WATERBURY, Conn. – The Navy sprint football team (6-1) recorded a 38-7 victory on the road against Post (1-6) on Saturday afternoon at LaMoy Field in Waterbury, Conn. to close out the 2018 regular season. The Midshipmen will now take on Army West Point in the second annual Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) Championship game next weekend, hosted by St. Thomas Aquinas College on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 6:00 p.m. in Hillburn, N.Y.
"I am extremely proud of the team finishing out the regular season strong,"
Major Jason Dewald, USMC said after the game. "Now, we shift all of the focus to the CSFL Championship game and getting the team ready both physically and mentally. It has been the goal all season to play the last game of the year. We are excited for the opportunity to play in the championship."
Navy's offense outgained Post, 422-to-250, including a 243-to-93 advantage in the run game.
Caleb Champion (Milton, Fla.) went over 100 yards in the game, netting 105 rushing yards with a touchdown.
Braydan Chmiel (Warrenton, Mo.) rushed for 61 yards and a TD, while
Kaleb Bodily (Logandale, Nev.) notched 56 yards and a score.
The Midshipmen used three quarterbacks to combine for 179 passing yards. Chmiel finished 7-for-10 for 125 and two touchdowns, while
Walt Fagan (Rock Hill, S.C.) was 3-for-8 for 37 yards.
Jacob Hudson (Wilmington, Del.) completed his only pass attempt, connecting with
Dane Livengood (Treynor, Iowa) for 17 yards. Livengood finished as the top receiver, catching a team-high four passes for a team-best 108 yards and two touchdowns.
J.T. Thompson (Stratham, N.H.) added three receptions on the day.
Defensively,
Dean Rye (Fairfax, Va.) and
Gavin O'Donnell (Greenfield Township, Pa.) paced the team with eight tackles each. The duo finished with six solo stops each. O'Donnell led the team with 2.5 tackles for loss, including 2.5 of Navy's three sacks. Rye joined
Nick Scalise (Fayetteville, Ark.) with a TFL each, while
Shawn Kluchinsky (Abingdon, Md.) joined O'Donnell on a sack.
Miles Whitlow (Madison, Ala.) picked up his second interception in as many games for the only turnover for the Navy defense.
Navy was the first team to score, making short work of its first possession. After obtaining the ball via a punt, Champion rushed 73 yards to the end zone on the Midshipmen's first play from scrimmage.
Jared Swenson (Seymour, Wis.) added the extra point and Navy led 7-0 with 11:21 remaining in the first quarter. The Mids used a 25-yard field goal from Swenson to cap a 10-play 62-yard drive with 24 ticks on the clock in the first quarter to lead 10-0.
In the second quarter, Livengood put the Midshipmen up 24-0 with a pair of touchdown receptions. With 7:26 remaining in the half, Livengood caught a five-yard strike from Chmiel for his first score of the day. Seventy-seven seconds later, Chmiel and Livengood connected once again for a 65-yard pitch and catch for a score. Post scored with nine seconds remaining in the second quarter to end scoreless streak of 269 minutes and 35 seconds against Navy.
In the second half, Navy worked the clock scoring a touchdown in both the third and fourth quarters, while pitching a shutout on defense. Chmiel called his own number for a six-yard run to cap a 56-yard drive in the third quarter. In the fourth, Bodily ended a 10-play drive with a two-yard plunge into the end zone. Swenson's kicks were true, giving the Midshipmen a 38-7 victory.
Navy returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 10, at 6:00 p.m. as the Midshipmen take on Army West Point in the CSFL Championship game. The game will be hosted by St. Thomas Aquinas College in Hillburn, N.Y. Admission to the game is $10.
