navy 21 but the clock ran out and the Navy faithful breathed a sigh of relief. A thrilling finish.

Navy was without three starters due to injuries: DB Emmett Merchant and nose guard Shane Bothel plus FB Vince Murray. DE Tuani has been playing with banged up shoulders. Joe Buckley was injured on the last PAT as a SMU player ran in to him. The Midshipmen did not turn the ball over. They gained 253 yards on the ground and Dobbs was 6 - 9 - 0 for 84 yards passing. Teich had 95 yards on 21 carries. SMU had 254 yards passing. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo said that "I can not repeat some of the things that were being said at halftime. The coaches were a little animated".

Next week: Navy will host Notre Dame in a 12:00 pm game from the new stadium in the Meadowlands in New Jersey. Notre Dame is 4 - 3 under new coach Brian Kelly. They have won their last three games. Yesterday they grabbed two interceptions and had 299 yards passing to defeat Western Michigan 44 - 20
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Army lost at Rutgers 20 - 23 in overtime. The San Diego Aztecs upset Air Force 27 - 25
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Navy’s Record (4 - 2)
Sept. 6. Maryland 17 Navy 14
Sept. 11. Navy 13 Ga. Southern 6
Sept. 18. Navy 37 at La. Tech 23
Oct. 2. at Air Force 14 Navy 6
Oct. 9 Navy 28 at Wake Forest 27
Oct. 16 Navy 28 SMU 21
Oct. 23 Notre Dame (NJ) 12:00 CBS
Oct. 30 Duke (Homecomimg) 3:30 CBSCS
Nov. 6 @ East Carolina Univ. 3:30 pm MASN
Nov. 13 Central Michigan 3:30 pm CBSCS
Nov. 20 Arkansas State 3:30 pm CBSCS
Dec. 11 ARMY (Philadelphia) 2:30 pm. CBS

Notre Dame Record (4 - 3)
Sept. 4 Notre Dame 23 Purdue 13
Sept. 11 Michigan 28 Notre Dame 24
Sept. 18 @ Michigan State 34 Notre Dame 31 (4 ot)
Sept. 25 Stanford 37 Notre Dame 14
Oct. 2 Notre Dame 31 @ Boston College 13
Oct 9 Notre Dame 23 Pittsburgh 17
Oct. 16 Notre Dame 44 Western Michigan 20
Oct. 23 NAVY (New Jersey) 12:00 CBS
Nov. 20 at Army (Yankee Stadium)

GO NAVY. BEAT NOTRE DAME!
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