12/8/2003 - Football
Navy-Texas Tech Game Notes

Game Data

The Navy Midshipmen will take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders Tuesday, Dec. 30 at Houston's Reliant Stadium (69,500) in the EV1.net Houston Bowl. The game will be televised live on ESPN at 4:30 p.m. (EST), 3:30 p.m. in Houston.

The Mids enter the bowl game riding high, having defeated rival Army, 34-6, and winning the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy for the first time since 1981. The Mids are the No. 1 rushing team in the country, averaging a school-record 326.1 yards per contest.

Texas Tech enters the game having lost two straight, but those two were to then No. 1 ranked Oklahoma (56-25) and to then sixth-ranked Texas (43-40). The Red Raiders possess the number one pass offense in the country, averaging 473.5 yards per contest.

The EV1.net Houston Bowl 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 3:30 p.m. (EST) on the Navy Pregame Show.

Pete Medhurst and Joe Miller will host the Navy Tailgate Show starting at 2:30 p.m. on 1430 WNAV (www.wnav.com).

Media Information

Navy players and coaches will be available daily leading up to the EV1.net Houston Bowl with 24 hours advance notice.

The Mids will practice Monday, Dec. 15-Thursday, Dec. 18 before giving the team a week off for Christmas. Players will be available for interviews after practice or before practice with advanced notice.

The team will travel to Houston on Friday, Dec. 26 and will return after the game on Tuesday, Dec. 30.

A practice schedule has not been set yet for Houston, but Navy practices will be open to the media on the 26th, 27th and 28th. The practice on the 29th will be closed.

Navy head coach Paul Johnson, assistant coaches and players will all be available after practice each of those three days.

Navy's team headquarters is the Renaissance Houston at 6 Greenway Plaza East (713/629-1200). Navy Sports Information Director Scott Strasemeier will be traveling with the team and can be reached on his cell phone at 443/336-9023.

Naval Academy Extends Head Football Coach Paul Johnson's Contract Through 2009

Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk announced Nov. 26, that the Naval Academy has extended head football coach Paul Johnson's contract through 2009.

"Paul has delivered a level of professionalism, knowledge and focus to a program that truly needed a jump start. He has accepted the challenge and the entire Navy community is realizing the rewards," said Gladchuk. "It was very important to stabilize quality continuity for the program and we have assured that through Paul and his staff. We will only get better each year under his leadership and I expect Paul to become the next Dean of Service Academy Coaches as our coach at Navy."

"Paul's leadership is so important to the Academy and our Midshipmen," said Vice Adm. Rodney Rempt, Naval Academy Superintendent. "We are all very pleased that he will continue to guide our football program back to national prominence. Our success this season on the field has been so rewarding on many fronts and most especially has rekindled the spirit of the Brigade."

"I'm excited about the commitment the Naval Academy has made to the football program and our coaching staff," said Johnson. "This year has been one of my most enjoyable years in coaching as our players have given us a total commitment since day one and the support has been tremendous, especially the support from the Brigade of Midshipmen. I look forward to continuing the restoration of the proud tradition of Navy Football."

Mids Roll Over Army; Win Commander-In-Chief's Trophy

Kyle Eckel (Jr./Haverford, Pa.) rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns as Navy rolled to an easy 34-6 victory over Army in front of a Lincoln Financial Field record crowd of 70,844.

The victory was the fourth for Navy over Army in the last five meetings and gave the Mids the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy, which is presented annually to the winner of the football competition among the three major service academies - Army, Navy and Air Force-and is named in honor of the President of the United States.

Eric Roberts (Jr./Miami, Fla.) added two touchdowns rushing, while quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) rushed for 58 yards and threw for 55. The 58 yards rushing put Candeto over 1,000 yards making him just the 23rd quarterback in NCAA history and second in Navy history to rush for 1,000 yards and throw for 1,000 yards in a single-season.

The Navy offense punished the Black Knights for 359 of their 414 yards of total offense on the ground.

The Navy defense was just as good, if not better, than the offense as the Mids held the Black Knights to 198 yards of total offense.

Bobby McClarin (Jr./Bethlehem, Pa.) led the way with eight tackles, a pass breakup and the first interception of his career. McClarin's interception came in the third quarer on the Navy six-yard line with the Mids nursing a 20-6 lead.

Eddie Carthan (Sr./Donalsonville, Ga.) added eight tackles, including a tackle for a loss, while Eli Sanders (Sr./Hartsville, Tenn.) chipped in with seven tackles and an interception. Sanders interception also came in the third quarter deep in Navy territory, two plays after a Candeto interception.

Injuries

Starting center August Roitsch (Jr./Houston, Texas) is out with a left foot injury, third-team guard Brett Nungesser (So./San Marino, Calif.) is out with a left knee injury, third-team linebacker/nose guard Evan Beard (So./Boardman, Ohio) is out with a right knee injury. Starting guard/center Shane Todd (Sr./Mt. Airy, Md.) is doubtful with a right toe injury, starting safety Josh Smith (Attica, Ind.) is questionable after having his appendix removed the Wednesday before the Army-Navy Game.

Series History

This will be Navy's first-ever meeting against Texas Tech and just the sixth time Navy has played an opponent from the Big 12.

The Mids last played a Big 12 opponent in 1969 when the Midshipmen lost to Texas, 56-17, in 1969.

Navy is 0-2 against Texas, 0-2 against Missouri and 1-0 against Oklahoma (10-0 in 1965).

Two of Navy's games against Big 12 opposition have come in bowl games as the Mids lost to Missouri, 21-14, in the 1961 Orange Bowl (the Heisman Trophy year for Joe Bellino) and lost to Texas, which was No. 1 in the country, 28-6, in the 1964 Cotton Bowl (the Heisman Trophy year for Roger Staubach).

Bowl History

Navy is 4-4-1 all-time in bowl games including a 42-38 victory over California in the 1996 Aloha Bowl, Navy's last postseason apperance.

Scouting Texas Tech

The Red Raiders are an impressive 7-5 against a very difficult schedule thanks to one of the most potent offensive attacks in America.

Texas Tech ranks first in the country in passing offense (473.50 yards per game) and total offense (584.58) and third in the nation in scoring offense (42.8 points per game).

Quarterback B.J. Symons, who recently was named the winner of the Sammy Baugh award, leads the nation in total offense (456.33 yards per game), while wide receiver Wes Welker is third in the country in receptions per game, averaging 7.5 catches per contest. Symons has thrown for an NCAA record 5,336 yards this year.

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.

*Over the previous five years, Navy was 11-45, tied for the third-worst record in college football.

*This is Navy's third winning season in the last 20 years and just the ninth winning season in the last 40 years. Navy's last winning season was in 1997. The eight wins is tied for the third-most wins in the last 40 years at the Naval Academy.

*The eight wins equal the win total of the previous four years combined.

*Navy defeated Air Force for the first time since 1996 and won the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy for the first time since 1981.

*The Mids lead the nation in rushing, averaging 326.1 yards per contest. Navy has rushed for a school-record 3,913 yards, are averaging a school-record 5.6 yards per attempt, a school- record 326.1 yards per game and have rushed for a school-record 42 touchdowns.

*The Mids have gained 5,177 yards of total offense this year which is a school record. The previous record was 4,684 yards. Navy is also averaging a school record 431.4 yards per game of total offense and a school record 6.1 yards per play.

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

*Navy went from 2-10 to 8-4, which is an improvement of six games, the second-best turnaround in the country.

*Thanks to Johnson's potent triple option offense, Navy is just the second team in NCAA history to have four players on the same team to produce over 1,000-career yards rushing.

*This will be Navy's first bowl game since 1996 and just the school's second bowl game in 22 years.

*This is just the sixth time in NCAA history that a team has gone from winless to a bowl game in just two years.

*Johnson is doing all this with the youngest team in school history, as the Mids are dressing 22 freshmen and playing 11 (unheard of at a Service Academy).

Navy Sixth Team In NCAA History To Go From Winless To A Bowl Game In Just Two Years

The Navy Midshipmen are just the fifth team in NCAA history to go from winless to a bowl game in two years or less. Houston, who was 0-11 in 2001 and 7-5 this year, has also accomplished the feat this year.

Hawaii (0-11 in 1998, 9-4 in 1999), South Carolina (0-11 in 1999, 7-4 in 2000) and Kentucky (0-10-1 in 1982, 6-5-1 in 1983) went from winless to a bowl in one year.

Illinois (0-11 in 1997, 8-4 in 1999) joins Houston and Navy as teams that went from winless to a bowl in two years.

Mids Become Second Team In NCAA History With Four Players Over 1,000-Career Yards Rushing

Navy joined this year's Minnesota team as the only two teams in NCAA history with four 1,000-yard career rushers on the same team.

Senior quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) has rushed for 1,859 yards, fullback Kyle Eckel (Jr./Havertown, Pa.) has rushed for 1,688 yards, senior slot back Tony Lane (Wrens, Ga.) has rushed for 1,244 yards and junior slot Eric Roberts (Miami, Fla.) has rushed for 1,045 yards in his career.

Mids One Of The Nation's Most-Improved Teams

The Navy football team's improvement this year is the second-best turnaround in the country and could tie for the best if Tulsa loses to Georgia Tech in the Humanitarian Bowl and Navy upsets Texas Tech in the EV1.net Houston Bowl.

The Mids finished the 2002 campaign with a 2-10 record and are 8-4 this year, an improvement of six games (1/2 game for each win and 1/2 game for each loss).

Tulsa, who is on Navy's schedule in 2004, is the most improved team in the country, going from 1-11 to 8-4, an improvement of seven games. Six of the seven most improved teams are going to a bowl game.

Navy Leads The Country In Rushing Offense; Set Numerous School Rushing Records

The Mids are leading the nation in rushing heading into the bowl game, averaging 326.1 yards per game. Rice is second, averaging 316.67 yards per contest. Starting with this year's games bowl stats will count in the final NCAA statistics.

Navy has rushed for 3,914 yards on the year which is a school record. The previous record was 3,506 yards set in 1999. The Mids are also averaging a school-record 5.6 yards per attempt, a school record 326.1 yards per game and have rushed for a school-record 42 touchdowns.

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 326.08

2. Rice 316.67

3. Minnesota 293.17

4. Air Force 280.58

5. Texas 241.00

6. Kansas State 238.93

7. Arkansas 237.08

8. Missouri 236.25

9. Nebraska 236.17

10. Louisville 227.42

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 84-38 (.689). Nine of the top 10 teams have winning records, with only Rice (5-7) having a losing record.

Eight of the teams are heading to bowl games with only Air Force and Rice being left out. Fifteen of the top 16 rushing teams have winning records.

The bottom-10 rushing teams-BYU, Louisiana-Monroe, UCF, Stanford, North Carolina State, UCLA, Colorado, Wyoming, Western Michigan and Army-are a combined 39-81 (.325). Only N.C. State has a winning record and headed to a bowl game.

Mids Set Total Offense Record

Navy has gained a school-record 5,177 yards of total offense this year. The previous record was 4,684 yards set in 1999 (in 12 games).

Navy is also averaging a school-record 431.4 yards per game and a school-record 6.1 yards per play.

It's Another Navy First Down

Navy has a school-record 269 first downs this year and a school-record 205 first downs by rush. The previous records were 253 (1985) for overall first downs and 177 (1999) for first downs by rush.

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). Last year, Navy gave up 24 touchdown passes. This year, the Mids have given up nine.

NCAA Leaders In Pass Defense

1. Oklahoma 145.92

2. Miami (Fla.) 147.50

3. Penn State 153.33

4. Navy 153.83

5. San Diego State 160.25

6. Michigan 167.08

7. Georgia 170.23

8. Kansas State 173.57

9. Texas 175.17

10. BYU 176.17

Stingy In The First

The Navy defense has given up just three touchdowns all year in the first quarter and only once has a team scored on its initial drive (Central Michigan).

Candeto Tied With McCallum For Career Rushing Touchdowns

Navy quarterback Craig Candeto's (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) three rushing touchdowns against Central Michigan marked the fifth time in his career, and second-straight game, he rushed for three or more touchdowns in a game. He also increased his career total to 31, which tied him for the second most in school history with 2003 College Football Hall of Fame inductee Napoleon McCallum. Chris McCoy is the career record holder with an amazing 43 rushing touchdowns.

Candeto's 31 touchdowns also ties for the fourth most in school history for total touchdowns.

Candeto's 14 rushing touchdowns this year ties him for fifth with McCallum on the list for most rushing touchdowns in a single season.

Candeto has scored 186 points in his career, the sixth most in school history.

Career Rushing Touchdown Leaders In School History

1. Chris McCoy (1995-97) 43

2. Craig Candeto (2001-03) 31

2. Napoleon McCallum (1981-85) 31

4. Joe Bellino (1958-60) 24

5. Cleveland Cooper (1972-74) 17

5. Brian Madden (1999, 2001) 17

5. Brian Broadwater (1998-00) 17

Career Touchdown Leaders In School History

1. Chris McCoy (1995-97) 44

2. Bill Ingram (1916-18) 34

3. Napoleon McCallum (1981-85) 33

4. Craig Candeto (2001-03) 31

4. Joe Bellino (1958-60) 31

Single-Season Rushing Touchdown Leaders In School History

1. Chris McCoy (1997) 20

2. Craig Candeto (2002) 16

2. Chris McCoy (1996) 16

4. Joe Bellino (1960) 15

5. Craig Candeto (2003) 14

5. Napoleon McCallum (1985) 14

Career Scoring

1. Chris McCoy (1995-97) 264

2. Bill Ingram (1916-18) 263

3. Napoleon McCallum (1981-85) 200

4. Joe Bellino (1958-60) 198

5. Steve Fehr (1979-81) 189

Craig Candeto (2000-03) 186

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 1,859 yards rushing and 2,286 yards passing as he joins an 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 Climbs To Seventh On All-Time Rushing List; Eckel Now Eighth

Navy quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) climbed to seventh on the school's all-time rushing list with his 58-yard performance against Army. Candeto trails Joe Gattuso Jr., who is sixth on the list, by just 31 yards and is just 89 yards away from passing Joe Gattuso for sixth place. Candeto has rushed for 1,859 yards in his career. If Candeto can rush for 141 yards against Texas Tech, he would be just the 37th quarterback in NCAA history to rush for 2,000 yards or more in a 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. Craig Candeto (2001-03) 1,859

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

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

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

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 140 passes in his career for 2,286 yards. That averages out to 16.3 yards per completion, which is the third-best average in school history.

This year, Candeto has completd 62 passes for 1,107 yards. That averages out to 17.9 yards per completion, which ranks as the best mark in school history for a single season

Candeto is also averaging 8.0 yards per attempt in his career (2,286 yards on 285 attempts), which is the best average in school history and 9.1 yards per attempt this year (1,107 yards on 122 attempts), which is the third best average in school history.

Career Average Yards Per Completion

1. Brian Broadwater (1998-2000) 16.9

2. Chris McCoy (1995-97) 16.4

3. Craig Candeto (2001-03) 16.3

4. Bob Leszczynski (1976-78) 14.6

5. Bob Zastrow (1949-51) 14.4

Single-Season Average Yards Per Completion

1. Craig Candeto (2003) 17.9

2. Chris McCoy (1997) 17.4

3. Bob Leszczynski (1978) 16.6

3. Alton Grizzard (1989) 16.6

Career Average Yards Per Attempt

1. Craig Candeto (2001-03) 8.0

2. Brian Broadwater (1998-2000) 7.8

3. Chris McCoy (1995-97) 7.7

3. Roger Staubach (1962-64) 7.7

Single-Season Average Yards Per Attempt

1. Roger Staubach (1962) 9.9

3. Roger Staubach 1963) 9.2

2. Craig Candeto (2003) 9.1

Candeto Passes The 1,000-1,000 Mark

Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) became just the 23rd player in NCAA history and second player in Navy history (Chris McCoy in 1997) to rush for 1,000 yards and pass for 1,000 yards in a single season. Candeto and Brad Smith of Missouri are the only two players in 2003 to accomplish this feat.

Candeto has rushed for 1,122 yards and thrown for 1,107 yards on the season.

No Picks

Navy has thrown just six interceptions (five by Candeto and one by Aaron Polanco) this year which ties for third in the country for fewest interceptions thrown. Utah leads the country with four, Houston has thrown five, while Navy, Purdue, Missouri and San Jose State have thrown six.

Candeto Careful With His Throws

Quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) has been intercepted just 12 times in 285 pass attempts or an average of .042 percent of the time which is the fourth-best average in school history.

Lowest Interception Percentage In A Career

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

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

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

4. Craig Candeto (2001-03) .042 (12-of-285)

Candeto Responsible For A Lot Of Points

Quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) has been responsible for 282 points in his career (34 rushing touchdowns, 17 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) 282

3. Roger Staubach (1962-64) 216

4. Bill Byrne (1984-86) 214

Candeto Climbing The Charts For Single-Season Total Offense

Navy quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) has gained 2,129 yards of total offense this year on 370 plays, the fourth most yards in school history for a single-season

Single-Season Total Offense

1. Chris McCoy (1997) 2,573

2. Jim Kubiak (1993) 2,496

3. Jim Kubiak (1994) 2,175

4. Craig Candeto (2003) 2,129

5. John Cartwright (1967) 1,981

Roberts Closing In On 1,000 Yards Rushing And Receiving For A Career

Junior slot back Eric Roberts (Miami, Fla.) is closing in on the the 1,000-yard mark for both rushing and receiving in his career. Roberts has 1,007 yards rushing and 922 yards receiving.

If Roberts can get to 1,000 in both, he would be the first player in Navy history to accomplish this feat.

Eric The Great

Junior slot back Eric Roberts (Miami, Fla.) continues to make big play after big play. Roberts has scored five touchdowns this year of 40 yards or more, including two against Central Michigan when he had a 45-yard touchdown run and an 86-yard touchdown reception.

His 86-yard touchdown reception off a pass thrown by Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) was the second-longest pass play in school history and the fifth-longest play from scrimmage in school history. The longest pass play in school history was 87 yards from Chris McCoy to Matt Scornavacchi in 1995 against Tulane. The longest play from scrimmage was a 93-yard run by John Sai against Duke in 1963.

Roberts' 69-yard touchdown run in the first quarter against Rice was the longest by a Navy player since Sept. 25, 1999, when Raheem Lambert had a 79-yard touchdown run against Rice.

Roberts has five touchdown catches on the year, which is one off the school record, and seven touchdown catches in his career, the fifth most in school history.

Roberts has six career two-touchdown days, including four this year.

Touchdown Catches In A Season

1. Ryan Read (1998) 6

1. Chris Weiler (1984) 6

1. Phil McConkey (1978) 6

1. Rob Taylor (1967) 6

5. Eric Roberts (2003) 5

Touchdown Catches In A Career

1. Phil McConkey (1975-78) 13

1. Rob Taylor (1965-67) 13

3. Chris Weiler (1981-84) 8

3. Ron Beagle (1953-55) 8

5. Eric Roberts (2002-03) 7

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 was named the Philadelphia Sportswriters Most Valuable Player for his 152-yard, two touchdown performance against Army. It was his third-straight two touchdown day and the fourth of the season.

Earlier in the year, 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 the Falcons.

His 176 yards rushing against Air Force 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 seven times this year (VMI, Rutgers, Air Force, Vanderbilt, Tulane, Central Michigan and Army), which is tied for the fourth most in school history, after not topping the century mark in 2002. Eckel can tie the school record with a 100-yard rushing day against Texas Tech and he would join two of the greatest running backs in school history, Napoleon McCallum and Eddie Meyers.

Earlier in the year he became the first Navy player to rush for over 100 yards in three-straight games since Brian Madden did it in 2001 and is the first non-quarterback to rush for over 100 yards in three-straight games since current Navy radio analyst Omar Nelson did it against SMU, Boston College and Duke in 1996.

Eckel has carried the ball 222 times this year and has lost yardage on just three of those carries, all of which were one-yard losses.

Most 100-Yard Rushing Games In A Season

1. Napoleon McCalllum (1985) 8

1. Napoleon McCallum (1983) 8

1. Eddie Meyers (1981) 8

4. Kyle Eckel (2003) 7

4. Joe Gattuso Jr. (1977) 7

Eckel And Candeto Rush For 1,000 Yards

Navy fullback Kyle Eckel (Jr./Haverford, Pa.) went over the 1,000-yard mark for a season when he rushed for 167 yards against Central Michigan. He became just the eighth player in school history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season and the first since Chris McCoy in 1997. He is the first non-quarterback to rush for over 1,000 yards since Napoleon McCallum in 1985.

Quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) followed Eckel over the 1,000 yard mark the very next game when he rushed for 58 yards against Army giving him 1,022 yards for the year.

It marks 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. Candeto is also just the second quarterback in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season (McCoy did it twice).

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. Kyle Eckel (2003) 1,178

8. Cleveland Cooper (1972) 1,046

9. Craig Candeto (2003) 1,022

10. Eddie Meyers (1980) 957

Candeto Trying To Crack Top 10 On Single-Season Passing List

Navy quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) is well known for his running abilities, but people may be surprised to learn that he needs just 25 yards passing to crack Navy's top 10 list for single-season passing yardage. Candeto has thrown for 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns this year.

Single-Season Passing Yards

1. Jim Kubiak (1993) 2,628

2. Jim Kubiak (1994) 2,388

3. Bill Byrne (1985) 1,694

4. John Cartwright (1967) 1,537

5. Bill Byrne (1986) 1,463

6. Alton Grizzard (1990) 1,438

7. Ricky Williamson (1983) 1,394

8. Mike McNallen (1968) 1,342

9. Mike McNallen (1969) 1,312

10. Roger Staubach (1964) 1,131

Craig Candeto (2003) 1,107

Third Down Conversions

After a slow start, Navy has been remarkable at converting third downs over the last-seven games, as the Mids have converted 64-of-111 (.577) 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 seven wins, the Mids have converted 62-of-109 third downs (.569). They are 21-of-60 (.350) on third down conversions in the four losses.

In Navy's last-five wins, it is 54-of-86 on third down (.628).

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 1,342 yards on 136 carries (9.9 yards per carry) and 14 touchdowns (one every 9.7 carries). The slots are led on the ground by Eric Roberts (Jr./Miami, Fla) and Tony Lane (Sr./Wrens, Ga.). Roberts has rushed for 576 yards and five touchdowns on 62 carries (9.3 yards per carry), while Lane has rushed for 579 yards and five touchdowns on 44 carries (13.2 yards per carry).

The slots have also proven dangerous through the air, catching 31 passes for 677 yards (21.8 yards per catch) and five touchdowns. Roberts leads the way with 20 catches for 493 yards (24.7 yards per catch) and five touchdowns.

All told, the slots have touched the ball 167 times (rushing and receiving) and have gained 2,017 yards (12.1 yards per touch) and scored 18 touchdowns.

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

Senior slot back Tony Lane (Sr./Wrens, Ga.) and junior slot back Eric Roberts (Jr./Miami, Fla.) 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.

Lane is averaging 8.9 yards per carry in his career, rushing for 1,244 yards on 140 carries. Roberts is averaging 8.7 yards per carry in his career, rushing for 1,045 yards on 120 carries.

Career Rushing Yards Per Attempt (minimum 100 attempts)

1. Tony Lane (2001-03) 8.9

2. Eric Roberts (2002-03) 8.7

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 And Season Receiving Yards Per Catch

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 37 passes for 920 yards.

This year, Roberts has 20 catches for 493 yards (24.6 average), may of them spectacular, and five touchdowns. The 24.6 average ranks as the fourth best average in school history for a single season.

Last year, Roberts averaged 25.2 yards per catch, which is the third best average in school history for a single-season.

Career Receiving Yards Per Catch

1. Eric Roberts (2002-03) 24.9

2. Jim Stewart (1960-62) 19.3

3. Matt Scornavacchi (1993-95) 19.2

4. Phil McConkey (1975-78) 19.1

Single-Season Receiving Yards Per Catch

1. Ryan Read (1998) 25.5

2. Eric Roberts (2002) 25.2

3. Phil McConkey (1978) 24.8

4. Eric Roberts (2003) 24.6

5. Pat McGrew (1997) 22.6

Creating Turnovers

The Navy defense has created at least one turnover in 18 of the last 19 games. The Mids had a streak of 16-straight games of creating a turnover end Nov. 8 at Notre Dame.

Touchdown Trey

Freshman slot back Trey Hines (Douglasville, Ga.) has scored three rushing touchdowns on just 13 carries this year.