Penn State 34 Navy 7

NAVY  FOOTBALL 2012 No. 2                                     Observations from an Olde Poolie

September 15, 2012.  Penn. State 34 Navy 7.  This game, before over 98,000 on a 78 degree sunny day in Happy Valley,  was similar to the Notre Dame game.  Navy moved the ball well at times but FOUR turn-overs, seven penalties,  a number of missed assignments, poor decisions by the coaches and the quarterback resulted in a blow –out.  Navy actually moved the ball well at times but turnovers and mistakes near or in the red zone were costly.

Navy kicked off and PS needed seven plays to score. Two flags pushed the Midshipmen back and they had to punt on their first possession. PS then scored on a 45 yard pass. Penn State 14 Navy 0 with five minutes left in the quarter.  Navy  moved to the PS five then an ill-advised pass was intercepted.  The Nittany Lions then traveled 90 yards to lead 20 – 0.

Navy started the second half by gaining 45 yards before fumbling.  Penn State moved to the Navy 25.  A pass was deflected but another receiver picked it off and ran it in for a 25 yard TD. 27 – 0. On their next possession the Midshipmen, with freshman Reynolds at QB,  fumbled and a PS defender scooped up the ball and raced 74 yards for a TD.   34 – 0.  Reynolds then led the Midshipmen on a 75 yard drive with Gee Gee Green  scoring on a 12 yard run.  Penn. State. 34 Navy 7 with 10 minutes remaining.    

Navy changed centers for this game – trying to get the best five offensive linemen on the field.  They changed centers before the Notre Dame game also.  The crowd noise affected the QB and the players causing false starts and missed hand-offs.  Both the offensive and defensive lines got beat. QB Miller is not 100 % with a bad ankle.     

"Penn State played a great game and got after us. We got outplayed and out-coached, " Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said. "For the second week in a row, we got our butts whooped."

Statically, the Midshipmen did quite well. 22 first downs to PS 16;  Rushing:  Navy  245 yds on 60 carries; PS  110 on 28 carries. Passing:  Navy 13-23-1 126 yds;  PS 13-21-0 231 yds. Navy had the ball  for over 36 minutes to 24 for PS.  Green led Navy with 70 yards on 7 carries. The fullbacks only gained 32 yards on 14 carries. Penn State did not turn the ball over.

The last time that Navy played Penn State, the Midshipmen coached by George Welsh, won 7 – 6 in 1974.

Air Force was idle.  Army lost at home to Northern Illinois 40 – 41.

Next week the VMI Keydets (1-2) come to Annapolis. The way that Navy is playing it might be a close game.  I wonder who is the bright guy  that scheduled  Notre Dame and Penn State for the first two games?

Navy's Schedule

Sept. 1   Notre dame 50 Navy 10                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Sept. 8   At Penn State 34  Navy 7                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Sept. 22  VMI  3:30 pm                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Sept. 29 San Jose State  3;30 pm                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Oct. 6 At Air Force 11:30 am                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Oct. 13 at Central Michigan  8 pm.

VMI  (1-2) Schedule

Sept. 1 at Delaware State  17 VMI 10                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Sept. 8 VMI 24 Chowan 17                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Sept. 15 Richmond 47 VMI 6

BEAT THOSE KEYDETS!