ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy sprint football team opens the 2021 season on the road as the Midshipmen travel to Torne Valley Sports Complex in Hillburn, N.Y. to take on St. Thomas Aquinas. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18 and live video will be available.
New Head Coach
Naval Academy Director of Athletics
Chet Gladchuk announced that
Major Alfonso Meidus, USMC has been appointed head coach of the Navy sprint football program. Meidus becomes the 32nd head coach in the program's history.
A 2009 graduate of the Naval Academy, Meidus was a member of the Navy sprint football team from 2005 to 2008, helping the Midshipmen win the CSFL Championship in 2005, 2007, and 2008. During his tenure as a player, Navy was a perfect 8-0 against Army, including four Star victories.
2021 Team Captains
Navy sprint football head coach
Major Alfonso Meidus, USMC announced that seniors
Mike Garnett (Dallas, Texas) and
Matthew McGee (Port Charlotte, Fla.) will be team captains for the 2021 campaign. Garnett will serve as the defensive captain, while McGee will captain the offense.
All-Time Series
The game between St. Thomas Aquinas and Navy will mark the second meeting between the two teams. The Midshipmen opened the 2019 campaign with a 42-17 victory over the Spartans in Annapolis. The Mids went on to go 7-1 on the year, winning the division, and advancing to the Collegiate Sprint Football League championship game.
2020 Season in Review
Due to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Navy sprint football team was able to play just one game against rival Army in 2020. The Mids were edged in a defensive battle, 7-3.
Last Time vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (Sept. 13, 2019)
Navy opened up the 2019 season with a 42-17 victory over St. Thomas Aquinas at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The Midshipmen recovered a Spartan fumble on the first play from scrimmage and returned it 14 yards for a touchdown and never looked back cruising to the 25-point win.
Offensively, the Mids were able to tally 370 total yards, while holding the Spartans to 144 yards. Navy rushed for 257 yards, while holding STAC to -17 yards on the ground. St. Thomas Aquinas held a slight 161-113 advantage in passing yards.
Matthew McGee (Port Charlotte, Fla.) led the ground attack for the Midshipmen. He rushed for 96 yards on 16 carries and his first collegiate touchdown. McGee averaged six yards per touch and broke a career-long 25-yard run. He was joined by
Jacob Hudson ('21) who finished with 70 yards rushing, while quarterbacks
Jake Foss ('21) and
Braydan Chmiel ('21) each scored TDs on the ground.
Chmiel earned the start at quarterback for the Midshipmen. He finished 6-for-18 for 69 yards with a touchdown and a pair of interceptions in just over a half of play. Foss entered the game in the second half, finishing 7-for-10 for 44 yards with a touchdown and an INT.
Jay Cooke ('20) led the team with four receptions while J.T. Thompson ('20) and
Eric Spicer ('21) paced the team with 37 and 35 yards receiving, respectively. Spicer and Thompson each came down with touchdown receptions in the game.
Defensively, Navy was led by
Luke Kustra ('21) and Luis Castillo ('20) who finished with nine tackles apiece. Kustra paced the team with 4.0 tackles for loss, including a team-high 1.5 sacks. David Postma ('20) returned a fumble 14 yards for a touchdown, while Troy Monroe ('20) and
Adam Weissenfels (Richland, Wash.) each recorded interceptions.
