9/8/2003 - Football
Navy Football Press Notes

Game Data

Navy looks to win two-straight home games for the first time since 1997 when the Mids take on Eastern Michigan, Saturday, Sept. 20 at Jack Stephens Field at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (34,000). Kickoff is 1:30 p.m.

The Mids will have two weeks to prepare for Eastern Michigan after losing a hard-fought, 17-3, contest at TCU last Saturday.

Eastern Michigan has defeated East Tennesse State (28-21) and lost to Western Illinois (34-12) in its first-two games. The Eagles play at Akron this Saturday.

The Eastern Michigan game is First Class (Senior) Parents' Weekend and Annapolis Appreciation Day. At halftime, there will be a special ceremony with Mayor Ellen Moyer celebrating the partnership between the Naval Academy Athletic Association and the city of Annapolis in the development of the 1.5 mile walking trail that is being developed around the perimeter of the newly-renovated Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

The Eastern Michigan 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. (Eastern) 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).

Navy Hangs Tough Before Falling To 25th-Ranked TCU, 17-3

Navy had the 25th-ranked TCU Horned Frogs on the ropes, but couldn't convert numerous scoring chances and fell, 17-3, in front of 35,688 fans at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth.

The Mids outplayed the bigger, faster team from Texas in the first half but scoring drive after scoring drive was halted by either a turnover, a fumbled snap or costly penalties.

The Mids held the ball for 20:50 of the first half against last season's top-ranked defense. Navy gained 10 first downs, 170 total yards, ran 33 of its 43 first-half plays inside TCU territory and crossed TCU's 30 four times.

Meanwhile, the defense held TCU to 102 first-half yards and punter John Skaggs (Sr./Cantonment, Fla.) killed two first-half punts at the one-yard line.

Still the Mids led just 3-0, which marked the first time TCU had trailed at the half since 2001.

Navy scored on its second possession when Geoff Blumenfeld (Jr./Granite Bay, Calif.) made a 32-yard field goal. The Mids settled for the field goal after having the ball first-and-10 at the TCU 14.

Navy's third drive of the game saw the Mids move down to the TCU 13-yard line, but Craig Candeto's (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) third- down pass to Lionel Wesley (Jr./Duncanville, Texas) was incomplete and then Candeto mishandled the snap on Blumenfeld's 30-yard field goal attempt, giving TCU the ball at the 27-yard line.

The defense, though, did its job as senior Eddie Carthan (Donalsonville, Ga.) picked off a pass for the second-consecutive game, giving the ball back to the offense at the TCU 35-yard line. Carthan would have scored on the interception had he not lost his footing.

The Mids then moved the ball down to the TCU three-yard line, thanks to a big 12-yard pass from Candeto to Amir Jenkins (Jr./Temple Hills, Md.) on fourth and six from the TCU 31-yard line. But on first down, Kyle Eckel (Jr./Haverford, Pa.) fumbled the ball and it was recovered by TCU at the two-yard line.

The defense forced TCU to punt after three plays, giving the ball back to the offense at the TCU 39-yard line. On a first-and-10 play from the TCU 27-yard line, Candeto broke through the TCU defense and ran the ball inside the 10-yard line, but the play was called back on a holding call. Instead of first-and-goal inside the TCU 10, the Mids had the ball first-and- 18 from the TCU 35-yard line and were forced to punt, which was downed at the one by Shalimar Brazier (Sr./Detroit, Mich.).

The Navy offense got one more chance in the first half, driving the ball down to the TCU 34-yard line, but Candeto was caught behind the line of scrimmage on third-and-three and the Mids were forced to punt.

The tide changed in the second half as TCU scored on three of its first-four possessions. Nick Browne kicked a 23-yard field goal on TCU's first possession to tie the game at three and then Corey Connally gave TCU the lead for good on a two-yard touchdown run with 4:16 left in the third.

TCU put the game away when Candeto made a poor decision and tried to force the ball into coverage. His pass was picked off by Marvin Godbolt at the Navy 30-yard line and he returned it 22 yards to the eight. Lonta Hobbs scored two plays later to make it 17-3.

The Mids were stymied offensively in the second half, gaining just 37 yards, though the Mids did lose several big yardage plays due to penalties.

Injuries

Cornerback Hunter Reddick (Fr./San Diego, Calif.) is out with an injured right forearm, cornerback Marcus Sanders (Sr./Antioch, Calif.) is out with a left arm injury, wide receiver Corey Dryden (Jr./Longwood, Fla.) is probable with a left ankle sprain and linebacker Bobby McClarin (Jr./Bethlehem, Pa.) is questionable with a left hand injury.

Series History

This will be the first meeting between Navy and Eastern Michigan. The Mids are 8-8 all-time against the Mid-American Conference, which may be the most underrated conference in the country. The MAC already owns victories this year over two ranked opponents (Northern Illinois defeated Maryland and Bowling Green won at Purdue).

The Mids have lost three straight to Mid American Conference opponents, with the last win coming in 1999 (48-28 over Kent State).

Scouting Eastern Michigan

The Eagles are 1-1 on the year, having started the year against two I-AA opponents. Eastern won its opener, 28-21, over East Tennessee State before losing to I-AA power Western Illinois, 34-12. The Eagles are at Akron on Saturday.

Playing Against The Home State

Senior corner Shalmar Brazier (Detroit) is Navy's only player on the varsity roster from Michigan. Brazier went to Martin Luther King High School in Detroit.

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 (Hampton, Hines, Hobby, Little, Mahoney, Newsome, Tidwell and Tomlinson).

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

Major Improvement

For the third-straight season, Navy has played a ranked opponent in the second game of the season and for the first time the Mids had a chance to win.

In 2000, the Mids were blitzed by Georgia Tech, 70-7, while last year N.C. State hammered Navy, 65-19.

This year, the Mids led 25th-ranked TCU, 3-0, at the half before falling, 17-3.

Rushing Against The Best

Navy's 132 yards rushing against TCU came against one of the NCAA's best rush defenses. TCU led the nation in rush defense in 2002, allowing just 64.8 yards per game and allowed just 66 yards rushing to Tulane in the season opener.

First Half Shutout

For the first time since 1986 (185 games), the Mids have held two-straigh opponents (VMI and TCU) scoreless in the first half. The Mids blanked Lehigh and Dartmouth in 1986 (Navy shut out those two opponents for the entire game).

Playing From Ahead

Corey Connally's two-yard touchdown run in the third quarter gave TCU a 10-3 lead and marked the first time this year Navy trailed in a game (six quarters).

Fumble

The Navy defense has recovered four fumbles in the first two games. The four fumble recoveries are tied for the fourth most in the country. Arizona, Northwestern and Southern Miss have recovered five fumbles, while Navy is tied with Nebraska, Texas A&M, USC, San Jose State and Utah with four.

All told, the Mids have come up with six turnovers in the first- two games (four fumbles and two interceptions), which is tied for the 14th most in the country. Nebraska, San Jose State and USC have all come up with eight turnovers.

Candeto Fourth All-Time In Rushing TD's

Navy quarterback Craig Candeto's (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) two rushing touchdowns against VMI gives him 19 for his career, the fourth most in school history. Candeto trails Joe Bellino, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1960, by just five touchdowns for third place.

Career Rushing Touchdown Leaders In School History

1. Chris McCoy (1995-97) 43

2. Napoleon McCallum (1981-85) 31

3. Joe Bellino (1958-60) 24

4. Craig Candeto (2001-03) 19

5. Cleveland Cooper (1972-74) 17

5. Brian Madden (1999, 2001) 17

5. Brian Broadwater (1998-00) 17

Carthan Picks Off Another Pass

Senior linebacker Eddie Carthan (Donalsonville, Ga.) had never intercepted a pass in his collegiate career entering his senior season, but has picked off a pass in each of the first-two games this year. Carthan's two interceptions puts him tied for third in the country in interceptions per game (1.0) and he is the only linebacker in the country with two interceptions.

Slot Backs Make Big Plays

Every time starting slot backs Eric Roberts (Jr./Miami, Fla.) or Tony Lane (Sr./Wrens, Ga.) made a play against VMI, it was usually for big yardage. The two combined for 102 yards rushing on seven carries (14.6 yards per carry), scored one touchdown and caught four passes for 92 yards (23 yards per catch). All told, the two slots touched the ball 11 times for 194 yards (17.6 yards per touch).

The Mids couldn't get the ball to the slots against TCU as Lane carried the ball just three times for 46 yards (15.3 yards per carry), while Roberts had one catch for nine yards.

On the year, Lane is averaging 16 yards per carry and 18.5 yards per catch, while Roberts is averaging nine yards per carry and 21.3 yards per catch.

Vanak Comes Up Big

Outside of his immediate family, not a lot of Navy football fans had heard of Jeff Vanak (Jr./Collegeville, Pa.) before Saturday's game against VMI. But Vanak may become a household name before the season is over if he continues to produce the way he did in his first-career start against the Keydets.

Vanak recorded seven tackles, had 2.5 tackles for a loss and forced a key fumble in Navy's first home victory since 1999.

Vanak came back and had a solid game against TCU, coming up with five tackles and a tackle for a loss.

Putting A Hand Down

Yes, that was linebacker Evan Beard (So./Boardman, Ohio) at nose guard and, yes, that was outside linebacker Jeremy Chase (So./Norfolk, Va.) at defensive end.

In Navy's continued attempt to get more speed on the field, Beard played nose guard and Chase played defensive end on passing situations as Navy tried to get more pressure on the quarterback.

Beard recorded three tackles, two tackles for a loss, a sack and forced a fumble in his first-career varsity game against VMI, while Chase had five tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss and a sack.

Beard had one tackle against TCU, while Chase recorded nine tackles and a tackle for a loss.

Skaggs Selected For East-West Shrine Game; On Ray Guy Award Watch List

Navy punter John Skaggs (Cantonment, Fla.) has been selected to play in the prestigious East-West Shrine All-Star game, to be played Saturday, Jan. 10 at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco. Kickoff is 2 p.m. (EST) with live coverage by ESPN.

Skaggs is the 17th Navy player to be selected for the East-West game and the third in as many years. Defensive tackle Josh Brindel was picked to play in the game last year, while wide receiver Jeff Gaddy was tabbed in 2001. He is just the second kicker and first punter from Navy to be selected for any all-star game. Kicker Todd Solomon played in the Hula Bowl in 1985.

Skaggs is also one of 32 punters on the initial Ray Guy Award Watch list. The list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists who will be announced in early November. The three finalists will travel to Orlando, Fla., for the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 11, with the winner being announced and presented with the award live on ESPN.

Skaggs is Navy's all-time punting leader for a single-season and a career. He broke Bill Busik's 60-year old single-season record in 2001 when he averaged 44.8 yards per punt, while his 43.1 yards per game career average is also a school record.

Struggling Against Winning Programs

For those that expected Navy head coach Paul Johnson to perform a miracle in his first year, it should be noted that since 1990, Navy has defeated just four Division IA schools that finished the season with a winning record. In 1990, Navy defeated Toledo (9-2), 14-10; in 1993 Navy defeated Bowling Green (6-3-2), 27-20; in 1996 Navy defeated Air Force (6-5), 20-17; and in 1997 Navy defeated SMU (6-5), 46-16. Navy's other 29 wins against Division IA opponents since 1990 finished with a losing record.

Touchdown Navy Quarterback

Navy quarterbacks Craig Candeto (Orange City, Fla.) and Aaron Polanco (Wimberley, Texas) have scored 25 of Navy's 39 rushing touchdowns (.641) over the last-two years. Candeto led the team with 16 rushing touchdowns on 177 carries (one touchdown every 11.1 carries) last year, while Polanco has seven in just 74 carries (one touchdown every 10.6 carries) a year ago. Candeto has two touchdowns on 18 carries this year (one touchdown every nine attempts).

Red Zone

Navy has scored on six of its nine trips inside the red zone (.667) with five of the six scores resulting in touchdowns (.556).

The Mids scored on 35 of their 44 trips inside the red zone (.795) in 2002 and scored touchdowns on 31 of those 44 trips (.705).

The defense has given up four scores in six trips inside its 20 (.667), with three of those scores being touchdowns (.500).

Last year, the defense gave up points in 51 of the 59 times the opposition reached the red zone (.861). Forty one of the 59 trips resulted in touchdowns (.695).

Navy In The 2003 National Rankings

{117 Teams in Division IA}

Rushing Offense 14th (251.00)

Passing Offense 98th (151.50)

Total Offense 44th (402.50)

Scoring Offense 85th (20.00)

Rushing Defense 68th (146.00)

Pass Defense 34th (169.00)

Pass Efficiency Defense 42nd (110.98)

Total Defense 43rd (315.00)

Scoring Defense 22nd (13.50)

Net Punting 63rd (35.55)

Punt Return 74th (7.57)

Kickoff Return 48th (22.33)

Turnover Margin 23rd (+1.00)

Rushing Kyle Eckel (43rd, 89.50); Craig Candeto (68th, 72.00)

Pass Efficiency Craig Candeto (84th, 102.66)

Total Offense Craig Candeto (72nd, 190.00)

Interceptions Eddie Carthan (3rd, 1.00)

Punting John Skaggs (19th, 43.82)

Punt Returns Lionel Wesley (56th, 9.25); Jason Tomlinson (89th, 5.33)

Kickoff Returns Kyle Eckel (80th, 18.50)

Field Goals Geoff Blumenfeld (42nd, 1.00)

All-Purpose Runners Kyle Eckel (57th, 133.00)

Skaggs Is Navy's Top All-Time Punter

Navy senior John Skaggs (Cantonment, Fla.) is Navy's all-time top punter by average (43.1). Skaggs set the school record for punting average in a season in 2001 with a 44.8 average and averaged 41.2 yards per punt in 2002, which ranks as the fourth best average in school history for a single-season. His 43.8 average this year would rank him tied for second all-time and would give him three of the top five punting marks in school history.

Career Punting Average Average

1. John Skaggs (2001-02) 43.1

2. Tray Calisch (1997-99) 40.7

3. Bill Busik (1940-41) 40.6

4. Dave Church (1965-66) 39.4

5. Brian Schrum (1992-95) 39.3

Single-Season Punting Average Average

1. John Skaggs (2001) 44.8

2. Bill Busik (1941) 43.8

3. Tom Moore (1971) 41.9

4. John Skaggs (2002) 41.2

5. Tray Calisch (1999) 40.9

Mids Have Dropped 35-Straight To Ranked Opponents

Navy has lost 35-straight games to ranked opponents. The last time the Mids pulled an upset was Sept. 28, 1985, when Navy went into Charlottesville and stunned 20th-ranked Virginia, 17-13.

Losses To Ranked Opponents

Year Teams

1985 Air Force, Notre Dame and South Carolina

1986 Notre Dame

1987 Notre Dame and Syracuse

1988 Notre Dame and Syracuse

1989 Air Force, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame

1990 Virginia and Notre Dame

1991 Notre Dame

1992 Virginia and Notre Dame

1993 Notre Dame and Louisville

1994 Virginia, Notre Dame and Duke

1995 Notre Dame

1996 Notre Dame

1997 Notre Dame and Air Force

1998 West Virginia and Notre Dame

1999 Georgia Tech

2000 TCU and Notre Dame

2001 Georgia Tech

2002 N.C. State, Air Force and Notre Dame

2003 TCU

Tomlinson Impressive

Freshman wide receiver Jason Tomlinson (Arlington, Texas) had an impressive debut, catching his first-career pass on the first pass play of the VMI game, a nine-yard reception from Candeto. Tomlinson led the Mids with 65 yards receiving on three catches.

Against TCU, Tomlinson caught one pass for 12 yards and returned three punts for 16 yards.

Two Straight

Navy's 58-12 win over Army at the end of the 2002 season along with the Mids 37-10 victory over VMI marked the first time Navy has won back-to-back games since 1999 when the Mids defeated Rutgers (36-7) and Tulane (45-21).

Home-Opening Win

Navy's 37-10 victory over VMI was the first time Navy had opened a season with a victory at home since 1990 when it defeated Richmond, 28-17.

Offensive Outburst

Navy's 598 yards of total offense (370 rushing/228 passing) against VMI ranks ninth on the Mids' all-time list and it's the most yards by Navy since last year's Northwestern contest in which Navy ran up 678 yards (378 rushing/300 passing) against the Wildcats. Five of Navy's top-nine offensive outputs in school history have come in the triple option offense with either Paul Johnson or Ken Niumatalolo calling the plays.

The 370 yards rushing against VMI was the 32nd most in school history. Twelve of Navy's top-32 all-time rushing performances have come with either Johnson or Niumatalolo calling the plays, including five of the top seven.

Defense

VMI's 10 points are the fewest by a Navy opponent since last year's opener at SMU when the Mustangs were held to just seven points in Navy's 38-7 win.

Big Day For Eckel

Junior fullback Kyle Eckel (Haverford, Pa.) set a career high with 129 yards rushing, had a career-long run of 42 yards and scored a career-high tying two touchdowns in Navy's 37-10 victory over VMI.