10/27/2003 - Football
Navy-Tulane Game Notes

Game Data

Navy takes on the Green Wave of Tulane Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (34,000). Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. and tickets are available by calling 1-800-US4-NAVY.

The Mids are coming off a disappointing, 21-17, loss on Homecoming to Delaware, while Tulane is coming off a 41-9 loss at home to Memphis.

Saturday's game will be televised by CN8 and HDNet. CN8, which is based out of Philadelphia, can be seen in six million homes from Maryland to Maine. Scott Graham (play-by-play), Tom Criqui (color) and Gregg Murphy (sideline) will call the action.

HDNet is available on DIRECTV, Dish Network, Charter Communications, Insight Communications, and other cable companies affiliated with the National Cable Television Cooperative. You must have a high definition television and receiver to view the 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(.). Pete Medhurst (play-by-play), former

Navy wide receiver Astor Heaven (color) and former Miss USA Kandace Krueger (sideline) will call the action.

Saturday's game can be heard on Navy's 10-station radio network, including 1430 WNAV in Annapolis, 980 WTEM in Washington and 1300 WJFK in Baltimore, and worldwide on the internet at www.navysports.com(.) Bob Socci and Omar Nelson will call the action starting at 12:30 p.m. on the Navy

Pregame Show.

Pete Medhurst and Joe Miller will host the Navy Tailgate Show starting at 11:30 a.m. on 1430 WNAV (www.wnav.com).

Three Turnovers Prove Costly As Mids Fall To Delaware, 21-17

Two turnovers and a costly interception proved fatal as Navy fell to Delaware, 21-17, in front of a sellout Homecoming crowd of 34,982 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The crowd was the ninth largest in stadium history.

The Mids jumped out to an early 14-0 lead in the first quarter as Navy marched 63 yards on 10 plays on its initial drive of the game with Tony Lane (Sr./Wrens, Ga.) scoring from one yard out to give Navy a 7-0 lead.

Navy quickly made it 14-0 on the first play of its second drive as Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) hit Eric Roberts (Jr./Miami, Fla.) with a 66-yard touchdown pass.

Delaware turned the momentum, though, when on fourth-and-two from its own 40-yard line, the Hens faked a punt and Sean Bleiler rumbled 24 yards for a first down. Delaware capped off the 16-play, 80- yard drive when Antawn Jenkins scored from one yard out to make it 14-7.

The Mids were still in control of the game until two critical turnovers late in the first half let Delaware back in the game.

On third-and-goal from the Delaware six, Candeto's pass was intercepted by John Mulhern at the Delaware two-yard line.

On Navy's next possession, Candeto had the ball kicked out of his hands by a Delaware defensive lineman and the Blue Hens Shawn Johnson fell on it at the Navy 27-yard line.

Four plays later quarterback Andy Hall scrambled around the right side for a five-yard touchdown and Delaware had rallied for a 14-14 tie at the half.

Delaware took the lead for good on its first drive of the third quarter as the Blue Hens took the ball over at their own 49-yard line after a poor punt by Navy's John Skaggs (Sr./Cantonment, Fla.). On fourth-and-one from the Navy 28, Germaine Bennett took an inside handoff and popped it outside where no Navy defender was in sight and ran for an easy 28-yard touchdown.

The Mid defense did step up on the next series as Navy committed its third turnover in four possessions, this one caused by a bad exchange between Candeto and Michael Brimage (Jr./Birmingham, Mich.).

After Delaware had an eight-yard touchdown pass from Hall to Long called back for an ineligible man down field, Eddie Carthan (Sr./Donalsonville, Ga.) picked off a pass at the Navy three-yard line and returned it 36 yards to the Navy 39.

The Mids, though, could do nothing with it as a critical holding penalty halted the drive.

The Mids pulled to within three early in the fourth quarter thanks to a 41-yard field goal by Eric Rolfs (Sr./Bartlesville, Okla.).

Though Delaware was unable to score on its next possession, it did go on a time-consuming 13-play, 46-yard drive that ate up 6:49 on the clock. The Mids finally stopped Delaware on back-to-back sacks by David Mahoney (Fr./Fort Myers, Fla.) and Babatunde Akingbemi (Jr./Rialto, Calif.).

Navy was able to pick up two first downs before having to punt the ball away and then got one last shot to win the game after the defense stopped Delaware without a first down on its next possession.

Navy took over on its own 21 with 1:28 left and no timeouts. The Mids were able to move the ball down to the Delaware 13-yard line with six seconds left, thanks to a huge 26-yard completion to freshman Jason Tomlinson (Arlington, Texas), but Candeto's pass to Tomlinson in the end zone was broken up by Delaware's Dave Camburn to end the game.

Candeto led the Mids with 62 yards rushing on 24 carries and completed 10 of his 19 passes for 201 yards with one interception and one touchdown.

Lionel Wesley (Jr./Duncanville, Texas) led the Navy receiving corps with four catches for 35 yards.

Jeremy Chase (So./Norfolk, Va.) led the Navy defense with 13 tackles, while Lane Jackson (Jr./Miami, Fla.) added 10 and Josh Smith (Jr./Attica, Ind.) chipped in nine.

Injuries

Starting center August Roitsch (Jr./Houston, Texas) is out with a left foot injury, second-team cornerback Marcus Sanders (Sr./Antioch, Calif.) is out with a left arm injury, third-team guard Brett Nungesser (So./San Marino, Calif.) is out with a left knee injury and linebacker/nose guard Evan Beard (Boardman, Ohio) is out with a right knee injury.

Series History

Tulane leads the all-time series, 10-5-1, including a 51-30 victory last year in New Orleans.

The Green Wave have hammered the Mids of late, winning three-straight games by a combined score of 143-96 (47.7-32).

The Mids last defeated Tulane in 1999, 45-21, in Annapolis. Navy is 4-2 all-time against Tulane in games played in Annapolis.

Scouting Tulane

The Green Wave enter Saturday's contest losers of fourstraight, but are still a very dangerous opponent thanks to a potent offense that is averaging 33 points per game.

The Tulane offense is led by two players that are considered one of the best at their respective positions.

Quarterback J.P. Losman, a transfer from UCLA, is one of seven finalists for the Johnny Unitas Award, which is given to the nation's top quarterback.

Losman has completed 163 of his 263 passes for 2,048 yards with 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Losman's favorite targets are Roydell Williams (39 catches, 634 yards and six touchdowns) and Mewelde Moore (32 catches for 356 yards with four touchdowns).

Moore is also one of the nation's top running backs and is just one of two backs in NCAA history (Stanford's Darrin Nelson is the other) to rush for 4,000 yards and gain over 2,000 all-purpose yards in a career. Moore has rushed for 641 yards and five touchdowns this fall.

The Tulane defense is led by Tra Boger, who has contributed 73 tackles, while Sean Lucas has 71.

Paul Johnson-National Coach-Of-The-Year Candidate

It's pretty easy to make a case for Navy head football coach Paul Johnson to be a candidate for National Coach of the Year when you consider the following:

*Johnson took over a program that had gone 1-20 the previous two years, the worst stretch in the 122-year history of Navy football.

*Navy, at 5-3, is off to its second-best start in 23 years and its best start since 1996.

*Navy's five wins this year are two more than Navy won the previous three years combined (3-30).

*Navy defeated Air Force for the first time since 1996 and put Navy in position to win the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy for the first time since 1981.

*Two more wins would give Navy just its ninth winning season in 40 years and make the Mids bowl eligible for the first time since 1996.

*The Mids are leading the nation in rushing, averaging 321.29 yards per contest, nine yards more than the next closest team.

*Navy's victory over Air Force was the first over a ranked opponent since 1985 and broke a 35-game losing streak against ranked opponents.

*Johnson is doing all this with the youngest team in school history, as the Mids are dressing 18 freshmen and playing 11 (unheard of at a Service Academy).

Navy-Delaware Notes

The loss was Navy's fifth straight on Homecoming and Navy is 0-3 all-time against Delaware on Homecoming. Navy and Delaware will square off again next year (10/30) and it will once again be Navy's Homecoming.

Saturday's attendance of 34,982 was the ninth largest in stadium history and the second-largest attendance at the stadium for a non-Air Force game.

Navy was shut out in two-consecutive quarters for just the second time this year and for the first time since the TCU game (game two).

This was the second time this year Navy has turned the ball over three times in a game. The other time was against Rutgers which was also a loss.

Jeremy Chase (So./Norfolk, Va.) had a career-high 13 tackles.

Lionel Wesley (Jr./Duncanville, Texas) tied his career high with four catches.

Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) had a season-high nine completions in a season-high 19 attempts for a season-high 201 yards.

Frank Divis (Jr./Avon, Ohio) rushed for a career-high 20 yards.

Navy had scored on six-straight first-half possessions before being stopped on its third series of the game.

Kyle Eckel's (Jr./Haverford, Pa.) 41-yard reception was the longest of his career.

Candeto's interception in the second quarter broke a string of 11-consecutive quarters without a turnover.

The Mids and Blue Hens were tied at 14 at the half which marked just the second time all year Navy had not led at the half. The other time was at

Rutgers when Navy trailed, 21-14, at the half.

Two Players And 159 Yards Away From Achieving History

The Navy offense is just two players and 193 yards away from becoming just the second team in NCAA history to have four 1,000-yard career rushers on the same team in NCAA history.

According to a survey of the 117 Division I-A Sports Information Directors of America conducted by the Navy Sports Information Office, the only team in NCAA history with four 1,000-yard career rushers on the same team is this year's Minnesota squad (Thomas Tapeh, Terry Jackson, Marion Barber and Asad Abdul-Khaliq).

The Mids currently have two players with 1,000 career rushing yards as senior quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) has rushed for 1,464 yards and fullback Kyle Eckel (Jr./Havertown, Pa.) has rushed for 1,196 yards.

Senior slot back Tony Lane (Wrens, Ga.) and junior slot Eric Roberts (Miami, Fla.) are closing fast on the 1,000-yard barrier as Lane has 976-career rushing yards and Roberts has amassed 865-career rushing yards.

Navy Leads The Country In Rushing Offense

Navy enters this week's contest against Tulane as the nation's top rushing offense in the country, averaging 303.6 yards per contest. Last year, the Mids finished third in the country with an average of 270.8 rushing yards per contest.

Navy has led the country in rushing just once in school history, that coming in 1999 when the Mids averaged 292.2 yards per game.

NCAA Leaders In Rushing Yards Per Game

1. Navy 303.63

2. Air Force 294.75

3. Minnesota 285.78

4. Nebraska 259.13

5. Rice 255.71

6. Oklahoma State 235.50

7. New Mexico State 233.88

8. Missouri 227.38

9. Louisville 223.88

10. Virginia Tech 223.00

Run To Win

Teams that are successful running the ball are usually successful on the scoreboard. The combined record of the top-10 rushing teams in the country is 54-25 (.684).

The bottom-10 rushing teams-UAB, BYU, Colorado, Utah State, Hawaii, Eastern Michigan, Wyoming, North Carolina State, Western Michigan and Army-are a combined 30-52 (.366).

Candeto Passes Bellino

Navy quarterback Craig Candeto's (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) two rushing touchdowns against Rice gave him 25 for his career, the third most in school history. Candeto passed 1960 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Bellino for third place and trails 2003 College Football Hall of Fame inductee Napoleon McCallum by just six touchdowns. Chris McCoy is the career record holder with an amazing 43 rushing touchdowns.

Career Rushing Touchdown Leaders In School History

1. Chris McCoy (1995-97) 43

2. Napoleon McCallum (1981-85) 31

3. Craig Candeto (2001-03) 25

4. Joe Bellino (1958-60) 24

5. Cleveland Cooper (1972-74) 17

5. Brian Madden (1999, 2001) 17

5. Brian Broadwater (1998-00) 17

Candeto Fourth Player In School History To Have 1,000 Career Rushing Yards And 2,000 Career Passing Yards

Navy quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) is just the fourth player in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards and throw for more than 2,000 yards in a career.

Candeto has 1,464 yards rushing and 2,023 yards passing as he joins the elite list of quarterbacks: Chris McCoy (1995-97) rushed for 3,401 yards and threw for 2,486 yards; Alton Grizzard (1987-90) rushed for 2,174 yards and threw for 3,492 yards; and Brian Broadwater (1998-00) rushed for 1,719 yards and threw for 2,500 yards.

Candeto Closing In On All-Time Rushing List

Navy quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) is just 204 yards away from passing Bob Jackson and Jason Van Matre for 10th place on Navy's all-time rushing list. Candeto has rushed for 1,464 yards in his career.

Candeto Makes It Hurt

Navy quarterback Craig Candeto's (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) doesn't attempt a lot of passes, but when he does complete one, it usually is for big yardage. Candeto has completed 128 passes in his career for 2,023 yards. That averages out to 15.80 yards per completion, which ranks as the third-best average in school history. Candeto is also averaging 7.7 yards per attempt in his career (2,023 yards on 262 attempts), which is tied for the second best average.

Career Average Yards Per Completion

1. Brian Broadwater (1998-2000) 16.95

2. Chris McCoy (1995-97) 16.36

3. Craig Candeto (2001-03) 15.80

4. Bob Leszczynski (1976-78) 14.56

5. Bob Zastrow (1949-51) 14.42

Career Average Yards Per Attempt

1. Brian Broadwater (1998-2000) 7.8

2. Craig Candeto (2001-03) 7.7

2. Chris McCoy (1995-97) 7.7

2. Roger Staubach (1962-64) 7.7

No Picks

Navy has thrown just four interceptions (three by Candeto and one by Aaron Polanco) this year which ranks fifth in the country for fewest interceptions thrown.

Candeto Careful With His Throws

Quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) has been intercepted just 10 times in 262 pass attempts or an average of .038 percent of the time which is the second-best average in school history.

Lowest Interception Percentage

1. Bob Powers (1977-79) .035 (7-of-199)

2. Craig Candeto (2001-03) .038 (10-of-262)

3. Brian Broadwater (1998-00) .039 (8-of-209)

4. Roger Staubach (1962-64) .041 (19-of-463)

Candeto Responsible For A Lot Of Points

Quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) has been responsible for 240 points in his career (25 rushing touchdowns, 15 touchdowns passing), the second most in school history. Only Chris McCoy, with 390 points, has been responsible for more.

Career Points Responsible For (rushing and passing)

1. Chris McCoy (1995-97) 390

2. Craig Candeto (2001-03) 240

3. Roger Staubach (1962-64) 216

4. Bill Byrne (1984-86) 214

Defense Steps Up Against Rice

The Navy defense played one of its best games in recent memory against Rice, giving up just two field goals.

The Rice game marked the first time Navy has not allowed a touchdown in a game since Sept. 7, 1996 (85 games) when the Mids beat Rutgers, 10-6.

Going, Going, Gone

Junior slot back Eric Roberts' (Miami, Fla.) 69-yard touchdown run in the first quarter against Rice was the longest of his careeer and the longest by a Navy player this year. It was also the longest touchdown run by a Navy player since Sept. 25, 1999, when Raheem Lambert had a 79-yard touchdown run against Rice.

His 66-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter against Delaware was the longest touchdown catch by a Navy player since Dec. 5, 1998, when Brian Broadwater threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Read against Army.

Eckel, Eckel, Eckel

Junior fullback Kyle Eckel's (Havertown, Pa.) hard-nosed running style has developed a cult following among the Brigade of Midshipmen. The student body chants his name in unison every time he touches the ball, which lately has been often and for big gains.

Eckel had his string of consecutive 100-yard rushing days snapped against Rice as he carried the ball just three times for 11 yards. Eckel sat out most of the Mids' victory over the Owls.

He rushed for over 100 yards for the third-consecutive game, as he pounded the Vanderbilt defense for 115 yards on 20 carries in Navy's upset win over the Commodores.

Eckel ran over the Air Force defense for a career-high 176 yards (previous career high was 129 this year against VMI) on a career-high 33 carries (previous career high was 18) and scored one touchdown in Navy's upset of Air Force.

His 176 yards rushing are the most by a non-quarterback at Navy since Chuck Smith rushed for 182 yards against Dartmouth in 1986.

Eckel has now rushed for over 100 yards four times this year (VMI, Rutgers, Air Force and Vanderbilt) after not topping the century mark in 2002. He was the first Navy player to rush for over 100 yards in three-straight games since Brian Madden did it against Rutgers (24-128), Toledo (24-121) and Tulane (33-201) in 2001.

Eckel is the first non-quarterback to rush for over 100 yards in three-straight games since current Navy radio analyst Omar Nelson who did it against SMU (16-108), Boston College (14-118) and Duke (15-118) in 1996.

Eckel has carried the ball 136 times this year and has lost yardage on just two of those carries, both of which were one-yard losses.

Two Straight On The Road

Navy has won two-straight road games (Vanderbilt and Rice) for the first time since 1996 when the Mids won three-straight road games over Air Force, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech.

Third Down Conversions

After a slow start, Navy has been remarkable at converting third downs the last-four games, as the Mids have converted 39-of-66 (.591) third-down opportunities after starting the year 19-of-56 (.339). Navy was nine-of-nine on third down in the first half against Rice.

In Navy's five wins, the Mids have converted 40-of-74 third downs (.541). The Mids are 18-of-48 (.375) on third down conversions in the three losses.

Slot Backs Make Big Plays

In the triple option, the slot backs tend to touch the ball less than the fullback and the quarterback, but when they do get their hands on it the result is usually a big play. The Navy slot backs have rushed for 821 yards on 82 carries (10.0 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns (one every 11.7 carries). The slots are led on the ground by Eric Roberts (Jr./Miami, Fla.) who has rushed for 413 yards and two touchdowns on 40 carries (10.3 yards per carry).

The slots have also proven dangerous through the air, catching 21 passes for 445 yards (21.2 yards per catch) and four touchdowns. Roberts leads the way with 14 catches for 342 yards (24.4 yards per catch) and five touchdowns.

All told, the slots have touched the ball 103 times (rushing and receiving) and have gained 1266 yards (12.3 yards per touch) and scored 12 touchdowns.

Lane On Pace To Smash School Record For Career Rushing Yards Per Attempt

Senior slot back Tony Lane (Sr./Wrens, Ga.) is on pace to set the school record for career yards per carry (minimum 100 attempts). The current school record is 5.7 yards per carry set by Bob Craig (1952-54) who rushed for 668 yards on 118 carries. Lane is averaging 8.1 yards per carry in his career, rushing for 976 yards on 121 carries.

The record, though, may not be Lane's for very long as teammate Eric Roberts (Jr./Miami, Fla.) is just two carries away from qualifying for the record and he is averaging a whopping 9.0 yards per carry in his career (885 yards on 98 carries).

Career Rushing Yards Per Attempt (minimum 100 attempts)

1. Tony Lane (2001-03) 8.1

2. Bob Craig (1952-54) 5.7

3. Joe Gattuso (1952-54) 5.5

4. Ned Oldham (1955-57) 5.2

Roberts On Pace To Smash School Record For Career Receiving Yards Per Attempt

Junior slot back Eric Roberts (Jr./Miami, Fla.) is on pace to set the school record for career receiving yards per reception (minimum 25 receptions). The current school record is 19.3 yards per reception set by Jim Stewart (1960-62) who caught 47 passes for 907 yards in his career. Roberts is averaging 24.9 yards per catch in his career, catching 31 passes for 771 yards.

Career Receiving Yards Per Catch

1. Eric Roberts (2002-03) 24.9

2. Jim Stewart (1960-62) 19.3

3. Matt Scornavacchi (1993-95) 19.18

4. Phil McConkey (1975-78) 19.07

Turnover Streak

The Navy defense has created at least one turnover in 15-straight games. The last time Navy did not create a turnover was Oct. 5, 2002, when Navy lost at Air Force, 48-7.

Youngest Team In School History

The Naval Academy put its youngest team in school history on the field against VMI, as the Mids dressed 14 freshmen (or plebes) for the opener and played eight (Brian Hampton (Scott Air Force Base, Ill.), Trey Hines (Douglasville, Ga.), Chase Hobby (Clearwater, Fla.), Keenan Little (Boiling Springs, N.C.), David Mahoney (Fort Myers, Fla.), Kevin Newsome (Jacksonville, Fla.), Tyler Tidwell (Edmond, Okla.) and Jason Tomlinson(Arlington, Texas).

Against TCU the Mids dressed 12 freshmen and played six (Hampton, Little, Mahoney, Newsome, Tidwell and Tomlinson).

Against Eastern Michigan the Mids dressed 12 freshmen and played 10 (Brandon Diggs (Newport News, Va.), Little, Hines, Tidwell, Newsome, Byron McCoy (Liberty, Mo.), DuJuan Price (Austin, Texas), Hampton, Tomlinson and Mahoney).

Against Rutgers, the Mids dressed 13 freshmen and played nine (Tye Adams (Blackfoot, Idaho), Little, Hines, Tidwell, Newsome, Price, Hampton, Tomlinson and Mahoney).

In Navy's upset win over Air Force, the Mids dressed 15 freshmen and played eight (Little, Tidwell, Hines, Newsome, Hampton, Price, Tomlinson and Mahoney).

The Mids dressed 15 freshmen against Vanderbilt and played 10 (Adams, Hampton, Hines, Little, Mahoney, Jeremy McGown (Houston, Texas), Newsome, Price, Tidwell and Tomlinson.

The Mids dressed a school-record 18 freshmen at Rice and played 11 (Adams, Zach Gallion (Rowlett, Texas), Hampton, Hines, Little, Mahoney, McGown, Newsome, Price, Tidwell and Tomlinson).

Navy dressed 16 freshmen for the game against Delaware.

Turnover's Cause Losses

Over the last two years, Navy is 4-0 when it plays a game without committing a turnover, 3-13 when it does committ at least one turnover.

Offensive Machine

The Navy offense scored on nine-straight possessions dating back to the second half of the Mids win at Vanderbilt through the first half of the Mids win at Rice. Navy scored six touchdowns and kicked three field goals in those nine possessions.

Mids Third In The Country In Pass Defense

The Navy defense, which just one year ago finished 61st in the country in pass defense, is currently third in the nation, giving up just 143.38 yards per contest.

NCAA Leaders In Pass Defense

1. Penn State 127.63

2. Michigan 142.00

3. Navy 143.38

4. Oklahoma 154.75

5. Nebraska 155.88

6. Texas 156.75

7. Georgia 157.13

8. Southern Miss 161.57

9. Miami (Fla.) 163.00

10. South Florida 169.00