ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy sprint football team (1-0) welcomes Mansfield (0-1) to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Friday Sept. 29 for the home opener for the Midshipmen. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. Admission is free, however parking at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is #10. For fans unable to attend the game, live stats will be available.
 
All-Time Series
Navy leads the all-time series between the two teams, 12-0. The Midshipmen are 6-0 against the Mountaineers at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The last time the two teams met in Annapolis, Navy posted a 46-3 victory in a torrential downpour. Last season, the Mids bested the Mountaineers, 43-14, in Mansfield, Pa.
 
Last Time Out: at St. Thomas Aquinas (Sept. 16, 2023)
Navy trailed St. Thomas Aquinas, 6-3, early at the Torne Valley Sports Complex in Hillburn, N.Y., but three first-half touchdown passes by senior quarterback Brandon Atwood gave the Midshipmen a lead they would not relinquish as the Mids posted a 27-14 win to start the 2023 season.
 
Atwood finished the game with three touchdown passes to three separate receivers – Kai Sasaki, Tyron Francis Jr., and Andrew Margiotta. Placekicker Mychal Golden added a pair of field goals to go with his three PATs to finish with nine points in the game.
 
After surrendering an early first-quarter touchdown, the Midshipmen defense clamped down and did not allow the Spartans to score until the final minute and a half of the game. The Midshipmen defense recovered a muffed punt, while also recovering a fumble and intercepting a Spartan pass.
 
Last Time vs. Mansfield (Nov. 5, 2022)
Navy concluded the regular season with a 43-14 road victory over Mansfield at Karl Van Norman Field in Mansfield, Pa. The Midshipmen held the Mountaineers scoreless in the second half, while causing a pair of turnovers, including one for a score, in the final two quarters.
 
Defensively, the Mids held the Mountaineers to a pair of touchdowns. Navy finished with five tackles for loss, including a pair of sacks. The Midshipmen intercepted a pass, returning it 63 yards for a touchdown, while also picking up a fumble and returning 45 yards deep into Mountaineer territory.
 
Paul Kuehler led the team with six tackles, while Dante Carrasco added five stops. Carrasco, Jordan Richard, Jonathan Swift, Devyn Martin, and Andrew Bailey each finished with a tackle for loss apiece with Swift and Martin registering sacks. Lane Condie picked up a fumble and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown, while Trent Parker added a 63-yard interception return. Martin, Condie, and Tyler Meisenzahl were each credited with pass breakups in the game.
 
Offensively, the two teams played nearly even with the Mids edge the Mountaineers, 368-339 in total yards. Navy paved the way on the ground, outgaining Mansfield, 212-123, but the home team held a 216-156 advantage in the passing game.
 
Alex Totta led the charge for the Midshipmen on the ground. The senior tallied 160 yards on 24 carries (6.7 yards per carry) with a pair of touchdowns. Cephas McKinney added 4.2 yards per carry on six rushes with Victor Otero posting 2.8 yards per rush on six carries. Quarterback Brandon Atwood also added a pair of rushing scores.
 
Atwood finished the game 11-for-14 for 146 yards and a touchdown, while Luke Wagner was 1-for-2 for 10 yards. Andrew Margiotta led the way with five receptions for 105 yards with a touchdown.
 
Mychal Golden was a perfect 5-for-5 on extra-point attempts, while Jobe Long connected with Totta on a two-point conversion.

Up Next
Following the home game with Mansfield, the Midshipmen will hit the road to West Point, N.Y. for the annual Army-Navy Star Game. The game, which is part of the overall Star Series presented by USAA, is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 6.