11/3/2003 - Football
Navy-Notre Dame Game Notes

Game Data

Navy takes on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Saturday afternoon at Notre Dame Stadium (80,795). Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m.

The Mids are coming off a 35-17 victory over Tulane, while the Irish are coming off a 38-0 loss at home to Florida State.

Saturday's game is being televised nationally by NBC, with Tom Hammond (play-by-play), Pat Haden (color) and Lewis Johnson (sidelines) calling the action.

The game will also be broadcast nationally via the radio on Westwood One with the legendary Tony Roberts (play-by-play) and Notre Dame great Allen Pinkett (color) calling the action.

Saturday's game can also 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 1:30 p.m. on the Navy Pregame Show.

Pete Medhurst and Joe Miller will host the Navy Tailgate Show starting at 12:30 p.m. on 1430 WNAV (www.wnav.com).

Defense Steps Up In Navy's 35-17 Win Over Tulane

The Navy defense played one of its best gamea of the season while the offense rolled to 414 yards of total offense as the Mids buried Tulane, 35-17, in front of 27,417 fans at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

The Mids jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter as Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) scored on touchdown runs of one and 28 yards.

After a Tristan Smith six-yard touchdown reception from the arm of J.P. Losman made it 14-7, the Mids came back to take a 21-7 lead on freshman Trey Hines' (Douglasville, Ga.) third touchdown of the season.

Tulane made it 21-10 at the half on a 41-yard field goal by Barrett Pepper as the half ended.

The Mids, though, would quickly put the game away in the third quarter as Frank Divis (Jr./Avon, Ohio) scored from eight yards out and Candeto scored his third touchdown of the day to make it 35-10.

Tulane scored on the last play of the game as Nick Cannon hit Bubba Terranova with a six-yard touchdown pass to make the final score 35-17.

The defense, which had given up 51, 42 and 50 points to Tulane the previous three years, held the Green Wave offense to 359 yards of total offense, including just 214 through the air.

Senior Eddie Carthan (Donalsonville, Ga.), who entered the year without an interception, picked off his fourth pass of the year, while safety Josh Smith (Jr./Attica, Ind.) recorded 11 tackles, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. Linebacker Bobby McClarin (Bethlehem, Pa.) came up with 11 tackles, a pass deflection and a sack.

The defense allowed just three points on Navy's four turnovers (two on offense, two on special teams), including stopping the Green Wave on downs at the Navy five-yard line with the score 14-7 in the second quarter.

The offense was once again led by Candeto, who rushed for 140 yards and three touchdowns. Bruising fullback Kyle Eckel (Jr./Haverford, Pa.) chipped in with 120 yards, while Tony Lane (Jr./Wrens, Ga.) rushed for 69 yards on six carries and caught two passes, Navy's only two completions on the day, for 57 yards.

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

Notre Dame leads the all-time series, 66-9-1, and has won 39-straight games against the Midshipmen, an NCAA record for consecutive wins against one opponent.

Navy's last win over Notre Dame came in 1963 when Roger Staubach, who went on to win the Heisman Trophy that year, led the Mids to a 35-14 victory.

Navy has been painfully close to winning three of the past six games, including last year's 30-23 heartbreaker in Ravens Stadium.

Navy led in that game, 23-15, with a little over four minutes remaining, but the Irish rallied for two touchdowns in the waning moments. Rashon Powers-Neal scored on a one-yard touchdown run with 4:28 remaining and then Carlyle Holliday hit Arnaz Battle for the two-point conversion to tie the game. After Navy failed to make a first down, Holliday hit Omar Jenkins with a 67-yard touchdown pass to give the Irish the come-from-behind win.

Navy played nearly the entire game without starting quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.), who left the game on Navy's first drive with a sprained ankle.

As much as last year's game hurt, the 1999 game in South Bend hurt worse as Navy didn't lose the game as much as the game officials took it from them.

With Navy up, 24-21, and Notre Dame forcing a fourth-and-10 from the Navy 37 yard-line with 1:30 remaining and no timeouts left, Notre Dame quarterback Jarious Jackson hit Bobby Brown with a nine-yard pass along the Navy sideline. Navy linebacker Ryan Hamilton immediately made the tackle and it was clear to the Navy players, coaches and fans that Notre Dame had come up short and the streak was over. But as the Navy players and coaches were celebrating on the sidelines, the head linesman put the ball down nearly a yard in front of where Brown was tackled and the Irish had a first down by six inches.

With new life, the Irish would score six plays later on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Johnson and the streak was still alive.

In 1997, Navy dominated statistically, outgaining the Irish 399-283 and outrushing Notre Dame, 277-160, but quarterback Chris McCoy's threw three costly interceptions that kept the Irish in the game.

Notre Dame took the lead with 5:48 left on an Autry Denson touchdown run to make it 21-17.

The Mids nearly pulled off a miracle as Chris McCoy hit Pat McGrew with a hail mary pass on the last play of the game. McGrew caught the ball at the Notre Dame 35-yard line and raced towards the end zone, but was knocked out of bounds at the two-yard line by Allen Rossum to save the game for the Irish.

Navy-Notre Dame

1927 ND 6-19 Baltimore, Md.

1928 ND 0-7 Chicago, Md.

1929 ND 7-14 Baltimore, Md.

1930 ND 2-26 South Bend, Ind.

1931 ND 0-20 Baltimore, Md.

1932 ND 0-12 Cleveland, Ohio

1933 Navy 7-0 Baltimore, Md.

1934 Navy 10-6 Cleveland, Ohio

1935 ND 0-14 Baltimore, Md.

1936 Navy 3-0 Baltimore, Md.

1937 ND 7-9 South Bend, Ind.

1938 ND 0-15 Baltimore, Md.

1939 ND 7-14 Cleveland, Ohio

1940 ND 7-13 Baltimore, Md.

1941 ND 13-20 Baltimore, Md.

1942 ND 0-9 Cleveland, Ohio

1943 ND 6-33 Cleveland, Ohio

1944 Navy 32-13 Baltimore, Md.

1945 Tie 6-6 Cleveland, Ohio

1946 ND 0-28 Baltimore, Md.

1947 ND 0-27 Cleveland, Ohio

1948 ND 7-41 Baltimore, Md.

1949 ND 0-40 Baltimore, Md.

1950 ND 10-19 Cleveland, Ohio

1951 ND 0-19 Baltimore, Md.

1952 ND 6-17 Cleveland, Ohio

1953 ND 7-38 South Bend, Ind.

1954 ND 0-6 Baltimore, Md.

1955 ND 7-21 South Bend, Ind.

1956 Navy 33-7 Baltimore, Md.

1957 Navy 20-6 South Bend, Ind.

1958 ND 20-40 Baltimore, Md.

1959 ND 22-25 South Bend, Ind.

1960 Navy 14-7 Philadelphia, Pa.

1961 Navy 13-10 South Bend, Ind.

1962 ND 12-20 Philadelphia, Pa.

1963 Navy 35-14 South Bend, Ind.

1964 ND 0-40 Philadelphia, Pa.

1965 ND 3-29 South Bend, Ind.

1966 ND 7-31 Philadelphia, Pa.

1967 ND 14-43 South Bend, Ind.

1968 ND 14-44 Philadelphia, Pa.

1969 ND 0-47 South Bend, Ind.

1970 ND 7-56 Philadelphia, Pa.

1971 ND 0-21 South Bend, Ind.

1972 ND 23-42 Philadelphia, Pa.

1973 ND 7-44 South Bend, Ind.

1974 ND 6-14 Philadelphia, Pa.

1975 ND 10-31 South Bend, Ind.

1976 ND 21-27 Cleveland, Ohio

1977 ND 10-43 South Bend, Ind.

1978 ND 7-27 Cleveland, Ohio

1979 ND 0-14 South Bend, Ind.

1980 ND 0-33 East Rutherford, N.J.

1981 ND 0-38 South Bend, Ind.

1982 ND 10-27 East Rutherford, N.J.

1983 ND 12-28 South Bend, Ind.

1984 ND 17-18 East Rutherford, N.J.

1985 ND 17-41 South Bend, Ind.

1986 ND 14-33 Baltimore, Md.

1987 ND 13-56 South Bend, Ind.

1988 ND 7-22 Baltimore, Md.

1989 ND 0-41 South Bend, Ind.

1990 ND 31-52 East Rutherford, N.J.

1991 ND 0-38 South Bend, Ind.

1992 ND 7-38 East Rutherford, N.J.

1993 ND 27-58 Philadelphia, Pa.

1994 ND 21-58 South Bend, Ind.

1995 ND 17-35 South Bend, Ind.

1996 ND 27-54 Dublin, Ireland

1997 ND 17-21 South Bend, Ind.

1998 ND 0-30 Landover, Md.

1999 ND 24-28 South Bend, Ind.

2000 ND 14-45 Orlando, Fla.

2001 ND 16-34 South Bend, Ind.

2002 ND 23-30 Baltimore, Md.

Scouting Notre Dame

The Irish at 2-6 are off to their worst start since 1963, but have played a brutal schedule, losing to Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, USC, Boston College and Florida State. Notre Dame has beaten Washington State and Pittsburgh.

The Irish are led on offense by running back Julius Jones, who has rushed for 614 yards and four touchdowns. Ryan Grant has added 339 yards on the ground.

Freshman quarterback Brady Quinn has completed 102 of his 228 passes (.447) for 1,162 yards. He has thrown for five touchdowns and h11 interceptions.

Rhema McKnight is the leading receiver for the Irish with 29 catches for 376 yards and two touchdowns. Omar Jenkins has 27 catches for 262 yards and one touchdown.

The Irish are still tough on defense, giving up 348 yards per game, including just 121 yards per game on the ground.

Linebacker Courtney Watson has been Notre Dame's best defensive player with 80 tackles, 29 more than the next closest teammate, and eight tackles for a loss.

Defensive end Justin Tuck has recorded seven sacks and 11 tackles for a loss.

All In The Family

Bill Gompers, the grandfather of Navy senior linebacker Ben Mathews (Pittsburgh, Pa.), was a three-year letterman at halfback at Notre Dame (1945-47). The Irish were 24-2-2 in those three years and won the National Championship in 1947. Gompers scored a rushing touchdown against Navy.

Notre Dame senior defensive end Kyle Budinscak's brother, Guy, is a 2003 graduate of the Naval Acadmy.

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 two-year stretch in the 122-year history of Navy football.

*Navy, at 6-3, has equalled its second-best start in 24 years and its best start since 1996.

*Navy's six wins this year are double what Navy had won the previous three years combined (3-30). With two wins in the next three games Navy will have has many wins this year than in the previous four seasons combined (eight).

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

*One more win would give Navy just its ninth winning season in 40 years. With six wins, the Mids are already guaranteed to have their first non-losing season since 1997.

*The Mids are leading the nation in rushing, averaging 309.56 yards per contest, nine yards more than the next closest team (Minnesota).

*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.

*Navy has won three games at home this year after winning just three home games the previous five years combined.

*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).

Winning At Home. Finally!

Navy's three home wins this year (VMI, Eastern Michigan and Tulane) equal Navy's home win total for the previous FIVE years combined. The Mids won two home games in 1998, one in 1999 and none from 2000-02.

The three home wins are the most by a Navy team since 1997 when the Mids won five home games.

One Player And 133 Yards Away From Achieving History

The Navy offense is just one player and 135 yards away from becoming just the second team in NCAA history to have four 1,000-yard career rushers on the same team.

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 three players with 1,000-career rushing yards as senior quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) has rushed for 1,604 yards, fullback Kyle Eckel (Jr./Havertown, Pa.) has rushed for 1,316 yards and senior slot back Tony Lane (Wrens, Ga.) has rushed for 1,045 yards.

Junior slot Eric Roberts (Miami, Fla.) is closing fast on the 1,000-yard barrier with 867-career rushing yards.

Navy Leads The Country In Rushing Offense

Navy enters Saturday's game at Notre Dame as the nation's top rushing offense in the country, averaging 309.56 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 309.56

2. Minnesota 300.70

3. Air Force 294.00

4. Rice 272.13

5. Nebraska 236.22

6. New Nexico State 227.67

7. Missouri 227.38

8. Louisville 223.88

9. Texas 221.56

10. Arkansas 220.75

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 56-31 (.644). Eight of the 10 teams have winning records, only Rice (2-6) and New Mexico State (2-7) have losing records.

The bottom-10 rushing teams-UCF, Texas Tech, UCLA, Colorado, Eastern Michigan, Wyoming, N.C. State, Hawaii, Western Michigan and Army-are a combined 39-52 (.429). Four of those schools do have winning records-Texas Tech, UCLA, N.C. State and Hawai'i.

Mids Fourth In The Country In Pass Defense

A big reason for Navy's success this year has been the improvement of its defense, especially the pass defense where Navy is ranked fourth in the country after finishing 63rd in the nation last year (116th in pass efficiency).

NCAA Leaders In Pass Defense

1. Penn State 129.9

2. Oklahoma 144.4

3. Miami (Fla.) 148.13

4. Navy 151.22

5. Nebraska 152.22

6. Texas 152.89

7. Michigan 153.20

8. Southern Miss 154.63

9. Georgia 165.78

10. San Diego State 169.78

Candeto Closing In On McCallum

Navy quarterback Craig Candeto's (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) three rushing touchdowns against Tulane marked the fourth time in his career that he has rushed for three or more touchdowns in a game. He has also increased his career total to 28, the third most in school history. Candeto trails 2003 College Football Hall of Fame inductee Napoleon McCallum by just three touchdowns for second on the list. 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) 28

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 1,604 yards rushing and 2,080 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-TimeRushing List

Navy quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) is just 64 yards away from passing Bob Jackson and Jason Van Matre for 10th place on Navy's all-time rushing list. Candeto has rushed for 1,604 yards in his career.

Career Rushing Leaders In School History

1. Napoleon McCallum (1981-85) 4,179

2. Chris McCoy (1995-97) 3,401

3. Eddie Meyers (1978-81) 2,935

4. Cleveland Cooper (1972-74) 2,582

5. Alton Grizzard (1987-90) 2,174

6. Joe Gattuso Jr. (1975-77) 1,890

7. Brian Madden (1999, 2001) 1,802

8. Chuck Smith (1984-87) 1,744

9. Brian Broadwater (1998-00) 1,719

10. Bob Jackson (1973-75) 1,667

10. Jason Van Matre (1990-93) 1,667

11. Craig Candeto (2001-03) 1,604

Candeto Makes It Hurt

Navy quarterback Craig Candeto (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 130 passes in his career for 2,080 yards. That averages out to 16 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 (2,080 yards on 269 attempts), which is tied for the second best average.

Career Average Yards Per Completion

1. Brian Broadwater (1998-2000) 16.9

2. Chris McCoy (1995-97) 16.4

3. Craig Candeto (2001-03) 16.0

4. Bob Leszczynski (1976-78) 14.6

5. Bob Zastrow (1949-51) 14.4

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

Candeto Closing In On 1,000-1,000 Mark

Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) is closing in on 1,000 yards rushing and passing this year, which would make him just the 22nd player in NCAA history and second player in Navy history (Chris McCoy in 1997) to accomplish that feat.

Candeto has rushed for 767 yards and thrown for 901 yards on the season.

Candeto over 100

Craig Candeto's (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) 140 yards rushing against Tulane marked the second time this year (he had 151 yards against Rice) and fifth time in his career that he's rushed for 100 yards or more in a game.

No Picks

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

Candeto Careful With His Throws

Quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) has been intercepted just 11 times in 269 pass attempts or an average of .040 percent of the time which is the third-best average in school history.

Lowest Interception Percentage

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

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

3. Craig Candeto (2001-03) .040 (11-of-269)

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 258 points in his career (28 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) 258

3. Roger Staubach (1962-64) 216

4. Bill Byrne (1984-86) 214

Two Over The Century Mark

Craig Candeto's (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) 140 yards rushing and Kyle Eckel's (Jr./Haverford, Pa.) 120 yards rushing against Tulane marked the second time this year and the 23rd time all-time that Navy has had two players go over 100 yards rushing in a game.

Against Rutgers, Eric Roberts (Jr./Miami, Fla.) rushed for 125 yards on nine carries, while Eckel rushed for 104 yards on 18 carries.

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 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 with an injury. Eckel was also held in check against Delaware (15 carries, 45 yards), but came back with a vengeance against Tulane, rushing for 120 yards on 26 carries.

Eckel 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 five times this year (VMI, Rutgers, Air Force, Vanderbilt and Tulane) 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 162 times this year and has lost yardage on just two of those carries, both of which were one-yard losses.

Candeto And Eckel Closing In On 1,000 Yards Rushing

Navy fullback Kyle Eckel (Jr./Haverford, Pa.) and quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) are both closing in on the 1,000 yard rushing mark for a season. Eckel has rushed for 806 yards on the year, while Candeto has garnered 767 rushing yards.

If they both get to 1,000 yards, it will mark just the 28th time in NCAA history and the first time in Navy history that two players have rushed for over 1,000 yards in a single season.

Single-Season Rushing Leaders In School History

1. Napoleon McCallum (1983) 1,587

2. Chris McCoy (1997) 1,370

3. Napoleon McCallum (1985) 1,327

4. Eddie Meyers (1981) 1,318

5. Joe Gattuso, Jr. (1977) 1,292

6. Chris McCoy (1996) 1,228

7. Cleveland Cooper (1972) 1,046

8. Eddie Meyers (1980) 957

9. Chuck Smith (1986) 933

10. Brian Madden (1999) 905

Kyle Eckel (2003) 806

Craig Candeto (2003) 767

Mids Looking For Three 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. 1996 was also the last time Navy went to a bowl game.

Third Down Conversions

After a slow start, Navy has been remarkable at converting third downs over the last-five games, as the Mids have converted 49-of-76 (.645) 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 and was 10-of-12 on third downs for the game against Tulane.

In Navy's six wins, the Mids have converted 50-of-86 third downs (.581). They are 18-of-48 (.375) on third down conversions in the three losses.

In Navy's last-four wins, it is 42-of-63 on third down (.667).

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 913 yards on 94 carries (9.7 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns (one every 10.4 carries).

The slots are led on the ground by Eric Roberts (Jr./Miami, Fla.) who has rushed for 415 yards and two touchdowns on 42 carries (9.9 yards per carry).

The slots have also proven dangerous through the air, catching 23 passes for 502 yards (21.8 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 117 times (rushing and receiving) and have gained 1,415 yards (12.1 yards per touch) and scored 14 touchdowns.

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

Junior slot back Eric Roberts (Jr./Miami, Fla.) and senior slot back Tony Lane (Sr./Wrens, Ga.) are 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.

Roberts is averaging 8.8 yards per carry in his career, rushing for 889 yards on 100 carries. Lane is averaging 8.2 yards per carry in his career, rushing for 1,045 yards on 127 carries.

Career Rushing Yards Per Attempt (minimum 100 attempts)

1. Eric Roberts (2002-03) 8.8

2. Tony Lane (2001-03) 8.1

3. Bob Craig (1952-54) 5.7

4. Joe Gattuso (1952-54) 5.5

5. 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 16-straight games. The last time Navy did not create a turnover was Oct. 5, 2002, when Navy lost at Air Force, 48-7.

Touchdown Trey

Freshman slot back Trey Hines (Douglasville, Ga.) has scored three rushing touchdowns on just eight carries this year.