Sept. 5, 2008
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy sprint football team will begin its 2008 campaign this Sunday when it hosts Catholic JV on Rip Miller Field. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
There is no admission charge to each of Navy's home games this season and a free shuttle service to the Academy from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium will be provided. Fans are reminded that there is a $5 fee to park their vehicles at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
2008 SEASON PREVIEW
No other sprint football program has enjoyed the amount of success that Navy has achieved throughout its 62-year history. The Midshipmen have won a CSFL-record 32 league titles - 25 of which were outright - and boast an .822 all-time winning percentage. Last season, Navy continued that tradition by winning the CSFL crown with a perfect 6-0 overall record and 4-0 mark in league play. After guiding the Mids in his first season last fall, Maj. Jake Jenkins, USMC will look to continue the tradition of excellence in 2008, as 46 letterwinners and 15 starters return from last year.
Quarterbacks
For the first time since 2003, Navy will return its starting quarterback from the previous season and it could not have welcomed a better one back. D.J. Green, elected as this year's offensive team captain, earned CSFL MVP honors last season after he completed 58-of-103 passes (56.3 percent) for 853 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions. With his legs, he led the league with seven rushing touchdowns and gained 179 yards on 45 carries. Jon DeWitt was also effective in his spot start against Army last season in the Allegiance Bowl, as he threw and rushed for a touchdown in a 30-17 win.
Running Backs
The running game returns many key elements from a group that led the CSFL with 267.0 yards per game last fall. Two-year starter Enrique Harris finished third in the league with 384 yards on 68 carries with three touchdowns last season. Harris has chalked up 910 yards during his first-three years with an average of 6.5 yards every time he rushes. Nate Stewart will look to start this fall after a sophomore year in which he gained 246 yards on 31 carries with two scores. Steve Benson and Zach Newhouse could also see some time out of the backfield. Benson ran for 213 yards on just 19 attempts with three touchdowns in 2007, while Newhouse rushed three times for seven yards.
Receivers
Navy's quarterbacks will have several solid options to choose from with its receiving corps, as several players that saw significant action last year return in 2008. Two-year starter Tommy Tellson will once again be a major contributor, as he caught 13 passes for 180 yards with a score last season. Nash Bagby, Brad Cash and JoJo Catrini will all see time and compete for a starting spot. Bagby caught nine balls for 147 yards with two touchdowns, while Cash made six catches for 85 yards with a score and Catrini hauled in one pass for 22 yards. Logan Coffey will also be in the mix, as he has spent each of the past-three seasons competing with the football team.
At tight end, Karl Motoyama and Gaetano Bettinelli have both significant playing experience and will shoulder much of the load. Motoyama caught 10 balls for 153 yards with a touchdown last year, while Bettinelli hauled in three passes for 51 yards with a score.
Offensive Line
Much of the success Navy's offense has sustained can and should also be attributed to the stellar play of its offensive line. This year, three all-league starters return to anchor a line that paved the way for the CSFL's best offense (455.3 yards per game). Michael Bosworth and Jeff Schuele both have been recognized as all-league linemen twice during their career, while Drew Cecil was a first-team selection one season ago. Ryan Marko and Mark Capansky are both strong options that could step up and earn a starting role in 2008. Joe Travers played in four games last year, while newcomers Michael Bressler and Matthew Clyncke could see some time.
Defensive Line
Navy's defensive line stopped opposing offenses in their tracks on several occasions in 2007, evidenced by 177 rushing yards allowed all year and 16 sacks. This year, the Midshipmen will turn to two-time first-team all-league member Justin Nabozna to lead the way. Among his 69 career tackles, 19 have come in the backfield. Last season, he led the team in tackles for loss for a second-straight year, including at least one in five of the six contests. Kyle Hayhurst also saw some starting duty last fall and led the team with two fumble recoveries. K.C. Middleton and Tom Hayes both could both work their way into a starting role, with Luke Pye contending for time.
Linebackers
Perhaps the strongest area of Navy's defense from a season ago welcomes back all three of its starters. Defensive team captain Brian Smith, a two-time all-league linebacker, finished second on the team with 35 tackles, 3.5 of which were for a loss. He was second only to fellow linebacker Tyler Hawkins, who produced 54 stops, 3.5 for a loss, an interception, two pass breakups, a fumble forced and a fumble recovery. Chris Combellick ranked third among the Mids with 30 tackles, 3.5 for a loss and picked off two passes in starting every game last fall. Emery Persinger should see significant playing time after impressive the coaching staff with 26 tackles - fourth-best on the team - including 3.0 stops in the opponent's backfield. Cartwright Hall delivered 10 stops during his rookie year, while classmate Viet Vo also saw some action in 2007.
Defensive Backs
The Midshipmen secondary smothered opposing receivers and gave quarterbacks very few options in 2007, indicated by a 42.1 completion percentage with only four touchdowns and 15 interceptions. James Campbell will serve as the catalyst of this year's back four, as teams that took chances against the two-time all-league defensive back were picked off three times and had three other passes swatted away. At cornerback, Andrew Wright intercepted a pass last year and returned it for a touchdown while Jarred Tate broke up three passes and totaled 13 tackles on the year. Mike Nolan will compete for the starting job at strong safety after making 11 stops during his freshman season. Nick Pretty alongside freshmen Zzmarr Stone and Ryan Hilgendorf will also contribute for the Mids in 2008.
Kickers
Navy's kicking game has proven to be another area of strength and the coaching staff expects the same in 2008. David Reifenberg, a two-time first-team all-league kicker, set a school record with 37 extra points made last fall and tied the program mark with three field goals made in a win over Army. He connected on 7-of-12 field goals, was perfect from within 30 yards and booted through a 45-yard attempt at Frostburg State JV. Stephen Phillips had five of his 20 punts land inside the 20 in 2007, including one that was fair caught. He also doubled as Navy's primary kickoff specialist, averaging 52.6 yards per kickoff.
