Final Stats

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy sprint football team used a suffocating defensive effort to walk away from Friday night's contest at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium with a 43-9 victory over Mansfield. The Mids (5-1) held the Mountaineers (0-5) to just 41 yards over the first 53 minutes of a play before a late 74-yard touchdown drive got the visiting team over the 100-yard threshold and into the end zone for the first time all game. On the other side of the ball, a strong all-around game with 224 all-purpose yards by Brendon Clements (Sr., Miami, Fla.) helped lead the Mids to the victory.

"This was a good win versus a talented Mansfield team," remarked Navy head coach Major Jeff Polson, USMC. "While the win is a good outcome, it was a very sloppy executed game. We turned the ball over four times and extended multiple drives on the defensive side of the ball with penalties. The turnovers either took points off the board for us or set up our opponent with a short field. We've got a lot to work on in that aspect."

Statistically, Clements highlighted Navy's offensive attack with 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. The senior running back added 106 yards on special teams with 93 yards on two kickoff returns and 13 more via punt returns. The Mids also received 75 all-purpose yards from junior running back Mac Lavis (Orinda, Calif.). Lavis rushed for 61 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, while making one catch for 14 yards and a touchdown, as well. Quarterback Nick Deterding (Sr., Lindsborg, Kan.) finished with 41 passing yards and a touchdown throw, in addition to 26 yards rushing.

"Offensively, our running game was strong throughout and came through when we needed it to," said Polson. "Brendon was all over the place and found quite a bit of success. When Brendon needed a breather, Mac came in and changed up our look with a really tough, physical downhill style. Both players succeeded due to a sustained strong push from our offensive line. Our front five cleared open a lot of space tonight. I'm very pleased with our running attack tonight."

Defensively, the Mids' starting 11 was stellar throughout the game with a variety of strong performances. Alex Oldham (Jr., Dayton, Ohio) and Eric Garmoe (Jr., Arlington Heights, Ill.) came up with the flashiest statlines of the night for Navy as Oldham made six tackles, one sack and returned a fumble for a touchdown, while Garmoe was credited with five stops, three tackles for loss and one forced fumble. As a team, the Mids' defense tallied five sacks for a loss of 40 yards and five more tackles for loss for an additional 12 yards. In addition to Oldham and Garmoe, Troy Monroe (Fr., Columbus, Ga.), Bryant Schlade (Jr., Napoleon, Ohio), Nick Abramson (Sr., Walnut Creek, Calif.), Drew Dziwulski (Sr., Woodbine, Md.) and Chuck Winston (Fr., Phoenix, Ariz.) all were credited with full or partial sacks versus Mansfield. The defensive backfield also thwarted Mansfield with eight pass breakups.

"On defensive, our starters did an outstanding job," remarked Polson. "They only let up three points and even then, that field goal came on a short field. To hold Mansfield well under 100 yards into the fourth quarter was excellent. When pressure situations arose, they buckled down and limited Mansfield's offense.

"I was a little disappointed with our number twos [backups] at the end. While they got important game reps, they played a bit undisciplined and struggled to get Mansfield off the field during a nearly seven-minute drive. That's something that they will definitely learn from moving forward and will be a helpful experience to look back on."

Navy got on the scoreboard first at the 4:04 mark of the opening quarter with a three-yard Clements touchdown run. The scoring drive came after a strong George Skinner (So., Varnville, S.C.) 43-yard punt drastically changed the field position game and set Mansfield back to its own six-yard line. After a mere nine yards and 22-yard punt by the Mounties' Paul Harrison, the Mids were in business at the 37-yard line.

Navy's defense put its stamp on the first quarter action by forcing three straight three-and-outs to open the game and then a brief four-and-out on Mansfield's fourth drive.

The visiting Mountaineers eventually broke through in the early part of the second quarter when a short field following a Midshipmen turnover set up an eventual 32-yard field goal conversation by Paul Harrison at 12:25.

A Navy field goal by Jules Murphy (Sr., Easton, Mass.) from 23 yards out on the next drive put the host's lead back out to a seven-point margin at 10-3 with 8:50 remaining in the period.

Another three-and-out was forced by Navy's defense with a 13-yard sack for a loss by Garmoe highlighting the stand. Following a 13-yard punt return by Clements, the Mids quickly navigated 34 yards and found pay dirt when Deterding completed a pass to Lavis on the edge where the running back tip-toed his way into the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown at 4:11.

The final points of the first half were put on the scoreboard by Oldham when the junior linebacker picked up a loose ball and streaked away down the sidelines for a 55-yard fumble return for a touchdown at 2:10. On the play, Mansfield's LeRon Strothers was stood up by a stout Navy defensive front and Garmoe got his hand on the ball to force the fumble.

Up 23-3 at the half, Navy was outgaining Mansfield, 107 to 39 yards with a 66 to five lead in rushing yardage.

Ahead by 20 points, the Mids extended their lead in third quarter at 4:45 on a Lavis 11-yard touchdown run. The brief two-play, 20-yard drive was set up by a shifty and explosive 40-yard punt return by Patrick McMahan (Windermere, Fla.).

With the game well in hand at 29-3 going into the fourth quarter, Navy locked up the victory with two more touchdowns in the final stanza. The two-headed running back attack of Clements and Lavis marched the Mids down the field for the first score as the duo rushed for 70 of the 76 total yards. Clements garnered the touchdown with a powerful two-yard rush at 10:45. On the next Navy possession, a Jon Saadey (Fr., Canfield, Ohio) to Miles Whitlow (So., Clemens, Ala.) pass-and-catch connection from 25 yards out gave Navy a 43-3 advantage at 7:38.

Mansfield finally notched its first touchdown of the game on its final drive after running 13 plays and gaining 74 yards over 6:53 of action. 15-yard penalties by the Midshipmen's second-string defense on a third-and-8 and a then fourth-and-9 extended the Mountaineers' drive and helped facilitate the score.

In the 43-9 victory, Navy outgained Mansfield, 277 to 115 yards and had a 200-yard advantage (207-7) in rushing. The Mids' special teams return duo of Clements and McMahan was potent on Friday night with 166 yards on seven combined punt and kick returns.

"We now have two solid weeks to work and game plan for Army," said Polson. "Both teams have an off-week so I'm sure they'll be doing just as much prep as we are so we'll have to hit the grind stone and do our best to outwork them in every facet. They have a diverse offense so game planning for what we will see will be very important."

Navy will be off from action next weekend as the team receives a bye in its schedule. The team's final regular season CSFL game will be on Friday, Nov. 4 with a home matchup versus their rivals from West Point, Army. Kickoff for the 2016 Star Game is slated for 7 p.m. at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.