ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy sprint football team (3-1) posted a 35-19 victory over Caldwell on Friday evening at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Quarterback
Brandon Atwood was responsible for three touchdowns, while running back
Victor Otero rushed for a pair of scores in the victory.
"Our biggest thing all week was making sure we didn't lose heart after a loss last week," head coach
Major Alfonso Meidus, USMC said after the game. "I am proud of the guys. They came out and played hard. Caldwell is a really physical team. They are tough and have weapons in the running back, the receivers. We are happy to get out of here with a win. Hats off to Caldwell and their coaching staffing. They were really well prepared."
"We had too many turnovers," Meidus added. "We also had too many trips to the red zone with no points."
Offensively, the Midshipmen combined for 431 total yards of offense, rushing for 247 yards and passing for 184 yards. The Mids were intercepted once, while losing a fumble. Defensively, the Mids held the Cougars to 243 total yards, including 134 on the ground and 109 through the air. Navy caused a pair of fumbles, recovering one, while also intercepting a pair of passes. The Mids tallied 14 points off of turnovers, while allowing 10 points off of miscues.
Atwood finished 15-for-20 for 184 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while rushing for 65 yards and a TD. Otero led the rushing attack for the Mids with 105 yards on 19 carries and a pair of scores.
Andrew Margiotta led the team with 92 yards receiving on a team-high six catches.
Jobe Long finished with four receptions for 31 yards and a touchdown, while
Chris Stumpf added a pair of catches for 66 yards and a TD reception.
Jack Costigan led the team with eight tackles, while
Tyler Cox added seven stops. Costigan picked off a Caldwell pass, while Cox recovered a fumble that was forced by
Simon Burger.
Seamas Carrasco picked off a pass in the end zone, returning the interception 23 yards. Navy finished with two sacks with
David Niski and
Mick Tabor each registering a sack.
Navy was the first team to score, scratching the scoreboard with 10:29 remaining in the second quarter. Atwood capped a four-play 52-yard drive by calling his own number and scampering for 31 yards to put the Midshipmen in front, 7-0. Caldwell answered with an eight-yard touchdown pass following a Navy turnover that left the visitors with a short field. The Mids scored back-to-back touchdowns in the final two minutes of the second quarter. Atwood connected with Stumpf for 54 yards and a touchdown to regain the lead with 1:39 remaining in the quarter. Less than a minute later, Atwood found Long for a 16-yard score to push the advantage to 21-7 with 51 ticks remaining on the clock. Caldwell used the 51 seconds that remained in the first half to move 52 yards down the field, closing the half with a 39-yard field goal to trim Navy's lead to 21-10.
In the third quarter, the Cougars were able to add a 31-yard field goal to close the margin to one score, 21-13.
Otero scored the first of his two touchdowns to open the fourth quarter. The senior capped a six-play, 35-yard drive with a two-yard plunge into checkerboard end zone with 13:45 remaining in regulation. Three and a half minutes later, Caldwell found the end zone on a 14-yard touchdown run. The Cougars' two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the game with the Mids in front, 28-19. The Midshipmen took 3:27 off of the clock on the ensuing drive, going 61 yards on six plays for a touchdown. Otero capped the drive with a 32-yard rush to provide the final margin of 35-19.
Navy returns to action next week as the Midshipmen host Chestnut Hill at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Friday, Oct. 20. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live stats will be available.
