ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy sprint football team (2-0) travels to West Point, N.Y. to take on rival Army (2-0) on Friday evening at Michie Stadium as part of the Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. Live video and live stats will be available throughout the game.
 
All-Time Series
Navy holds the all-time series record, 48-38-1 (.557). The Midshipmen are 15-15-1 (.500) against the Black Knights in West Point.
 
Last season, the two teams met twice – both times in Annapolis – with Navy claiming both the Star and the CSFL Championship. In the Star Game, the Mids posted a 27-13 victory, while in the CSFL Championship game, the Midshipmen notched a 28-21 win.
 
The last time the two teams met in West Point, Navy recorded a 14-6 victory over the Black Knights.
 
The Star Series
Sprint football will be the second team competing for a Star during the 2023-24 academic year. Navy men's golf hosts Army on Thursday and Friday to mark the start of the 25 Army-Navy Star competitions played over the course of the academic year that determine the winner of the Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA. The annual showdown between the two rivals in each sport is deemed the Star Game/Match/Meet with the athletes from the winning team receiving a Star for their letter sweaters. For those sports who face Army multiple times in a season, the Star Game is designated prior to the start of the year.
 
While men's golf and sprint football compete for Stars this week, volleyball will also get it on the action this weekend. The volleyball team will play Saturday evening (7:00 p.m.) at West Point, however, it is NOT the Star Match. The two will meet again on Nov. 11 in Annapolis for the Star.
 
Navy leads the all-time overall series against Army, 1161-877-44 (.568), including a 177-115-2 (.603) mark over the last 10 years. Additionally, the Mids own a 127-71-2 (.640) advantage in the Star Series over the last 10 years. In 2021-22, Navy had unprecedented success in both the Star and overall series, posting a 20-4 (.833) mark in Star competitions and a 27-9 record in overall contests against Army. Last year, Navy recorded a 14-10 record in Star competitions and a 20-19 overall mark.
 
Bailey Tabbed CSFL Defensive Player of the Week
The CSFL announced its weekly award winners and Navy's Andrew Bailey was selected as Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts last weekend in a 45-0 victory over Mansfield. Bailey anchored a Navy defense that posted its first shutout of the year. He led the team with six tackles, including four solo stops in the shutout of the Mountaineers potent offense. The Annapolis native registered 1.5 tackles for loss, including combining on a sack. The junior had two special teams tackles during the game. All four of his tackles recorded on defense were for two yards or less, including combining for a sack and posting a solo tackle for loss.
 
2023 Team Captains
Navy sprint football head coach Major Alfonso Meidus, USMC announced that rising seniors Liam Brown and Nadir Emlemdi will be team captains for the 2023 campaign. Brown will serve as the offensive captain, while Emlemdi will captain the defense. The duo both earned First Team All-Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSF) last season.
 
Sprint Football Tradition
The Navy sprint football team has 39 Collegiate Sprint Football League championships (32 outright) in the program's 77-year history – the most among any school in league history. The team boasts an all-time winning percentage of .836 with an all-time record of 395-74-9.
 
Last Time vs. Army (Nov. 13, 2022 – CSFL Championship)
For the second consecutive season, Navy defeated rival Army in the CSFL Championship to cap off an undefeated season and win the League title. The Midshipmen posted a 28-21 victory over the Black Knights at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
 
Tied 21-21 with two minutes remaining, senior offensive captain Alex Totta took a pitch on an option and scampered 41 yards into the end zone to give the Mids a lead that they would not relinquish.
 
The two teams played nearly even offensively with Navy finishing with 320 total yards of offense compared to 321 by Army. The Midshipmen churned out 219 yards on the ground with 101 yards through the air, while the Black Knights finished with 171 yards on the ground and 150 through the air.
 
Totta finished the game with 193 yards rushing, giving the senior 1,113 for the season. Totta found the end zone twice on day, including the game-winning 41-yard touchdown rush.
 
Brandon Atwood finished the game 13-for-23 for 101 yards and a touchdown. The junior protected the football, tucking and running for 17 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Andrew Margiotta was Atwood's primary target, finishing with six receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown. Jake Smith and Totta rounded out Navy's top three receivers with 35 and 12 yards, respectively.
 
Defensively, Paul Kuehler led the way with 10 total tackles. Jack Costigan and Chris Whiteman added nine stops apiece. Defensive team captain Jordan Richard added five tackles, including a sack for seven yards. Dante Carrasco intercepted a pass, while adding a pass breakup. Trent Parker and Grant Wilson also added pass breakups, while Devyn Martin forced a fumble.