1/7/2004 - Football
Final Football Release

Mids End Dream Season With Loss To Texas Tech In The EV1.net Houston Bowl

Texas Tech quarterback B.J. Symons threw for 497 yards and four touchdowns as Texas Tech defeated Navy, 38-14, in front of 51,068 fans at Reliant Stadium in the EV1.net Houston Bowl.

The game started exactly like the Mids would have liked as Texas Tech missed a field goal on its opening drive, after advancing the ball to the Navy six-yard line, and then the Mids marched 78 yards on 15 plays on its initial drive, chewing up the clock as they went.

The first quarter ended scoreless with Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) being ruled down at the one-yard line on his third down option keeper.

Navy head coach Paul Johnson decided to go for it on fourth down and Candeto was stopped short once again and when he tried to reach for the goal line the ball popped out of his hands and Texas Tech 's Keyunta Dawson picked it up and returned the fumble to the Tech 34. Replays showed Candeto was clearly down when he fumbled.

The Navy defense held again as Tech quickly moved down to the Navy seven-yard line, but Josh Smith (Jr./Attica, Ind.) picked off Symons' pass on third down and returned it 36 yards to the Navy 38.

The Mids couldn't move the ball on its second possession and after a failed fake punt Tech moved 47 yards on five plays to take a 7-0 lead on a four-yard touchdown pass from Symons to Mickey Peters.

The Navy offense moved the ball right back down the field on its next possession, but on third-and-four fullback Kyle Eckel (Jr./Haverford, Pa.) was stopped for no gain and then Eric Rolfs (Sr./Bartlesville, Okla.) missed his first field goal attempt in nine tries as his 37-yard attempt went wide left.

Tech took advantage of the missed field goal and went down and scored a back breaking touchdown as they converted a second-and-28 as Symons hit Nehemiah Glover for 20 yards on second down and for 12 more on third.

Two plays later, Symons hit Glover with a middle screen and he scored from 17 yards out to make it 14-0 Tech at the half.

The Mids, however, refused to give up as Candeto directed a 11-play, 79-yard drive to start the second half, capped off by his own two-yard touchdown run on fourth and goal to make it 14-7.

Tech, however, answered Navy's touchdown drive with one of its own as the Red Raiders marched 67 yards on nine plays with Taurean Henderson scoring from four yards out to make it 21-7.

After a Navy punt, Tech went up 24-7 on a Keith Toogood 21-yard field goal. The Mids held the Raiders to a field goal after Tech had the ball first and goal at the Navy seven-yard line.

The Mids made things interesting by taking the ensuing kickoff and driving 81 yards on 12 plays as Candeto scored from the one to cut the lead to 10.

After Eric Rolfs pinned Tech back to its own 11 yard line on the kickoff it looked like Navy could get back in the game if the defense could come up with a stop. Instead the Red Raiders drove 89 yards on seven plays as Symons hit Jarrett Hicks with a 13-yard touchdown pass to make it 31-14.

Symons would connect with Mickey Peters with a four-yard touchdown pass on the next drive to make the final, 38-14.

The Mids were led offensively by Candeto who carried the ball 23 times for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Eckel had 14 carries for 71 yards, while Eric Roberts (Jr./Miami, Fla.) added 54 yards on seven carries.Candeto completed just two of his nine pass attempts for 33 yards.

The defense was led by Smith with 13 tackles and his first quarter interception. Shalimar Brazier (Sr./Detroit, Mich.) recorded nine tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. The forced fumble and sack came when Brazier drilled Symons between the numbers on a pass attempt. The hit was one of the biggest in the bowl season. Eddie Carthan (Sr./Donalsonville, Ga.), DuJuan Price (Fr./Austin, Texas) and Jeremy Chase (So./Norfolk, Va.) added seven tackles apiece.

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."

A Dream Season

It was a dream season for the 2003 Midshipmen. Below is a list of some of the team accomplishments:

? Navy posted an 8-5 record and played in the EV1.Net Houston Bowl after going 3-30 the previous three years, the worst three-year stretch in the 122-year history of Navy football.

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

? The eight wins equals 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 led the nation in rushing, averaging 323.2 yards per contest. Navy rushed for a school-record 4,202 yards, averaged a school-record 5.5 yards per attempt, a school-record 323.2 yards per game and rushed for a school-record 44 touchdowns.

? The Mids gained a school record 5,506 yards of total offense. The previous record was 4,684 yards. Navy also averaged a school record 423.5 yards per game of total offense and a school record 6.0 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 8-5, which is an improvement of 5.5 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.

? The EV1.net Houston Bowl was Navy's first bowl game since 1996 and just the school's second bowl game in 22 years.

? This year's Navy team is just the sixth team in NCAA history to go from winless to a bowl game in two years or less.

Johnson Receives Accolades

There is no disputing the fact that Navy head football coach Paul Johnson did one of the best coaching jobs in the country in 2003. Johnson took over a program that had gone 1-20 the previous two years, the worst two-year stretch in school history, and turned them into a bowl team in just two years.

Johnson was recognized nationally for his coaching performance as he was a semifinalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, presented by the Football Writers Association of America, and for the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year award, presented by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. He finished fifth in the Associated Press Coach of the Year balloting.

Mids Place Three On College Football News All-Independent Team

Navy placed three players on the College Football News All-Independent team: Junior fullback Kyle Eckel (Haverford, Pa.), senior offensive guard Josh Goodin (Shawnee, Kan.) and senior kicker Eric Rolfs (Bartlesville, Okla.).

Houston Bowl Records

The Mids broke two Houston Bowl records, tied two records and combined with Texas Tech to break five game records and tie another.

The Mids set Houston Bowl records for most yards rushing by a team (289) and most rushing attempts by a team (55).

Quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) tied two bowl records for total touchdowns and rushing touchdowns with two.

The two teams combined to break the record for most first downs (47), most yards rushing (353), most yards passing (537), total yards (890), and most penalty yards (205).

The two teams tied the record for most rushing attempts (75).

Navy Bowl Game Records

Navy broke six school bowl game records and tied four others in the Mids 38-14 Houston Bowl loss to Texas Tech.

Jeremy McGown (Fr./Houston, Texas) set Navy bowl game records with his five kickoff returns and 92 return yards. McGown's performance was impressive enough to earn him the EV1.net Houston Bowl Special Teams Player of the Game Award.

Josh Smith's (Jr./Attica, Ind.) 36-yard interception return was a Navy bowl game record for most interception return yards and longest interception return, while his one interception tied a bowl record.

Craig Candeto's (Sr./Orange City, Fla) two touchdowns tied a Navy bowl record.

John Skaggs (Sr./Cantonment, Fla.) 53-yard punt was a Navy bowl record.

Navy's 289 yards rushing was a Navy bowl record, while the six kickoff returns and 38 points allowed tied the record.

Future Looks Bright

Of the 68 players listed on the depth chart for the EV1.net Houston Bowl, 55 will return next year. The breakdown includes: all six wide receivers, four of five tackles, three of five guards, one of two centers, five of six slot backs, two of three fullbacks, two of three quarterbacks, five of six defensive ends, all three nose guards, five of six outside linebackers, five of six inside linebackers, five of six cornerbacks, five of six safeties and four of six specialist (including only those that weren't listed on the depth chart at a specific position, ie Jason Tomlinson).

Of the 36 different players that started last year, 24 will return, including 15 that started the majority of the year.

Navy Sixth Team In NCAA History To Go From Winless To A

Bowl Game In Just Two Years

The 2003 Navy Midshipmen are just the sixth 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 7-6 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.) rushed for 1,949 yards, fullback Kyle Eckel (Jr./Havertown, Pa.) has rushed for 1,759 yards, senior slot back Tony Lane (Wrens, Ga.) rushed for 1,288 yards and junior slot Eric Roberts (Miami, Fla.) has rushed for 1,099 yards in their careers.

Mids One Of The Nation's Most-Improved Teams

The Navy football team's improvement this year is tied for the second-best turnaround in the country.

The Mids finished the 2002 campaign with a 2-10 record and improved to 8-5 this year, an improvement of 5.5 games (1/2 game for each win and 1/2 game for each loss).

Tulsa, who is on Navy's schedule next year, was the most improved team in the country, going from 1-11 to 8-5, an improvement of 6.5 games.

Navy Leads The Country In Rushing Offense For The Second Time In School History

The Mids led the nation in rushing in 2003, averaging 323.2 yards per game. It is just the second time in school history that Navy has led the country in rushing. The only other time was in 1999 when the Mids averaged 292.2 yards per game.

NCAA Leaders In Rushing Yards Per Game

1. Navy 323.23

2. Rice 316.67

3. Minnesota 289.15

4. Air Force 280.58

5. Arkansas 241.92

6. Missouri 237.46

7. Nebraska 235.62

8. Texas 232.54

9. Kansas State 228.60

10. Louisville 228.15

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 this year was 87-43 (.669). Nine of the top 10 teams finished with a winning record, with only Rice (5-7) having a losing record. Eight of the top 10 teams played in bowl games with only Air Force and Rice being left out. 12 of the top 13 rushing teams finished with winning records.

The bottom-10 rushing teams-BYU, Louisiana-Monroe, UCF, Michigan State, Stanford, Colorado, UCLA, Wyoming, Western Michigan and Army-finished with a combined record of 40-82 (.328). Only Michigan State finished with a winning record.

It's Another Navy First Down

Navy recorded a school-record 286 first downs this year and a school-record 220 first downs by rush. The previous records were 253 (1985) for overall first downs and 177 (1999) for first downs by rush.

Stingy In The First

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

Candeto Finishes Second All-Time For Career Rushing Touchdowns

Navy quarterback Craig Candeto's (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) two rushing touchdowns against Texas Tech increased his career total to 33, which places him second on Navy's career rushing touchdown list. Chris McCoy is the career record holder with an amazing 43 rushing touchdowns.

Candeto's 33 touchdowns also ties for the third most in school history for total touchdowns.

Candeto's 16 rushing touchdowns ties him for second on the list for most rushing touchdowns in a single season.

Candeto scored 198 points in his career, tied for the fourth most in school history.

Career Rushing Touchdown Leaders In School History

1. Chris McCoy (1995-97) 43

2. Craig Candeto (2001-03) 33

3. Napoleon McCallum (1981-85) 31

4. Joe Bellino (1958-60) 24

5. Cleveland Cooper (1972-74) 17

Brian Madden (1999, 2001) 17

Brian Broadwater (1998-00) 17

Career Touchdown Leaders In School History

1. Chris McCoy (1995-97) 44

2. Bill Ingram (1916-18) 34

3. Craig Candeto (2001-03) 33

Napoleon McCallum (1981-85) 33

5. Joe Bellino (1958-60) 31

Single-Season Rushing Touchdown Leaders In School History

1. Chris McCoy (1997) 20

2. Craig Candeto (2003) 16

Craig Candeto (2002) 16

Chris McCoy (1996) 16

5. Joe Bellino (1960) 15

Career Scoring

1. Chris McCoy (1995-97) 264

2. Bill Ingram (1916-18) 263

3. Napoleon McCallum (1981-85) 200

4. Craig Candeto (2000-03) 198

Joe Bellino (1958-60) 198

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.) finishes his career as 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 finished with 1,949 career rushing yards and 2,319 career passing yards 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 Finishes Sixth On All-Time Rushing List

Navy quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) finished sixth on the school's all-time rushing list with 1,949 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. Craig Candeto (2001-03) 1,949

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

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.) didn't complete a lot of passes in his career, but when he did complete one, it usually went for big yardage. Candeto completed 142 passes in his career for 2,319 yards. That averages out to 16.3 yards per completion, which is the third-best average in school history.

In 2003, Candeto completd 64 passes for 1,140 yards. That averages out to 17.8 yards per completion, which ranks as the best mark in school history for a single season

Candeto also averaged 7.9 yards per attempt in his career (2,319 yards on 294 attempts), which is the best average in school history and 8.7 yards per attempt this year (1,140 yards on 131 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) 17.8

2. Chris McCoy (1997) 17.4

3. Bob Leszczynski (1978) 16.6

Alton Grizzard (1989) 16.6

Career Average Yards Per Attempt

1. Craig Candeto (2001-03) 7.9

2. Brian Broadwater (1998-2000) 7.8

3. Chris McCoy (1995-97) 7.7

Roger Staubach (1962-64) 7.7

Single-Season Average Yards Per Attempt

1. Roger Staubach (1962) 9.9

2. Roger Staubach 1963) 9.2

3. Craig Candeto (2003) 8.7

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 rushed for 1,212 yards and threw for 1,140 yards on the season.

Candeto Careful With His Throws

Quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) was intercepted just 12 times in 294 career pass attempts or an average of .042 percent of the time which is tied for the third-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)

Craig Candeto (2001-03) 041 (12-of-294)

No Picks

Navy threw just six interceptions (five by Candeto and one by Aaron Polanco) this year which tied for second in the country for fewest interceptions thrown. Utah threw just five picks in 2003, while San Jose State joined Navy with six interceptions.

Rushing Touchdowns

Navy's 44 rushing touchdowns this year was the second most in the country. Only Minnesota, with 46, had more.

Candeto Responsible For A Lot Of Points

Quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) has been responsible for 294 points in his career (36 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) 294

3. Roger Staubach (1962-64) 216

4. Bill Byrne (1984-86) 214

Candeto Finishes Third For Single-Season Total Offense

Navy quarterback Craig Candeto (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) gained 2,252 yards of total offense this year on 402 plays, the third most total offense yards in school history for a single-season. Candeto's 402 plays also ranks third in a single-season.

Single-Season Total Offense

1. Chris McCoy (1997) 2,573

2. Jim Kubiak (1993) 2,496

3. Craig Candeto (2003) 2,252

4. Jim Kubiak (1994) 2,175

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 1,061 yards rushing and 922 yards receiving.

Roberts needs just 78 yards receiving next year to become the first player in Navy history to accomplish this feat.

Eric The Great

Junior slot back Eric Roberts (Miami, Fla.) made big play after big play in 2003. Roberts 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 is 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 finished with five touchdown catches on the year, which is the fifth most in school history. His seven career touchdown catches is the fifth most in school history.

Roberts has six career two-touchdown days, including four in 2003.

Touchdown Catches In A Season

1. Ryan Read (1998) 6

Chris Weiler (1984) 6

Phil McConkey (1978) 6

Rob Taylor (1967) 6

5. Eric Roberts (2003) 5

Touchdown Catches In A Career

1. Phil McConkey (1975-78) 13

Rob Taylor (1965-67) 13

3. Chris Weiler (1981-84) 8

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 in 2003 was 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 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.

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 carried the ball 236 times this year and 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

Napoleon McCallum (1983) 8

Eddie Meyers (1981) 8

4. Kyle Eckel (2003) 7

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 on the same team 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. Kyle Eckel (2003) 1,249

7. Chris McCoy (1996) 1,228

8. Craig Candeto (2003) 1,112

9. Cleveland Cooper (1972) 1,046

10. Eddie Meyers (1980) 957

Candeto's Rushing Total Ranks 19th in NCAA History For Rushing Yards By A Quarterback In A Single-Season

Navy quarterback Craig Candeto's (Sr./Orange City, Fla.) 1,112 yards rushing ranks as the 19th most in NCAA history for a quarterback. Candeto finished just three yards behind Nebraska's Eric Crouch who rushed for 1,115 yards in his Heisman Trophy winning year of 2001.

Candeto Finishes 10th 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 that he finished 10th this year on Navy's single-season passing yardage list. Candeto threw for 1,140 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. Craig Candeto (2003) 1,140

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 rushed for 1,449 yards on 148 carries (9.8 yards per carry) and 14 touchdowns (one every 10.6 carries). The slots were led on the ground by Eric Roberts (Jr./Miami, Fla) and Tony Lane (Sr./Wrens, Ga.). Roberts rushed for 630 yards and five touchdowns on 69 carries (9.1 yards per carry), while Lane rushed for 623 yards and five touchdowns on 48 carries (13.0 yards per carry).

The slots also proved dangerous through the air, catching 31 passes for 677 yards (21.8 yards per catch) and five touchdowns (one every 6.2 catches).

Roberts led the way with 20 catches for 493 yards (24.7 yards per catch) and five touchdowns.

All told, the slots touched the ball 179 times (rushing and receiving) and have gained 2,114 yards (11.8 yards per touch) and scored 18 touchdowns.

Lane And Roberts 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.) have shattered the school record for career yards per carry (minimum 100 attempts).

Lane averaged a school record 8.9 yards per carry in his career, rushing for 1,288 yards on 144 carries. Roberts, who still has another year to improve his average, is averaging 8.6 yards per carry in his career, rushing for 1,099 yards on 127 carries.

The previous school record was 5.7 yards per carry set by Bob Craig (1952-54), who rushed for 668 yards on 118 carries.

Career Rushing Yards Per Attempt

(minimum 100 attempts)

1. Tony Lane (2001-03) 8.9

2. Eric Roberts (2002-03) 8.6

3. Bob Craig (1952-54) 5.7

4. Joe Gattuso (1952-54) 5.5

5. Ned Oldham (1955-57) 5.2

Roberts Holds Career Record For Yards Per Catch; Ranks Twice On Single-Season List

Eric Roberts (Jr./Miami, Fla.) is the school record holder for yards per catch in a career and stands second and fourth in yards per catch in a season.

Roberts is averaging 24.9 yards per catch in his career, catching 37 passes for 920 yards. The previous record was 19.3 yards per catch by Jim Stewart (1960-62)

This year, Roberts had 20 catches for 493 yards (24.6 average), many 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 second 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 created at least one turnover in 19 of the last 20 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.) scored three rushing touchdowns on just 13 carries this year.

Turnovers Cause Losses

Over the last two years, Navy is 5-0 when it plays a game without committing a turnover and 5-15 when it turns the ball over at least once.

Go For It!

Navy was 18-of-34 (.529) on fourth down conversions this year.

Leading At The Half Is Key

Navy was 7-1 this year when leading at the half, 1-4 when trailing.