ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The sprint football team opens up the 2018 season on the road against Franklin Pierce at Sodexo Field in Rindge, N.H. The Midshipmen and Ravens officially kick off at 12:00 p.m. Live stats and a video only stream will be available during the game.
 
New Coach
The game will be the first under first-year head coach Captain Jason Dewald, USMC. The Mansfield, Ohio native became the 31st head coach in the program's history, taking over for Major Jeff Polson, USMC, who went 17-5 over his three years as head coach.
 
Dewald graduated from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio in 2007 receiving his bachelor's degree in history. He played two years of football at Baldwin Wallace on the offensive line. After suffering an injury, Dewald was selected to be a student coach for the junior varsity team for two seasons, serving as the offensive line and co-offensive coordinator for the JV team. During his time as a student coach, the junior varsity team went 13-3. In 2008, he received a commission in the United States Marine Corps.
 
Captains
This season, Navy will be led by a pair of senior captains – Dane Livengood (Treynor, Iowa) and Sheppard Wilson (Charlotte, N.C.). Livengood, a 2016 Honorable Mention All-CSFL selection, will serve as the offensive captain, while Wilson, who is also the captain of the captains for the Midshipmen, will be the defensive representative. Wilson earned First Team All-CSFL honors las season.
 
Season Recap
The 2017 sprint football finished the year 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the Collegiate Sprint Football League – South Division. Navy hosted Penn for the CSFL South Title, however, the Mids fell to the Quakers, 28-23, to finish second in the division.
 
The Navy sprint football team had 13 different players earn All-Collegiate Sprint Football League accolades, including four players named First Team All-CSFL and a pair named to the second team. In addition, the Midshipmen had seven players named honorable mention All-CSFL.
 
Navy's offense ranked first in the league in rushing (187.6 yards/game), first downs (20.1 avg/g), and fourth down conversions (.556). In addition, the Midshipmen offense was second in the CSFL in total offense (359.5 avg/g) and scoring offense (36.2 avg/g).
 
Defensively, Navy was first in the CSFL in passing defense (126.4 avg/g), while ranking second in total defense (192.0 avg/g), rushing defense (65.6 avg/g), and interceptions (9.7 avg/g). The Mids were third in the CSFL in scoring defense (14.1 avg/g) and sacks (2.5 avg/g). Three of Navy's six victories on the season were shutouts. In those wins, the Midshipmen outscored their opponents 144-0.
 
Navy was second in field goals made (33) and PAT kicking made (33). Kicker Jared Swenson (Seymour, Wis.) was first in the CSFL in field goals (11) and field goal percentage (.647), while ranking second in the league scoring (8.2 pts/g) and PAT kicking percentage (.971).
 
Series
Navy leads the all-time series with Franklin Pierce, 4-1. The two teams have met every season since 2013. The Mids won the first two games of the series before the Ravens posted an 18-16 victory in Annapolis. The Midshipmen responded with back-to-back victories the last two season, including the only shutout (W, 33-0) in the series a year ago. Navy has outscored Franklin Pierce, 171-61, in five games.
 
Last Time vs. Franklin Pierce (Sept. 30, 2017)
In the first home game of the season, the Navy sprint football team posted a 33-0 shutout over Franklin Pierce at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium thanks to a tremendous defensive effort. The Mids' defense limited the Ravens to 82 yards of total offense and held FPU to just five first downs on the day.
 
The defensive effort was led Sheppard Wilson (Charlotte, N.C.) who tallied eight tackles, including seven solo stops. He was joined by Troy Monroe (Columbus, Ga.), Dean Rye (Fairfax, Va.), and Nick Haslam (Roanoke, Texas) who each added five tackles apiece. Luke Coughlin (Islip, N.Y.) led the team with two tackles for loss, including a sack, while Monroe and Tommy Guinan (Emhurst, Ill.) each contributed a TFL. Monroe and Rye each got their hands on a Franklin Pierce punt, while Monroe was credited with a pair of quarterback hurries.
 
Offensively, the Mids tallied 347 total yards, including a season-high 215 passing yards. Starting quarterback Brandon Coleman (Yonkers, N.Y.) finished the game 10-for-17 for 144 yards and a touchdown. He was relieved by Braydan Chmiel (Warrenton, Mo.) who was 5-of-8 for 71 yards and a rushing TD.
 
The Midshipmen saw 11 different players make at least one reception in the game. Jay Cooke (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) led the team with 73 yards on three receptions. J.T. Thompson (Stratham, N.H.) made one reception – a 19-yard touchdown catch in the first half.
 
On the ground, Brian McLaughlin (Melrose, Mass.) paced the rushing attack that saw 10 different players with at least one carry. He tallied 40 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns from his fullback position. Coleman was second on the team with 30 yards on 10 touches.
 
Jared Swenson (Seymour, Wis.) was perfect on the day, connection on a pair of field goals and three extra points for nine points.