8/31/2003 - Football
Navy Cranks Up The Diesel, Wins 37-10
The "diesel" is back. Healthy and better than ever, Kyle Eckel ran for two touchdowns and a career-high 129 yards as Navy snapped a 14-game home losing streak with a 37-10 win over Virginia Military Institute on Saturday at Jack Stephens Field in Annapolis.
Eckel, a 235-lb Jr., hurt his knee late last year and missed Navy's last three games. He was a welcome site in the Navy backfield and gave Navy the lift they need in one of the key positions in it's option based offense.
"The knee feels great. The doctors and training staff here have done a great job and I feel really strong and confident running on it,'' Eckel said. "It's great to be able to contribute to the team in a positive and winning way.''
Winning at home had become foreign to the home team. In fact, none of the seniors on the current roster have ever won a home game. It was a strange game of sorts as it was one of two games on the day to be suspended as the game was delayed by lightning for 58 minutes late in the third quarter. Referee Jim Knight halted play with 54 seconds left in the period and the game resumed nearly an hour later. Navy's last win at home came on November 13, 1999 against Tulane.
Quarterback Craig Candeto ran for 96 yards and scored twice for Navy. "It feels great," Candeto said. "(Losing) wears on you big-time. You come out each week and don't have success in football games. Trying to come out hard in practice gets tough every week."
The Midshipmen gained 598 yards of total offense, including 370 yards on the ground. More importantly, the signs of at least an honest passing game is starting to take shape. Freshmen wide-out Jason Tomlinson had three catches for 65-yards, Amir Jenkins, a junior, also had three catches and both showed flashes of getting down field giving Navy a legitimate passing attack.
"Jason has been great in practice. We see that every day. The line blocked well most of the day and gave us time to make plays and if we can throw well when we need too, we're only going to be stronger on offense,'' Candeto said.
Navy is now 2-0 in season openers under Paul Johnson. "I'm happy to have a win, proud of the effort," Johnson said. "We made a lot of mistakes and there's a lot of room for improvement. But that usually happens in first games."
The Midshipmen, who play at TCU next week, took a 7-0 on an 18-yard touchdown run by Tony Lane midway through the first quarter. Navy then scored on three successive second-quarter possessions for a 28-0 halftime lead.
Eckel ran 3 yards off left tackle on the first play of the second quarter, extending the lead to 14-0. After VMI was forced to punt, Candeto needed only 1:50 to direct a six-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a 2-yard run by Eckel.
On the next Navy series, Candeto threw a 47-yard completion to Jason Tomlinson and a pass interference penalty on VMI cornerback Sean Hill in the end zone put the ball at the VMI two yard line. On the next play, Candeto scored on a 3-yard keeper, making it 28-0.
Navy, which has been nursing kicking problems week-by-week for the past couple of seasons, had a bright spot as Geoff Blumenfeld connected from 42-yards out, but missed a PAT after a bad snap.
Granted, a win over a 1-AA opponent does not designate Navy as ready for the top-25. After all, after winning its opener on the road last year, the Mids lost 10 straight before squashing Army in the finale.
"This is just one win. It feels good to win, but we have to build on this. We can't let down because every game is a big game and TCU will be ready to go next week, that's one of the best defenses in the country,'' Candeto said.
The Horned Frogs will have a short week. They play Tulane on Monday night in New Orleans.
The Mids had constant pressure in VMI's backfield most of the day. Jeremy Chase, Ryan Beard who lined up at nose tackle on several plays, Eddie Carthan, and Jeff Vanak were frequent possesers of territory in VMI's backfield. Another small sign of improvement, was more aggression by the Navy secondary. Sure, you expect safety Josh Smith to be up making tackles, but Shalimar Brazier had a pass deflection, Carthan dropped in coverage to break up one and intercept another. Eli Sanders had some solid moments and freshmen Keenan Little contributed solid play.
Defensively, a pulse was found. Offensively, you know Navy will be solid. Special Teams still needs work. Overall, a solid effort.
Over all grades:
Offense: A-. A couple of dropped passes and ill-advised interception, kept this from being an A. 598 yards against anyone is solid/
Defense- B. Yes a B. More pressure, a secondary that looked like the knew the receivers were in the area, and constant changes by Buddy Green to keep the VMI coaches guessing. The line up of Beard and Chase with the hands down on the line of scrimmage was a genius and it worked.
Special Teams: C- A fumbled punt, a missed PAT, a missed FG, the search for consistency continues.
NEXT WEEK: TCU
League favorite in C-USA, the conference that will play on TV any time you ask. TCU plays Monday at Tulane. TCU coach Gary Patterson coached Navy secondary in 1995. The Horned Frogs have been to Bowl Games in five straight years (3-2). TCU has also won a part of its league title, three of the past four years. Two WAC, and one C-USA Title. The last meeting between Navy and TCU was in 2000, TCU won 24-0 behind current San Diego Chargers running back LaDanian Tomlinson.
NOTES: Eckel's 129 yards is a career best. Candeto has scored eight touchdowns in his last two games. Fullback Bronston Carroll started and had his first career carries today. It was the third time in 13 games under Johnson that Navy went over the 500-yard mark and second in a row dating back to Army. Candeto has 19 career rushing scores, five behind Joe Bellino for third on Navy's all-time list. Johnson joins George Welsh (74-75) and Charlie Weatherbie (95-96) has Navy coaches since 1950 who have won their season openers in their first two seasons. The suspension of play due to weather was Navy's first since November 22, 1992 at Rice.
