11/11/2002 - Football
Navy-Connecticut Game Notes

Game Data

Navy will take on the Connecticut Huskies Saturday on Senior Day at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 12:06 p.m. and the game will be televised by two different stations.

HDNet TV will televise the game with Pete Medhurst calling the play-by-play and former Navy fullback Omar Nelson ('97) handling the color commentary. HDNet television is available on DirecTV on Channel 199, but you must have a high definition television to view that channel. HDNet programming is also available at participating restaurants and bars and other public viewing locations throughout the United States. For locations showing HDTV go to: http://www.hd.net/sportsbars.html(.) Saturday's game will also be shown on a taped delay basis on Comcast Channel 8 in Anne Arundel County Sunday at 12 noon. You do not need a high definition television to watch the taped-delayed broadcast.

WFSB TV-3 in Hartford, Conn., will also televise the game live with Joe Tessitore, Don McPherson and Eric Clemons calling the action.

Navy is coming off a 30-23 heartbreaking loss to 10th- ranked Notre Dame, while Connecticut is coming off a 63-21 victory over Kent State, its second-straight game breaking the 60-point barrier.

Saturday's game will be broadcast live on the 10-station Navy Radio Network (locally, the game can be heard on 1430 WNAV in Annapolis, 980 WTEM in Washington, D.C. and 1300 WJFK in Baltimore) and worldwide on the internet at www.navysports.com(.) Bob Socci and John Feinstein will call the action starting at 11:30 a.m. with the Navy Pregame Show.

Pete Medhurst and Joe Miller will host the Navy Tailgate Show, starting at 10:30 a.m., on 1430 WNAV (www.wnav.com).

Joe D'Ambrosio, Wayne Norman and Bob Joyce will call the game for the Connecticut Radio Network.

Senior Day

Before the game, Navy will honor its 28 seniors, playing in their final game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium: Dominic Bailey (Houston, Texas), Pete Beuttenmuller (Wellington, Fla.), J.P. Blecksmith (San Marino, Calif.), Josh Brindel (Ward, S.C.), Brett Cochrane (Houston, Texas), Ben Eastburn (Fairfield, Iowa), Joey Fay (Allentown, Pa.), Donnie Fricks (Houston, Texas), Matt Furqan (St. Louis, Mo.), Cee Harris (Chesapeake Beach, Md.), Derek Jaskowiak (Chesterfield, Mo.), Bryce McDonald (Springfield, Mo.), Mike McIlravy (Virginia Beach, Va.), Grant Moody (Eureka, Kan.), Matt Nye (Menlo Park, Calif.), Joey Owmby (Houston, Texas), Travis Peace (Helotes, Texas), Dan Person (Havertown, Pa.), Heath Sanders (Garland, Texas), Chandler Sims (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Brian Stann (Dalton, Pa.), Sean Talbert (Danville, Va.), Brad Tepper (Mt. Pleasant, Pa.), Lenter Thomas (Eagle Lake, Texas), David Walsh (Glenview, Ill.), Michawn Yuvienco (Glen Burnie, Md.), Jim Zakar (Rosamond, Calif.) and Andy Zetts (Youngstown, Ohio).

Injuries

The following players are out for for the Connecticut game: junior safety Paul Clarkson (knee), senior slot back Donnie Fricks (collarbone), senior defensive tackle Josh Brindel (neck), senior fullback Cee Harris (neck) and sophomore linebacker Dustin Elliott (foot).

Rebuilding The Program

Navy head coach Paul Johnson took over a program that had won just one game in the last-two years (1-20)-the worst two-year record in the 122-year history of Navy football. As Johnson says, "the program didn't get this way overnight and it's not going to change overnight."

For instance, Navy's all-time winningest coach, George Welsh, who was 55-46-1 (41-44-1 against Division I-A teams, 14-2 against I-AA opponents) from 1973-81 at Navy, took over a program that had won seven games the previous two seasons and didn't have a winning season until his third year (7-4 in 1975) and only had one winning season in his first five years (24-31 in his first five years). It wasn't until year six that Welsh got the program turned around and the Mids posted a 31-15-1 record over his final four years in Annapolis and played in three bowl games, including a win over BYU in the Holiday Bowl, over those final four years.

Since Welsh, Gary Tranquill posted a 17-26-1 (.398) record, Elliott Uzelac was 8-25 (.242), George Chaump won 14 of his 55 games (.255) and Charlie Weatherbie was 30-48 (.385).

Since Roger Staubach won the Heisman Trophy in 1963 (38 seasons), Navy has had eight winning seasons (1967, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1996, 1997) and eight seasons with two wins or less (1968, 1969, 1970, 1987, 1991, 1992, 2000, 2001). In the last 20 years, Navy has had three winning seasons (1982, 1996 and 1997) and five seasons with two wins or less (1987, 1991, 1992, 2000, 2001).

Struggling Against Winning Programs

For those fans expecting Navy head coach Paul Johnson to perform a miracle in his first year, it should be noted that since 1990, Navy has defeated just four Division IA schools that finished the season with a winning record. In 1990, Navy defeated Toledo (9-2), 14-10; in 1993 Navy defeated Bowling Green (6-3-2), 27-20; in 1996 Navy defeated Air Force (6-5), 20-17; and in 1997 Navy defeated SMU (6-5), 46-16. Navy's other 28 wins against Division IA opponents since 1990 finished with a losing record.

Mids Lose Heartbreaker To 10th-Ranked Notre Dame

The Navy Midshipmen were five minutes away from pulling off one of the biggest wins in school history, but Notre Dame rallied for 15 points in the final 4:28 to defeat Navy for the 39th-consecutive time, 30-23. The game was played in front of 70,260 fans at Ravens Stadium in Baltimore.

Navy, which played all but a few plays without starting quarterback Craig Candeto, who left the game on Navy's opening drive with a sprained ankle, trailed by just a 9-7 count at the half thanks to a Navy defense that played its best game of the year.

Notre Dame got on the board first when Heath Sanders (Sr./Garland, Texas) snapped the ball over John Skaggs' (Jr./Pensacola, Fla.) head and Skaggs alertly picked it up and ran into the end zone giving Notre Dame two points instead of the ball deep in Navy territory.

The Mids held Notre Dame after the free kick and then sophomore quarterback Aaron Polanco (Wimberley, Texas) promptly led the Mids on a 12-play, 95-yard drive, capping it off with a 12-yard touchdown run to make it 7-2 Navy.

Notre Dame jumped back on top in the second quarter on a Tom Lopienski one-yard touchdown run. The Mids were able to go into the locker room at the half down by just two when Vaughn Kelley (So./Coconut Creek, Fla.) blocked Nick Setta's 53-yard field goal attempt at the end of the first half.

The third quarter saw Navy play its best football in recent memory, outgaining the Irish, 126-(-1). Only a Vontez Duff 92-yard kickoff return for the Irish spoiled an otherwise perfect quarter. Polanco put the Mids on top at 14-9 when he scored from one yard out. The drive was set up by Aaron Weedo's (So./Port Charlotte, Fla) 45-yard punt return.

After Duff's kickoff return gave Notre Dame a 15-14 advantage, Navy answered with a 12-play, 80-yard drive, capped off by Eric Roberts' (So./Miami, Fla.) 10-yard touchdown run to put the Mids up, 20-15.

On the very next play, Notre Dame's Ryan Grant was clobbered by Navy's Lane Jackson (So./Miami, Fla.) forcing a fumble that was recovered by Ben Mathews (Jr./Pittsburgh, Pa.). Three plays later, Eric Rolfs (Jr./Bartlesville, Okla.) nailed a 36-yard field goal to extend Navy's lead to 23-15.

The score would remain like that until late in the fourth when on second-and-eight from the Navy 31, Carlyle Holiday hit Omar Jenkins with a 29-yard pass down to the two-yard line. Two plays later, Rashon Powers-Neal scored from one yard out to close the game. Holiday hit Battle for the two-point conversion, tying the game at 23 with 2:59 left.

The Mids were able to get one first down on the ensuing drive, but were then forced to punt and Notre Dame took over at its own 33 with 2:19 left. On the first play, Holiday hit Jenkins with a 67-yard touchdown pass, giving Notre Dame the lead and eventual victory.

Tony Lane (Jr./Wrens, Ga.) led the Navy rushing attack with 92 yards on six carries, while Roberts contribued 50 yards on five carries. Navy outrushed the Irish, 216-68.

Jackson led the Navy defense with 11 tackles, one forced fumble and two passes broken up, while Lenter Thomas (Sr./Eagle Lake, Texas) recorded eight stops and broke up two passes. Freshman linebacker Jeremy Chase (Norfolk, Va.), who had seven tackles, including a sack, and junior Eddie Carthan (Donalsonville, Ga.), who had six tackles, two tackles for a loss, one sack and a fumble recovery, had stellar games, as well.

We've Met Before

This is the second time in his young coaching career that Navy head football coach Paul Johnson has coached against Connecticut. In 1998, Georgia Southern beat the Huskies, 52-30, in the first round of the I-AA playoffs. Georgia Southern rushed for 530 yards in that game and had three backs go over 100 yards, including a 232-yard, four touchdown performance by fullback Adrian Peterson.

Notre Dame-Navy Postgame Notes

Notre Dame leads the all-time series, 66-9-1 ... the Irish have won 39-consecutive contests vs. Navy, an NCAA record for consecutive wins against one opponent ... Navy's 25 penalty yards was a season low ... Navy was 2-4 on fourth down and are now 9-24 on the year ... Notre Dame was 2-2 on fourth down and the opposition is 12-15 on the year against the Navy defense on fourth down ... The Mids forced three Notre Dame turnovers after forcing just two over the last six games ... Navy's 23 points equalled the second most points Notre Dame has given up this year (Florida State scored 24, Michigan scored 23) ... junior slot back Tony Lane (Wrens, Ga.) equalled his career long with a 38-yard run (had a 38-yard run against Toledo last year) ... sophomore safety Josh Smith (Attica, Ind.) forced his first fumble of his career and sophomore corner Vaughn Kelley (Coconut Creek, Fla.) recovered his first fumble of the year ... Lane Jackson's (So./Miami, Fla.) forced fumble was the first of his career ... Aaron Weedo's (So./Port Charlotte, Fla.) 45-yard punt return was the longest of his career and longest by a Navy player this year ... it was the third time in the last six years that Navy had lost to Notre Dame by a touchdown or less (1997 and 1999).

Series History

Navy leads the all-time series, 5-0, though the two schools have not met since 1979 when the Mids won, 21-10. Navy is 4-0 in games played in Annapolis.

Navy-Connecticut

1975 Navy 55-7 Annapolis, Md.

1976 Navy 21-3 Annapolis, Md.

1977 Navy 38-7 Annapolis, Md.

1978 Navy 30-0 Storrs,Conn.

1979 Navy 21-10 Annapolis, Md.

Scouting Connecticut

The Huskies come to Annapolis on fire, having scored 124 points over the last two games. UConn has won two-straight games in impressive fashion, defeating Florida Atlantic, 61-14, and Kent State, 63-21. Last week against Kent State, UConn jumped out to a 49-0 halftime lead and never looked back as running back Terry Caulley scored four touchdowns in the second quarter.

The Huskies have hung tough against some very good football teams, losing by just eight to Boston College (24-16) and 17 to Georgia Tech (31-14).

Connecticut is averaging 120 yards per game on the ground and 216.6 yards per game through the air. Caulley is averaging 112.4 yards per contest. Quarterback Dan Orlovsky is completing 58.7 percent of his passes, completing 172 of his 293 attempts for 1,983 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has thrown nine interceptions. Orlovsky's favorite target is Tommy Collins, who has 34 catches for 450 yards and five touchdowns.

The UConn defense is giving up 168.1 yards per game on the ground and 166.2 through the air.

Turnover Troubles

Since opening the season with no turnovers in a 38-7 win at SMU, Navy has committed 27 turnovers over the last-eight games, 20 of them fumbles. Three of those turnovers (all fumbles) were returned for touchdowns (N.C. State, Air Force and Tulane). Navy's 20 lost fumbles are the most in the country (Arizona State is second with 18) and its 27 turnovers are tied for the 12th most in the nation (UTEP leads with 34).

Since forcing five turnovers in the season opener, Navy has forced just 10 turnovers in the last-eight games, though Navy did force three last week against Notre Dame. Navy's 15 forced turnovers are tied for 96th in the country.

In A Rush

Navy is fourth in the nation in rushing, averaging 275.11 yards per game. Last year, the Mids averaged a paltry 181.8 yards per contest. Navy has led the nation in rushing just once in school history, that coming in 1999 when the Mids averaged 292.2 yards per game en route to a 5-7 record.

NCAA Leaders In Rushing Offense

1. Air Force 299.50

2. West Virginia 294.90

3. Nebraska 289.45

4. Navy 275.11

5. Kansas State 253.10

6. Rice 249.80

7. Ohio 248.70

8. Wake Forest 248.10

9. Colorado 242.60

9. Kent State 242.60

Smith A Tackling Machine

Navy sophomore Josh Smith (Attica, Ind.) has recorded 46 tackles over the last-four games, more than all but four Navy players have recorded all year. His 90 total tackles are 33 more than the next-closest teammate (Vaughn Kelley with 57). The school record for tackles, which wasn't officially kept until 1970, is 169 by Andy Ponseigo in 1983. Smith has reached double figures in tackles in four of Navy's nine games (14 against SMU, 10 against Air Force, 18 against Rice and 15 against Boston College).

Also of note, until this year, official tackle totals were kept by the coaches. The NCAA mandated that tackles be kept as an official stat in the press box this year.

Smith's season is more impressive if you consider the fact that coming out of spring practice, he wasn't selected to appear in the Navy football media guide and barely made the invite list (105 players) to go through two-a-day practices. Thanks to an injury to last year's leading tackle, Lenter Thomas (Sr./Eagle Lake, Texas), Smith got his chance to show the coaches what he could do during two-a-day practices.

Youth Is Served

Of the 64 players listed on Navy's depth chart, 28 (44 percent) are freshmen or sophomores. Eight of those players are expected to start Saturday: Lionel Wesley (WR), Eric Roberts (SB) and Kyle Eckel (FB) on offense. Pierre Moss (DE), Jeremy Chase (LB), Lane Jackson (LB), Josh Smith (S) and Vaughn Kelley (CB) on defense. There are only 20 seniors (31 percent) on the depth chart.

Chase Impressive

Freshman Jeremy Chase (Norfolk, Va.) got his first-career start at Tulane and came through with a game-high tying 10 tackles and deflected a pass. Chase followed that performance up with a seven-tackle day, including a sack, against Notre Dame.

Fourth Down Problems

Navy has had problems on fourth down this year, converting on just nine of 24 attempts (38 percent), while stopping the other team on fourth down just three times in 15 attempts (20 percent). Navy is just four for its last 16 in converting fourth downs.

Touchdown Navy Quarterback

Navy quarterbacks Craig Candeto (Jr./Orange City, Fla.) and Aaron Polanco (So./Wimberley, Texas) have scored 16 of Navy's 23 rushing touchdowns. Candeto leads the team with nine touchdown rushes, while Polanco has seven in just 62 carries (1 touchdown every 8.9 carries).

Red Zone

Navy has scored on 26 of its 33 trips inside the Red Zone (.788) and has scored touchdowns on 22 of those 33 trips (.667).

The defense has given up points in 38 of the 44 times the opposition has reached the Red Zone (.864). Thirty four of the 44 trips have resulted in touchdowns (.773).

Navy In The 2002 National Rankings

{117 Teams in Division IA}

Rushing Offense 4th (275.1)

Passing Offense 112th (102.6)

Total Offense 62nd (377.7)

Scoring Offense 86th (22.8)

Rushing Defense 108th (215.2)

Pass Defense 65th (219.6)

Pass Efficiency Defense 117th (174.2)

Total Defense 103rd (434.8)

Scoring Defense 110th (39.6)

Net Punting 59th (34.5)

Punt Return 79th (8.9)

Kickoff Return 86th (19.0)

Turnover Margin 112th (-1.3)

Rushing Craig Candeto (77th, 70.6)

Punting John Skaggs (29th, 42.2)

Kickoff Returns Tony Lane (38th, 23.5)

Scoring Craig Candeto (94th, 6.0)

Aaron Polanco (94th, 6.0)

All-Purpose Runners Eric Roberts (82nd, 105.1)

Skaggs Is Navy's Top All-Time Punter

Navy junior John Skaggs (Cantonment, Fla.) is Navy's all-time top punter by average. Skaggs, who set the school record for punting average in a season last year with a 44.8 average and this year he is averaging 42.2 yards per punt, which would rank as the third best average in school history. He is averaging a school record 43.7 yards per punt for his career.

Career Punting Average Average

1. John Skaggs (2001-02) 43.7

2. Tray Calisch (1997-99) 40.7

3. Bill Busik (1940-41) 40.6

4. Dave Church (1965-66) 39.4

5. Brian Schrum (1992-95) 39.3

Single-Season Punting Average Average

1. John Skaggs (2001) 44.8

2. Bill Busik (1941) 43.8

3. John Skaggs (2002) 42.2

4. Tom Moore (1971) 41.9

5. Tray Calisch (1999) 40.9

Long Pass Play

J.P. Blecksmith's (Sr./San Marino, Calif.) 79-yard pass completion to Eric Roberts (So./Miami, Fla.) against Northwestern was the fourth-longest pass play in school history and the longest pass play in school history that did not result in a score.

The longest pass play in school history came in 1995 when Chris McCoy hit Matt Scornavacchi with an 87-yard touchdown pass in Navy's 35-7 victory over Tulane.

Three of the five-longest pass plays in school history have come when Navy was running the current spread offense. The fifth- longest pass play in school history came in 1998 when Brian Broadwater threw a 78-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Read in Navy's 32-31 upset win at Boston College.

Player-Receiver (Opponent, Year) Yards

1. Chris McCoy-Matt Scornavacchi (Tulane, 1995) 87

2. Rob Klemick-Jim Stewart (Miami, Fla., 1961) 83

3. Brian Broadwater-Dominic Bailey (Tulane, 2000) 81

4. J.P. Blecksmith-Eric Roberts (Northwestern, 2002) 79

5. Brian Broadwater-Ryan Read (Boston College, 1998) 78

Not So Sweet Home

Navy has lost 13 straight and 18 of the last 19 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The Mids last won a game at Navy-Marine Corps on Nov. 13, 1999, when the Mids knocked off Tulane, 45-21. The Mids have been outscored, 497-222 (average loss 38.2-17.1) during the 13-game home losing streak.

Piling Up The Yards

Navy piled up 678 yards of total offense against Northwestern, the third most in school history. The school record for total offense is 724 yards, which ironically enough also came in a loss, was when the Mids lost to Tulane, 50-38, in 2000. The second-biggest output was 680 yards against Colgate in 1998. Four of the six-best total offensive days in school history have come when either Paul Johnson or Ken Niumatalolo have called the plays.

Yds. (R /P) Opponent Date

1. 724 (362/362) Tulane 11/11/00

2. 680 (515/165) Colgate 10/17/98

3. 678 (378/300) Northwestern 9/21/02

4. 653 (358/295) Colgate 9/12/70

5. 646 (251/395) California 12/25/96

6. 635 (563/72) Kent State 11/22/97

Throwing The Ball

Craig Candeto's (Jr./Orange City, Fla.) 212 yards passing against Northwestern were the most by a Navy quarterback since Nov. 11, 2000, when Brian Broadwater threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns in Navy's 50-38 loss to Tulane.

Scoring Outburst

Navy's 40 points against Northwestern were the most points scored by a Navy team since Nov. 20, 1999, when the Mids scored 41 in a 48-41 loss to Hawai'i.

100 Yards Receiving

Eric Roberts' (So./Miami, Fla.) 136 yards receiving against Northwestern marked the first 100-yard receiving day by a Navy player since Nov. 11, 2000, when Dominic Bailey (Sr./Houston, Texas) had three catches for 119 yards and Josh Bock had nine catches for 119 yards and one touchdown in Navy's 50-38 loss at Tulane.

Smart Up Front

Senior left offensive tackle Derek Jaskowiak (Chesterfield, Mo.) sports a 3.74 GPA in systems engineering, while senior left offensive guard Grant Moody (Eureka, Kan.) carries a 3.91 GPA in quantitative economics. Both are Academic All-America candidates.

Brotherly Love

The Mids have a remarkable four sets of brothers on the team. Junior linebacker Ben and freshman slot back Sam Mathews (Pittsburgh, Pa.), junior guard Nate and freshman linebacker Jeremy Chase (Norfolk, Va.), senior guard Grant and freshman guard Evan Moody (Eureka, Kan.) and sophomore quarterback Aaron and freshman wide receiver James Polanco (Wimberley, Texas). Aaron and James, who transferred to Navy from Texas Tech, are identical twins.

No Overtime

Since the NCAA adopted the overtime rule in 1996, Navy is one of just seven schools who have not played an overtime game.

Schools That Have Never Played An Overtime Game

Navy

North Texas

Ohio State

South Carolina

Temple

Troy State

Tulsa

Mids Have Dropped 34-Straight To Ranked Opponents

Navy has lost 34-straight games to ranked opponents. The last time the Mids pulled an upset was Sept. 20, 1985, when Navy went into Charlottesville and stunned 20th-ranked Virginia, 17-13.

Losses To Ranked Opponents

Year Teams

1985 Air Force, Notre Dame and South Carolina

1986 Notre Dame

1987 Notre Dame and Syracuse

1988 Notre Dame and Syracuse

1989 Air Force, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame

1990 Virginia and Notre Dame

1991 Notre Dame

1992 Virginia and Notre Dame

1993 Notre Dame and Louisville

1994 Virginia, Notre Dame and Duke

1995 Notre Dame

1996 Notre Dame

1997 Notre Dame and Air Force

1998 West Virginia and Notre Dame

1999 Georgia Tech

2000 TCU and Notre Dame

2001 Georgia Tech

2002 North Carolina State, Air Force and Notre Dame