Sept. 13, 2009
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Led by a career-high 20 tackles by linebacker Tyler Hawkins (Sr./Canyon Country, Calif.), the Navy sprint football team defeated Salisbury JV, 21-13, in its season opener on Sunday afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
Hawkins led the defense in containing Salisbury's option offense to minimal gains throughout the contest. Fellow Navy linebacker Viet Vo (Jr./Hoover, Ala.) delivered 11 tackles, two for a loss with a sack, while defensive back Mike Nolan (Jr./Carmichael, Calif.) produced 12 stops and one key tackle that does not reflect in the statistics.
"Today was a huge day for Tyler," stated Navy head coach Maj. Jake Jenkins, USMC, who improved his career record to 14-0. "When playing against an option offense, everybody has to remain disciplined to avoid big plays. Tyler was in position to make plays and did so when called upon."
Facing an offensive line that averaged 90-plus pounds more than the Mids, Navy's defense held the Sea Gulls to 199 yards rushing on 60 carries.
"It was a real physical game and everybody played tough throughout," said Jenkins. "Our defense remained disciplined during the entire game, which is key against the option."
Navy opened the scoring with 7:26 left in the first quarter, as Tyler Terronez (Jr./Mechanicsburg, Pa.) found Eric Montgomery (Sr./Willoughby, Ohio) for a 47-yard touchdown pass to make the score 7-0. After Salisbury scored a touchdown on its ensuing drive, the Midshipmen immediately answered with a 60-yard touchdown pass from Terronez to JoJo Catrini (Jr./Norcross, Ga.) to retake the lead, 14-7.
The Sea Gulls came back with a methodical 13-play, 76-yard touchdown drive on the next possession to pull with one at 14-13. On the extra-point attempt, Navy's defense swarmed in front of the kicker and the holder was brought down by Nolan to preserve the slim advantage going into the half.
"Penetration was the key on disrupting their point-after try," said Jenkins. "Mike made the big play in bringing down the holder to not allow him to get around on the perimeter."
Both teams' defenses would step up their play in the second half, as Salisbury was limited to 104 yards of total offense, while Navy was contained to just 57 yards. However, the Midshipmen were able to stay in front of the field position battle, as they forced the Sea Gulls to start five of their seven second-half drives inside their own 30.
The score would remain knotted at 14-13 until late in the fourth quarter, as Navy took advantage of starting its drive on Salisbury's 41 yard line. Following a 17-yard run by Jordan Foley (So./Butler, Pa.), Foley was called on again and reached the end zone from 16 yards out to push the lead to eight at 21-13.
Salisbury would make things interesting on its next possession, as two first-down passes brought the ball into Navy territory. With under a minute remaining, defensive back Brad Erickson (Sr./Lake Forest, Ill.) picked off a pass on the 16 yard line to quell the scoring threat.
The Sea Gulls forced a Navy three-and-out and used all three of its timeouts to get the ball back with just 17 seconds running off the clock, but Navy's Stephen Phillips (Sr./Barhamsville, Va.) uncorked a 75-yard punt that pinned Salisbury deep in its own territory, following an illegal block penalty. With one final chance inside its own 10 yard line, Navy defensive lineman Tom Hayes (Sr./Ballston Lake, N.Y.) came up with a sack to end the game.
Terronez finished the game 12-of-23 passing for 177 yards, 153 of which came in the first half, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Catrini posted career highs with seven receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's win.
Running back Nate Stewart (Sr./Fitzgerald, Ga.) churned out 70 yards on 19 carries to lead Navy's rushing attack.
The Midshipmen will close out their non-league portion of the season next Sunday when they travel to St. Vincent JV in Latrobe, Pa. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
