9/23/2002 - Football
Navy-Duke Game Notes
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Game Data
Navy will play host to the Duke Blue Devils for Homecoming on Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is 12:05 p.m.
Navy is coming off a 49-40 loss at home to Northwestern, while Duke is coming off a 48-17 loss at fifth ranked Florida State.
A win over Duke would get Navy off to its best start since 1997, when the Mids started 2-2 en route to a 7-4 season. It would also be just the eighth time in the last 20 years that Navy has started a season 2-2 or better (1982, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997).
Saturday's fly-bys will be by 2 F/A-18C's from VFA-82 Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, S.C. and 4 F/A-18E/F Superhornet's out of VX-9 in China Lake, Calif. The Navy Leap Frogs, based out of San Diego, Calif., will also jump as part of the pregame festivities.
Navy will honor one of its legendary football players, Napoleon McCallum, at halftime. McCallum is being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in December.
McCallum is one of just three Navy players to have his number retired (#30), joining 1960 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Bellino (#27) and 1963 Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach (#12).
Saturday's game will be televised live by HDNet TV. Pete Medhurst will call the play-by-play, while former Navy fullback Omar Nelson ('97) will handle 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 SportsNet (Saturday at 11 p.m.) and on Comcast Channel 8 (Sunday at 12 noon).
The game will also 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).
Injuries
Safeties Paul Clarkson (Jr./Oconomowoc, Wis.) and Scooter Ross (So./Neptune Beach, Fla.) are out for the year with knee injuries.
Team captain and slot back Donnie Fricks (Sr./Houston, Texas) is out with a fractured left clavicle. Sophomore linebacker Reggie Sealey (Upper Marlboro, Md.) is out with an injured left shoulder. Junior defensive tackle Kevin Schwind (Fairfax, Va.) is out with an injured left leg.
Northwestern Outscores Navy, 49-40
Navy rolled up 678 yards and 40 points, but still lost, 49-40, in front of 27,012 fans at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium last Saturday. Five turnovers and the defense's inability to stop Northwestern's spread offense sent Navy to its 11th-straight home loss.
The five turnovers cost Navy at least 27 points, if not more. Northwestern scored 21 points off of three of Navy's five turnovers, while the two turnovers the Wildcats didn't score on cost Navy at least a field goal, if not a touchdown, as junior quarterback Craig Candeto (Orange City, Fla.) fumbled at the Northwestern three-yard line and threw an interception in the end zone.
Candeto's three turnovers marred what was otherwise the best game of his career, as he rushed for 138 yards and three touchdowns and threw for a career-high 212 yards and one touchdown.
The Mids got big offensive efforts from sophomores Eric Roberts (Miami, Fla.) and Kyle Eckel (Haverford, Pa.). Roberts rushed for 71 yards and one touchdown on four carries and caught three passes for 137 yards and one touchdown. Eckel carried the ball 15 times for 71 yards and caught three passes for 44 yards. Eckel, though, did lose a big fumble late in the game. With the Mids trailing, 42-38, with 5:30 left in the game, Candeto hit Eckel on a pass out of the backfield and rumbled down to the Northwestern 20-yard line where the ball was knocked loose by Dominique Price of Northwestern. The replays showed that Eckel was down on the play, but the Big 10 officials gave the ball to Northwestern. Six plays later, Noah Herron scored from 17 yards out to put the game away.
The Navy defense was unable to stop the Northwestern offense all day, giving up 545 yards (285 rushing, 260 passing) and was unable to create a turnover.
The starting secondary for Navy was forced to make 37 tackles. Sophomore safety Josh Smith (Attica, Ind.) and senior safety Lenter Thomas (Eagle Lake, Texas) led the Mids with nine tackles apiece. Junior corner Shalimar Brazier (Detroit, Mich.) was in on seven tackles. Senior Pete Beuttenmuller (Wellington, Fla.) and sophomore Jeff Vanak (Collegeville, Pa.) recorded sacks, while Vanak also forced a fumble.
Series History
Navy leads the all-time series against Duke, 16-11-5. The two teams last met back in 1997 with the Blue Devils upsetting the Mids, 26-17, in Durham. Navy finished 7-4 in 1997 and the Duke loss knocked the Mids out of a bowl game as two of those seven wins were against I-AA opponents. Duke last visited Annapolis in 1996 and was thrashed by the Mids, 64-27, on Homecoming. Navy is 8-3 all-time in games played in Annapolis.
Navy-Duke
1927 Navy 32-6 Annapolis, Md.
1928 Navy 6-0 Annapolis, Md.
1929 Navy 45-13 Annapolis, Md.
1930 Duke 0-18 Annapolis, Md.
1943 Navy 14-13 Baltimore, Md.
1944 Navy 7-0 Baltimore, Md.
1945 Navy 21-0 Durham, N.C.
1946 Duke 6-21 Baltimore, Md.
1947 Tie 14-14 Baltimore, Md.
1948 Duke 7-28 Durham, N.C.
1949 Navy 28-14 Annapolis, Md.
1952 Navy 16-6 Durham, N.C.
1953 Tie 0-0 Baltimore, Md.
1954 Navy 40-7 Norfolk, Va.
1955 Tie 7-7 Baltimore, Md.
1956 Tie 7-7 Durham, N.C.
1957 Tie 6-6 Baltimore, Md.
1960 Duke 10-19 Durham, N.C.
1961 Duke 9-30 Norfolk, Va.
1963 Navy 38-25 Durham, N.C.
1964 Navy 27-14 Annapolis, Md.
1966 Duke 7-9 Annapolis, Md.
1967 Duke 16-35 Norfolk, Va.
1971 Navy 15-14 Annapolis, Md.
1972 Duke 16-17 Norfolk, Va.
1977 Duke 16-28 Durham, N.C.
1978 Navy 31-8 Annapolis, Md.
1982 Navy 27-21 Durham, N.C.
1994 Duke 14-47 Annapolis, Md.
1995 Navy 30-9 Durham, N.C.
1996 Navy 64-27 Annapolis, Md.
1997 Duke 17-26 Durham, N.C.
Scouting Duke
The Blue Devils are off to a 1-3 start with a victory over East Carolina (23-16) and losses to Louisville (40-3), Northwestern (26-21) and Florida State (48-17).
Offensively, the Blue Devils are led by 250-pound fullback Alex Wade. Wade has rushed for 370 yards on the year, though he has not reached the end zone. Sophomore quarterback Adam Smith has completed 41 of his 76 pass attempts for 504 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Tight end Andy Roland (nine catches for 150 yards and one touchdown) and wide out Senterrio Landrum (nine catches for 66 yards and one touchdown) lead the Blue Devil receiving corps.
Duke is averaging 141 yards per game on the ground and 166.5 yards per game through the air.
Defensively, Duke is led by linebacker Ryan Fowler, who has recorded 41 tackles, four tackles for a loss and has broken up four passes. Safeties Terrell Smith and Alex Green have two interceptions apiece.
Duke is giving up 128.8 yards per game on the ground and 259.8 through the air.
Playing The ACC
Navy is 80-58-5 all-time against the ACC, but the Mids have lost seven straight to Atlantic Coast Conference foes and have been outscored 325-110 (46.4-15.7) over those seven games. The last time Navy beat a team from the ACC was Nov. 23, 1996, when Navy upset Georgia Tech in Atlanta, 36-26.
Homecoming
Navy is 35-17 all-time on Homecoming, but the Mids have lost three straight including a 21-13 loss to Rice last year. A loss would equal the longest Homecoming drought in school history. Navy lost four straight Homecoming games from 1989-92, losing all four games to I-AA opponents (James Madison twice and Delaware twice). Navy's last win on Homecoming was a 42-35 triumph over Colgate in 1998.
Candeto Fourth In The Country In Scoring
Junior quarterback Craig Candeto (Orange City, Fla.) is tied for fourth in the country in scoring, averaging 14 points per game. Candeto is second among quarterbacks
Candeto had a big day in Navy's 38-7 win over SMU, rushing for a career-high 153 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, while throwing for a then career-high 106 yards in just his third- career start.
Candeto's 56-yard touchdown run was the longest run by a Navy player since Nov. 6, 1999, when Raheem Lambert had a 61-yard touchdown run in Navy's 36-7 victory over Rutgers.
His 69-yard pass completion to Eric Roberts (So./Miami, Fla.) was the longest pass play by Navy since Nov. 11, 2000, when Brian Broadwater hooked up with Dominic Bailey (Sr./Houston, Texas) for an 81-yard completion at Tulane.
Against N.C. State, Candeto carried the ball 17 times for 58 yards and one touchdown in Navy's 65-19 loss to the Wolfpack.
Candeto carried the ball 30 times for 138 yards and three touchdowns while throwing for a career-high 212 yards and one touchdown in Navy's 49-40 loss to Northwestern.
Candeto's seven rushing touchdowns in the first-three games puts him on pace to shatter the NCAA record for most rushing touchdowns in a season by a quarterback, which is 20 set by Navy's Chris McCoy in 1997 and equalled by Eric Crouch of Nebraska in 2000. McCoy's 20 rushing touchdowns are also a school record for rushing touchdowns in a season by a player.
NCAA Individual Leaders In Scoring
1. Josh Harris, QB (Bowling Green) 16.67
2. Tony Hollings, RB (Georgia Tech) 16.50
3. Zach Abron, RB (Missouri) 16.00
4. Craig Candeto, QB (Navy) 14.00
4. Maurice Clarett, RB (Ohio State) 14.00
6. Mark-Christian Jensen, K (California) 12.25
7. Larry Johnson, RB (Penn State) 12.00
7. William Bratton, RB (Toledo) 12.00
7. Chance Harridge, QB (Air Force) 12.00
7. Henry Miller, RB (Louisville) 12.00
7. Jonathan Golden, RB (Baylor) 12.00
Roberts Fifth In The Country In All-Purpose Yards
Navy sophomore slot back Eric Roberts (Miami, Fla.) is fifth in the country in all-purpose yards, averaging 182 yards per game. Roberts has rushed for 160 yards, owns 233 yards receiving and 153 kickoff return yards. He is averaging 18.2 yards every time he touches the ball.
NCAA Individual Leaders In All-Purpose Yardage
1. Robbie Mixon, RB (Central Michigan) 196.3
2. William White, WR (Army) 194.7
3. Andre Forde, WR (Buffalo) 183.5
3. Michael Turner, RB (Northern Illinois) 183.5
5. Eric Roberts, RB (Navy) 182.0
6. Greg Tolver, WR (San Diego State) 180.0
7. Larry Johnson, RB (Penn State) 174.0
8. Maurice Clarett, RB (Ohio State) 172.3
9. Kwane Doster, RB (Vanderbilt) 171.0
10. Domanick Davis, RB (LSU) 167.7
Long Pass Play
J.P. Blecksmith's (Sr./San Marino, Calif.) 79-yard pass completion to Eric Roberts (So./Miami, Fla.) 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, 2001) 79
5. Brian Broadwater-Ryan Read (Boston College, 1998) 78
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, as 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
724 (362/362) Tulane 11/11/00
680 (515/165) Colgate 10/17/98
678 (378/300) Northwestern 9/21/02
653 (358/295) Colgate 9/12/70
646 (251/395) California 12/25/96
635 (563/72) Kent State 11/22/97
Throwing The Ball
Craig Candeto's (Jr./Orange City, Fla.) 212 yards passing 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.
100 Yards Receiving
Eric Roberts' (So./Miami, Fla.) 136 yards receiving was 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.
Statistically Speaking Through Three Games
2001 2002
Wins 0 1
Points Scored 54 97
Points Allowed 153 121
First Downs 45 62
First Downs Allowed 72 66
Total Offense 777 1,353
Total Offense Allowed 1,500 1,370
Rushing Yards 332 914
Rushing Yards Allowed 787 638
Passing Yards 445 439
Passing Yards Allowed 713 732
Interceptions Thrown 5 1
Interceptions 2 2
Fumbles Lost 4 7
Fumbles Recovered 1 3
Penalties 11 17
Not So Sweet Home
Navy has now lost 11 straight and 16 of the last 17 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The Mids last won a game at Navy-Marine Corps on November 13, 1999, when the Mids knocked off Tulane, 45-21.
In A Rush
Navy has risen to second in the nation in rushing after ripping through Northwestern's defense for 378 yards. Navy is averaging 304.7 yards per game on the ground after averaging just 181.8 yards per game last year. 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 enroute to a 5-7 record.
NCAA Leaders In Rushing Offense
1. Air Force 344.0
2. Navy 304.7
3. West Virginia 282.0
4. Kent State 273.5
5. Iowa 271.5
6. Arkansas 262.0
7. Nebraska 255.5
8. Virgina Tech 244.5
9. Alabama 244.3
10. Minnesota 244.0
Red Zone
The Mids had been terrific in the Red Zone on offense before turning it over three times on Saturday in the Red Zone against Northwestern. Navy has scored on 12 of its 15 trips inside the Red Zone (.800) and have scored touchdowns on 10 of those 15 trips (.667).
The defense has given up points in 13 of the 16 times the opposition has reached the Red Zone (.813). Twelve of the 16 trips have resulted in touchdowns (.750).
