Memphis Edges Navy, 10-7, in Defensive Slugfest
ANNAPOLIS, Md.—Riley Paterson's 26-yard field goal with 10:53 remaining gave Memphis (6-2, 4-2 in the AAC) a hard fought 10-7 American Athletic Conference victory over Navy (3-5, 3-3) on Saturday night at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
Memphis won the game despite its 10
th ranked offense being held to a season low 280 yards, including just 205 yards through the air by a gritty Navy defense. Memphis entered the game averaging 517.9 yards of total offense, including 342.4 yards per game through the air. Memphis start quarterback Brady White was held to 18 of 32 passing.
"We are just too sporadic on offense," said Niumatalolo. "We played bad (on offense). You can't turn the ball over. We threw a pick at the end of the half, fumbled a snap, we just aren't operating right now. There is not much we can hang our hat on. Give Memphis credit, they had a great plan and played hard. Our defense was lights out and gave us chances to win the game. I am really proud of them."
Navy jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter thanks to a fake punt called by Navy head coach
Ken Niumatalolo.
The Mids were facing a fourth and one from its own 26 and snapped the ball to upback
J'arius Warren who rumbled for 24 yards to the 50-yard line. Four plays later,
Nelson Smith ran right up the middle for a 22-yard touchdown run to give the Mids the early lead.
Memphis immediately answered with a six-play, 79-yard drive on its next possession to tie the game at seven on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Brady White to Calvin Austin III.
Navy had a chance to take the lead late in the first half, driving to the Memphis 17-yard line with 1:30 left in the half, but starting quarterback
Tyger Goslin threw late to his receiver on third down and the pass was intercepted by Memphis defensive back Quindell Johnson to end the drive.
Meanwhile, the Memphis offense could do nothing against the Navy defense. Memphis gained 0 yards on its three possessions after its lone touchdown and on the drive they did gain yards, Navy defensive back
Jamal Glenn stripped wide receiver Tahj Washington after a 28-yard reception and the fumble was recovered by
Derek Atwaters to end the drive and send the two teams into the locker room tied at seven.
Freshman quarterback
Xavier Arline came on in relief of Goslin with 3:56 left in the third quarter and was putting together a potential scoring drive thanks to four consecutive carries by Smith that picked up 31 yards, but on first and 10 from the Memphis 43 Arline fumbled the snap and Cole Mashburn recovered.
The Tigers promptly took advantage of the miscue, driving 46 yards on nine plays. The big play on the drive was a holding call on a third down pass that fell incomplete.
Instead of forcing Memphis to go for it on fourth and five, the penalty gave the Tigers an automatic first down. On the next play, White hit Sean Dykes for 19 yards down to the Navy 10 and set up Paterson's game-winning field goal.
Navy had one more chance to tie or take the lead. Smith, who rushed for a game-high 142 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries, carried the ball four consecutive times for 27 yards to move the ball to the Memphis 48.
Arline picked up four yards on third and six and six yards on fourth and two to move the ball to the Memphis 36.
After Smith picked up six yards on first down, he was held to no yards on second and four and picked up two yards on third and four.
On fourth and two from the Memphis 28 with 4:42 remaining and no timeouts left, Niumatalolo elected to send on sophomore kicker
Bijan Nichols for a 45-yard field goal. Nichols, who has been a clutch kicker for the Mids over his first two years including making three game-winning field goals, missed wide right and the Mids would not get the ball back until there were 12 seconds left on the clock.
Navy plays host to #24 Tulsa next Saturday on Senior Day. The Mids have not lost on Senior Day since 2002.
Memphis, who is still alive to play in the conference championship game, is at Tulane next Saturday.
