10/15/2001 - Football
Navy Football Release
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Mids Look For First Win
The Navy Midshipmen (0-5) travel to Piscataway, N.J. to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-5) Saturday at Rutgers Stadium. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. and the game will be televised by ESPN Regional (Check your local listings for a station in your area).
Navy is coming off a 21-13 loss to Rice, while Rutgers suffered a 30-5 loss to Temple.
Saturday's game will be broadcast live on the 10-station Navy Radio Network, including 1300 WJFK in Baltimore, 630 WMAL in Washington and 1430 WNAV in Annapolis. You can also hear the broadcast live on the internet at events.yahoo.com/Sports_Events/College/, www.wnav.com or on www.wmal.com(.) Bob Socci will call the play-by-play and John Feinstein will handle the color commentary.
Injuries
Starting defensive tackle Matt Berger (Sr./Roanoke, Va.) is out with an MCL tear in his left knee. Starting linebacker Jake Bowen (Sr./Asheville, N.C.) is doubtful with a sprained left foot.
Series History
Navy leads the all-time series, which dates back to 1891, 9-6-1. Rutgers won last year's game, 28-21, in Annapolis. Navy is 2-2 in games played at Rutgers, including a 34-7 rout of the Scarlet Knights in 1999.
Game-By-Game Scores
1891 Navy 21-12 Annapolis, Md.
1892 Navy 48-12 Annapolis, Md.
1896 Navy 40-6 Annapolis, Md.
1897 Navy 1-0 (for.) Annapolis, Md.
1908 Navy 18-0 Annapolis, Md.
1909 Navy 12-3 Annapolis, Md.
1910 Tie 0-0 Annapolis, Md.
1969 Rutgers 6-20 Piscataway, N.J.
1976 Rutgers 3-13 Annapolis, Md.
1992 Rutgers 0-40 Annapolis, Md.
1995 Rutgers 17-27 Piscataway, N.J.
1996 Navy 10-7 Piscataway, N.J.
1997 Navy 36-7 Annapolis, Md.
1998 Rutgers 33-36 Annapolis, Md.
1999 Navy 34-7 Piscataway, N.J.
2000 Rutgers 21-28 Annapolis, Md.
Scouting Rutgers
The Scarlet Knights enter Saturday's contest on a five-game losing streak. Rutgers defeated Buffalo, 31-15, in the season opener and has since lost to Miami (Fla.) (61-0), Virginia Tech (50-0), Connecticut (20-19), Syracuse (24-17) and Temple (30-5). Rutgers is averaging 108 yards per game on the ground and 136 yards per game through the air, while giving up 180 yards per game on the ground and 367.8 through the air.
Offensively for Rutgers, quarterback Ryan Cubit has completed 76 of his 166 passes for 786 yards. He has thrown five touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His favorite targets are Delrico Fletcher (18 catches for 176 yards and two touchdowns) and L.J. Smith (18 catches for 155 yards and one touchdown). Dennis Thomas has rushed for 291 yards and one touchdown on 74 carries.
Defensive back Shawn Seabrooks leads the team with 57 tackles. He has also recorded six tackles for a loss, a sack, picked off a pass, broke up a pass and has forced four fumbles. Linebacker Gary Bracketts has recorded 10 tackles for a loss and three sacks.
Schedule Tough Early On
Navy's five opponents to date have compiled a record of 19-9 (.679). Navy's final-five opponents (Rutgers, Toledo, Tulane, Notre Dame and Army) are a combined 12-16 (.429).
Mids Come Up Short
Kyle Herm threw two touchdown passes and ran for another as Rice sent Navy to its fifth-straight defeat, 21-13, in front of a Homecoming crowd of 29,106.
Rice moved the ball at will in the first half, scoring touchdowns on three of its five touchdowns. Kyle Herm threw his first two touchdown passes of the year, the backbreaker a 30-yard touchdown pass to Robbie Beck on fourth-and-five with 1:29 remaining in the half, giving the Owls a 21-3 lead.
The Navy offense could get little going, coming up with just two field goals on the first and last drives of the first half. Navy jumped out to a 3-0 lead when the Mids drove 46 yards on 14 plays in the game's first possession, as David Hills (Sr./Latham, N.Y.) connected from 40 yards out. Hills ended the half with a 43-yard field goal to make the score, 21-6.
The defense came out of the locker room in the second half and played its best half of football on the year. It held the Owls to 181 yards of total offense and more importantly, no points.
The offense, though, could not get anything going until early in the fourth quarter when Brian Madden (Sr./Lawton, Okla.) hit Marlon Terrell (Sr./Dallas, Texas) with a 65-yard pass down to the Rice 28-yard line and then picked up an additional 15 yards on a personal foul by the Owls. Rice kept the Navy drive alive after stopping the Mids on fourth-and-one from the four by lining up offsides. On the next play, Madden scored from one-yard out to make the score 21-13.
Rice looked like it would salt the game away, driving from its own 33 down to the Navy 12. But on third-and-seven, Eddie Carthan (Jr./Donalsville, Ga.) stripped the Rice running back of the ball and Matt Brooks (Sr./Laguna Niguel, Calif.) picked it up at the Navy 17 and headed for the end zone. It looked like Brooks would score, but he got tripped up by Leroy Bradley at the Rice 47-yard line with 1:35 remaining.
Navy, though, could not muster any offense as Madden lost three yards on first down and the Mids were called for a holding penalty on the next play. On second and 13, Madden completed a one-yard pass to Jeff Gaddy (Sr./Charlotte, N.C.) and on third down Madden threw incomplete. Madden had to scramble out of the pocket on fourth and 22 and could pick up just 14 yards, ending Navy's hopes for a miracle finish.
Madden carried the ball 34 times for 94 yards, ending his streak of seven-straight 100-yard rushing games. He completed 10 of his 16 passes for 125 yards, his third-straight 100-yard passing day. Marlon Terrell (Sr./Dallas, Texas) caught two passes for 75 yards.
On defense, Lenter Thomas (Jr./Eagle Lake, Texas) led the way with a career-high 14 tackles, while Brooks contributed 10 stops. Shalimar Brazier (So./Detroit, Mich.) and Andy Sinitiere (So./Humble, Texas) had eight tackles apiece.
Navy-Rice Notes
Navy is now 35-16 in Homecoming games, but have lost three straight ...Navy has lost 15 of the last 16 games ... Marlon Terrell's (Sr./Dallas, Texas) 65-yard reception in the fourth quarter was the first catch of his career and was Brian Madden's (Sr./Lawton, Okla.) longest completion of his career ... Matt Brooks' (Sr./Laguna Niguel, Calif.) fumble recovery in the fourth quarter was the first of his career ... Junior safety Lenter Thomas (Eagle Lake, Texas) had a career-high 14 tackles.
Close Calls
Navy has had little luck in close games, losing 10 of the last 12 games decided by seven points or less. The Mids are 0-1 in close games this year, losing to Air Force, 24-18.
Madden's 100-Yard Rushing Streak Snapped
Brian Madden (Sr./Lawton, Okla.) was held to 94 yards rushing on 34 carries in Navy's 21-13 loss to Rice. It was the first time in Madden's career that he has started a game and not rushed for 100 yards. His seven-consecutive 100-yard rushing days are a school record.
Madden's seven 100-yard games ties him with Brian Broadwater (1998-200) for second in Navy history for 100-yard games by a quarterback. Only Chris McCoy (1995-97) with 15 has more.
Madden's touchdown run in the fourth quarter against Rice marked the eighth-consecutive game he has scored a rushing touchdown. The school record is 10-straight games by McCoy in the 1996-97 season.
Madden is averaging 9.7 yards per pass attempt (438 yards on 45 attempts), which is just off the school record set by Roger Staubauch in 1962 (9.9 yards per pass attempt).
Madden is averaging 7.2 yards per pass attempt in his career (745 yards in 104 attempts). The school record is 7.8 set by Brian Broadwater (1998-2000).
Madden is averaging 16.2 yards per completion (438 yards on 27 completions), which is just off a school record pace. The school record is 17.4 by Chris McCoy (1,2093 yards on 69 completions) in 1997.
Gaddy Coming Up With Big Plays
Jeff Gaddy (Sr./Davidson, N.C.) had a big day against Boston College, catching two passes for 87 yards and his first-career touchdown. The touchdown catch came on Navy's first drive, a 49-yard strike from quarterback Brian Madden (Sr./Lawton, Okla.). He came back against Air Force and caught four passes for 52 yards and a touchdown in Navy's loss to the Falcons.
Gaddy is Navy's leading receiver in catches (11) and yards (194) and is tied for the most touchdown catches (1).
A Dangerous Lane
Tony Lane (So./Wrens, Ga.) set a school record for kickoff return yardage against Temple, returning five kicks for 205 yards. The previous record was 170 yards on seven returns set by Michael Jefferson in 1994. Lane proved to be a threat the first time he ever touched the ball in a college game, returning Temple's second kickoff of the game 67 yards, setting up a Navy field goal. Lane's 41.0 average was also a school record. The previous record was 38.5 yards, set by Pat McGrew in 1997. Navy also set a school record for team kickoff return yardage against the Owls, returning eight kicks for 247 yards. The previous record was 198 yards on nine returns against Penn State in 1971.
Lane returned six kicks for 147 yards, including a long of 51 yards, against Georgia Tech and returned three kicks for 73 yards against Boston College. Against Air Force, he returned one kickoff for 25 yards and against Rice he returned two kickoffs for 47 yards.
Averaging 29.2 yards per kickoff return, Lane is ranked 10th in the nation in kickoff returns. That despite the fact that Lane has returned more kicks than anyone else in the top 10 and has returned 12 more kicks than top-ranked Herb Haygood of Michigan State.
Lane is also averaging 128.4 yards per game of all-purpose yards, which ranks 34th in the country.
Lane is showing that he is more than a kickoff returner, scoring a rushing touchdown against Boston College and then catching a 54-yard touchdown pass from Brian Madden (Sr./Lawton, Okla.) against Air Force. Lane is Navy's second-leading receiver, catching seven passes for 125 yards and one touchdown.
Skaggs Impressive
Sophomore punter John Skaggs (Cantonment, Fla.) averaged a career-best 49.3 yards per punt on four punts in Navy's 24-18 loss to Air Force. Skaggs has been impressive all year, averaging 46 yards per punt on five attempts in his collegiate debut against Temple, 40.8 yards on six kicks against Georgia Tech, 48.8 yards per punt on four punts against Boston College and 45.5 yards on four punts against Rice (including a career-long 62 yarder).
The All-America candidate is averaging 45.6 yards per punt, which is the sixth-best average in the country. He is on pace to break the school record of 43.8 yards, set by Bill Busik in 1941.
Hills Perfect On Field Goals
David Hills (Sr./Latham, N.Y.) has been perfect on field goals this year, making both of his attempts against Temple, Air Force and Rice. Against Temple, Hills made field goals from 24 and 36 yards, against Air Force he was good from 23 and 37 yards and against Rice, Hills was on the money from 40 and 43 yards.
Hills has made 15 of his 18-career attempts (.833). He is 0-1 from inside the 20, 4-4 from 20-29 yards out, 6-7 from 30-39 yards and 7-8 from 40-49 yards. His career long is 45 yards, which he made in last year's game at Air Force.
