ANNAPOLIS, Md.-The annual Naval Academy football banquet was held Friday evening at Alumni Hall where several prestigious awards were handed out. Navy posted an 8-5 record in 2012, won a record 11th-straight game over rival Army and defeated Air Force to win the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy for the eighth time in the last 10 years and earned a berth in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, which was Navy’s ninth bowl appearance in the last 10 years.  The senior class finished its career with a record of 32-20, won two Commander-In-Chief’s Trophies, defeated Army four times, played in three bowl games, won a bowl game and beat Notre Dame twice.

Freshman quarterback Keenan Reynolds (Antioch, Tenn.) was named the winner of the E.E. “Rip” Miller Award, which is presented to the season’s most valuable player as voted on by his teammates.

Reynolds, who is the first freshman to win the award, went 6-2 as the starting quarterback and led Navy to three fourth-quarter comebacks (Air Force, Army and Indiana).  He became the first freshman to start at quarterback for Navy since Jim Kubiak started five games in 1991 and just the third freshman in school history to start at quarterback.  He finished the year with 649 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns, while completing 61 of his 108 passes for 898 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions.  Reynolds was the first Navy quarterback to win his first four career starts since Bob Powers in 1979.

Senior outside linebacker Keegan Wetzel (Palos Heights, Ill.) was named the winner of the Roger Staubach Award, which is presented to the varsity football player who demonstrated consistent, outstanding leadership and an “Expect to Win” attitude in contributing to the team’s success during the season and embodied honor, courage and commitment on and off the playing field.

The College Sports Information Directors of America named Wetzel a Capital One First-Team Academic All-American this season thanks to a 3.91 grade-point average in systems engineering (honors courses).  On the field he enjoyed a spectacular senior campaign, recording 79 tackles, a team-high 15 tackles for a loss, a team-high seven sacks, a pass break-up, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He was named All-Independent by a nationwide media poll and played in the Casino Del Sol All-Star game in Tucson, Ariz.

Wetzel also took home the Jeffrey R. Korn Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award, which is given annually to the first classman on the team who has demonstrated excellence both in the classroom and on the football field, as well as the Cmdr. Ralph Sentmann Award, which honors the member of the graduating class from the varsity football team who has achieved the highest ranking in academic order of merit.

Senior slot back Gee Gee Greene (Columbia, S.C.) was the recipient of the Joe Bellino Award, which is presented to the varsity football player whose inspiring on-the-field performance made a significant impact on the team and contributed to its overall success during the season, as well as the Napoleon McCallum Award, which is presented to the Navy varsity football player of the graduating class who has gained the most all-purpose yards in his career.

A starter in each of the last 38 games, Greene had his best season as a senior. leading the Mids in rushing with 877 yards and three touchdowns on 120 carries (7.3 yards per carry) and finished second on the team in receiving with 18 catches for 309 yards and two touchdowns (17.2 yards per catch).  The 7.3 yards per carry is the second-best single-season rushing average in school history and he joins Shun White as the only slot backs to lead the team in rushing.  He rushed for 2,123 yards and 10 touchdowns over his four-year career, while catching 48 passes for 764 yards and seven touchdowns.  He averaged 7.1 yards per carry over his career, which is the fifth-best rushing average in school history.  He amassed 3,757 all-purpose yards, which ranks him third all-time at Navy.   Greene will play in the Raycom All-Star Football Classic on Saturday and in the South Carolina College All-Star game on March 23.

The First Lieutenant Ron Winchester Unsung Hero Award, which is presented to an unheralded senior recognized as an over achiever and role model as selected by a vote of his teammates, was presented to senior slot back John Howell (Greenville, N.C.).

Howell, who was coming off a standout junior campaign where he rushed for 340 yards and five touchdowns, was lost for the season in the fourth game of the year against San Jose State when he suffered a knee injury on a pass play. The injury was a major blow to the team as Howell was being counted on as a key player. Howell, however, never felt sorry for himself and continued to be a positive role model on the team and helped the younger slot backs improve daily in practice.

Senior offensive guard Josh Cabral (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) was awarded the George Fritzinger Memorial Award, presented annually to a member of the graduating class who as a football interior lineman has excelled as a student-athlete and contributed to the overall team leadership and spirit.

Cabral was a three-year starter at guard and started the final 38 games of his career.  He was named All-East by the ECAC and was named Honorable Mention All-Independent by a nationwide media poll as a senior. Cabral was a key member of an offensive line that helped lead Navy to a No. 6 national ranking in rushing offense in 2012, averaging 278.46 yards per game.

Freshman quarterback Rafi Montalvo (Miami, Fla.) was awarded the Collins/Roos Class of 1949 Junior Varsity MVP Award, presented annually to the most valuable player on the junior varsity football team as chosen by a vote of his teammates.

Montalvo helped lead the Navy JV team to a 3-2 record, including a 37-0 whitewashing of Hargrave Military Academy. Montalvo was involved in a serious automobile accident on Thanksgiving night while home in Miami and was in critical condition at Kendall Regional Medical Center, but has since been released from the hospital and is now at home in Miami rehabilitating.    The team wore a helmet sticker with his name on it for the Army-Navy ame and Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.

Senior linebacker Matt Warrick (Chesterfield, Mo.) was named the winner of the Cooke Award, which is given to the player who has done the most to promote team spirit.

Warrick was a two-year starter at linebacker and finished his career with 214 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, four interceptions and 11 pass break-ups.  Warrick played his best in the biggest games recording 49 tackles in five Service Academy games (9.8 tackles per game). Warrick will formally receive his award at the annual Prizes & Awards ceremony during Commissioning Week.

Cabral, senior offensive tackle Ryan Paulson, freshman kicker Nick Sloan and sophomore punter Pablo Beltran were recognized for being named All-East by the head coaches on the Eastern Seaboard as part of the ECAC.

Cabral (guard) and Paulson (tackle) anchored an offensive line that helped the Mids average 378.5 yards per game on the ground, which ranked sixth nationally.  Beltran averaged 43.6 yards per punt on his 44 punts this year with 15 of his punts being fair caught and 18 downed inside the 20-yard line.  He had 11 punts this year of 50 yards or more and his 43.6-yard average is the third-best average in a single season in school history.  Sloan made 10 of his 15 field goal attempts and all 41 of his extra-points.  His 41 extra-points are the fourth most in school history and he is just the fifth kicker in school history to not miss an extra-point in a season with 25 or more attempts.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - I hope those watching the 113th Army/Navy game Saturday afternoon didn’t come away from the game thinking “if (Navy QB) Keenan Reynolds is doing this already, imagine what he could do for the next three years.”

It’s not as if it isn’t possible that the true freshman from Antioch, TN doesn’t have grand heights attainable during his next three years of eligibility in Annapolis. It’s just that when a teenager accomplishes what Reynolds did Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field, it deserves to stand alone without any future context.

The United States Naval Academy has made wins over the United States Military Academy a bit of habit in recent years, claiming 11 straight victories. Most haven’t been quite as gut-wrenching as Saturday’s 17-13 victory.

Before Saturday, Navy hadn’t trailed Army in the fourth quarter of any game since 2001-the year Army last defeated the Midshipmen. This time the contest moved past the midway point of the fourth quarter with the Black Knights not only leading Navy 13-10, but also in possession of the football inside the Navy 20 yard line.

It was a situation wholly unprecedented for any Navy player, but it would take only eight plays for the nervous energy hanging over the Brigade of Midshipmen to turn into an exuberant celebration. More importantly, it would take four particularly key plays from Reynolds that won’t soon by forgotten by military faithful. It would take an uncommon level of confidence, moxie and ability from a young man his age to make it happen.

“Before the drive started, I told the guys, ‘this is the one’” Reynolds explained after the game. “We have to go down and score. They all looked at me and were like, ‘Let’s go!’”

“Keenan comes in, uses his man voice and calls the play, and does a really good job” WR Brandon Turner added. “And the way he talks and the way his huddle prescense is, because I played quarterback in high school so I know how important that is to what extent, he makes you want to believe in him.”

Facing 4th & 5 from the Navy 19 yard line, Army chose to trot out K Eric Osteen for a 37 yard field goal attempt instead of attempting a conversion that would leave them tantalizingly close to a game sealing touchdown. The kick would sail wide left and give the Midshipmen the ball back with 6:57 to play. The Mids would immediately find trouble, but Reynolds connected with Geoffrey Whiteside for 10 yards on 3rd & 8 to reverse fortune and gain momentum. He wouldn’t look back.

Two plays later, Reynolds escaped a crowded pocket and juked a defender before tip-toeing down the right sideline to gain 11 yards and another first down. He then through a beautiful downfield ball to Turner that the 6’4″ receiver would easily haul in 49 yards downfield to set up a 1st and goal from the Army 8 yard line. The receiver would later describe the throw as the best he had received from Reynolds all season.

On the very next play, Reynolds waltzed into the endzone on a quarterback follow to punctuate an incredible game-turning drive and fully etch his name in Army-Navy lore.

The situation was unusual for Navy against Army, but it wasn’t the first time in Reynolds’ short tenure as Navy’s starting quarterback that he was faced with adversity. In fact, Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo said after the game he wasn’t surprised at all by the remarkable heroics of the game’s Most Valuable Player.

“If he can come into the Air Force game down by eight in the fourth quarter with eight minutes left at their place and have clear eyes and not miss a beat and not seem nervous, I don’t know if he can be in a tougher situation.”

Reynolds worked mop-up duty for the Mids in early season blowout losses to Notre Dame (in Dublin, Ireland) and at Penn State. He entered a hopeless situation in the 4th quarter of a shutout loss to San Jose State in the Mids’ fourth game of the season as well. But he didn’t officially become the Naval Academy’s starting quarterback until the Midshipmen were desperate.

Sitting at 1-3 on the season, the Midshipmen found themselves 9:03 away from losing grip on their most significant preseason goals in Colorado Springs, CO October 6. They trailed Air Force 21-13, with a loss assuring they could not win back the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy from the Falcons and meaning they would have to finish the season 5-2 just to get bowl eligible. Niumatalolo benched then starter Trey Miller in favor of Reynolds, who quickly navigated a six play, 75 yard drive that would tie things up after a two point conversion by FB Noah Copeland. Reynolds would put together another TD drive in overtime to finish off the Falcons and completely turn Navy’s season around.

Niumatalolo described Navy’s win Saturday as “indicative of the season” they had. Perhaps in no way more than in the resolution of their freshman quarterback. When everything mattered most, the young man was absolutely unflappable.

Keenan Reynolds isn’t even yet 19 years old.

It’s hard to fathom the type of poise it took to author a comeback. It’s hard to put into words the intensity of an Army/Navy game. It’s hard to imagine a young man roughly six months removed from prom clinging to the term “I.M.A.N-It’s Not About Me” in the waining moments to give his team salvation. (Reynolds said I.M.A.N. has been a rallying cry for the entire Navy football program this season.)

“There’s something about the kid, and just the way he led us on that last drive, it was unbelievable” Turner described. “In one of the biggest games as a freshman, he came in and beat one of the better Army teams the last few years. That’s incredible. That’s remarkable.”

I couldn’t say it any better.

-G

Setting the Stage
• Army and Navy will meet on the gridiron for the 113th time when they square off on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.  Kickoff is set for 3:10 pm Eastern.
• The winner of the Army-Navy game will take home the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy, which is presented annually to the winner of the football competition among the three major Service Academies and is named in honor of the President of the United States.  Navy has won the trophy 12 times, while Army has claimed it six times.  This year’s game marks the first time since 2005 that the trophy was on the line in the Army-Navy game and just the sixth time since the trophy’s inception in 1972.
• Navy is 2-3 all-time against Army when the two teams met with the trophy on the line.
• Navy enters the contest looking to defeat Army for a series-record 11th straight year.  Before Navy started this historical run, the longest winning streak in the series, which was first played in 1890, was five games (by both teams).  Navy has outscored Army, 349-112 (34.9-11.2) during its 10-game winning streak.
• The Mids have won 13 of the last 15 games against Army dating back to 1997.
• Navy head football coach Ken Niumatalolo is trying to become just the third coach in school history to start his coaching career at Navy with a 5-0 record against Army.  Paul Johnson turned in a 6-0 mark against West Point (2002-07), while Wayne Hardin won his first five games (1959-63) before losing.
• CBS Sports Network will air the Army-Navy Special Presented by USAA on Friday at 7:00 pm ET as the network looks ahead to Saturday’s game.
•    CBS Sports Network will air two special editions of INSIDE COLLEGE FOOTBALL on Saturday prior to the game.  INSIDE COLLEGE FOOTBALL ARMY-NAVY MARCH ON presented by USAA (12:00-1:30 pm, ET) and INSIDE COLLEGE FOOTBALL ARMY-NAVY TAILGATE presented by USAA (1:30-2:30 pm, ET).  Hosts Adam Zucker and Brent Stover will be joined at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia by analysts Randy Cross, Brian Jones and Ron Zook, as well as special guests from the academies. The MARCH ON SPECIAL features the March-On of the Brigade of Midshipmen and Corps of Cadets as they march onto Lincoln Financial Field, while ARMY-NAVY TAILGATE previews the game with in-depth news and analysis, as well as interviews from both head coaches.
• CBS Sports will start their coverage at 2:30 pm with a 30-minute pregame show followed by the 113th playing of the Army-Navy game at 3:00 pm with Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Tracy Wolfson calling the action.
• Dial Global Radio Network has the national radio rights with John Tautges, Terry Donahue and Lewis Johnson calling the action.  Dial Global will also air a one-hour pregame show starting at 2:00 pm.

Game Day Festivities
• The March-On of the Brigade of Midshipmen will take place at 12:16 pm and the March-On of the Corps of Cadets will take place at 12:46 pm.
• The Service Academy exchange of Cadets and Midshipmen will take place at 2:46 pm, while the Golden Knights and Leapfrogs will jump at 2:50 pm.
• The National Anthem will be sung by the Army Glee Club at 3:00 pm.
•    Army will take the field with an Army fly-over at 3:06 pm, while Navy will take the field with a Navy fly-over at 3:07 pm.

Scouting Army
•    The 2-9 Black Knights destroyed Air Force (41-21) and defeated Boston College (34-31) of the ACC while suffering losses to San Diego State (42-7), Northern Illinois (41-40), Wake Forest (49-37), Stony Brook (23-3), Kent State (31-17), Eastern Michigan (48-38), Ball State (30-22), Rutgers (28-7) and Temple (63-32).
•    Army is the No. 1 rushing team in the country, averaging 369.8 yards per game.
• Senior quarterback Trent Steelman is 26th in the country in rushing, averaging 104.7 yards per game, and 22nd in scoring, averaging 9.1 points per game.  He has rushed for a school-record 1,152 yards and a program-record 44-career rushing touchdowns, passing Army Heisman Trophy winner Glenn Davis.
• Slot back Raymond Maples has rushed for 1,059 yards and two touchdowns on 196 carries and ranks 36th in the nation in rushing.
•    Linebacker Geoffrey Bacon has had a phenomenal season, ranking seventh in the country with 11.1 tackles per game.
• Linebacker Nate Combs is 25th in the country in tackles for a loss, averaging 1.3 per game.

The Last Time … 
Navy 27, Army 21    Dec. 10, 2011 | Landover, MD.
•     Senior Jon Teague kicked fourth quarter field goals of 23 and 44 yards as Navy defeated Army, 27-21, for a record 10th consecutive year, in front of a crowd of 80,789 at FedExField that included President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
• Navy jumped out to a 14-0 lead thanks to a pair of Army fumbles.  Army’s Raymond Maples fumbled a pitch and senior defensive end Jabaree Tuani recovered the ball at the Army 26 on the Black Knights’ second possession of the game.
• Six plays later, senior quarterback Kriss Proctor scored from the four to give Navy the early advantage.
• After the two teams traded punts, Army’s Jared Hassin was stripped of the ball by Tuani and junior outside linebackerBrye French recovered the ball at the Navy 45.
• On the first play after the Army fumble, Proctor scrambled for 32 yards down to the Army 23.  Six plays after that, Proctor executed a perfect double option on third-and-eight from the 10 pitching to senior fullback Alexander Teich for the touchdown.
• Army, however, would come right back and cut Navy’s lead in half, as quarterback Trent Steelman directed an eight-play, 67-yard drive that was capped off by a 34-yard touchdown run to make the score 14-7.
• After the Navy offense went three and out, Army was back in business moving 63 yards in seven plays with Malcolm Brown diving over from the three to tie the game at 14 with just 49 seconds left in the first half.
• Navy took the opening kickoff of the second half and moved 48 yards in five plays to retake the lead at 21-14.  After Teich’s 48-yard kickoff return put the Navy offense in business at the Army 48, backup fullback Delvin Diggs had back-to-back carries that picked up 18 yards down to the Army 30.  Junior slot back Gee Gee Greene ran for 20 more yards on first down and, after a Teich eight-yard run down to the two, Proctor scored his second TD of the day.
• Once again Army would come right back, marching right through the Navy defense in six plays with Steelman hitting Brown with a 25-yard touchdown pass on third-and-seven to tie the game at 21.
• The Mids would take advantage of an Army punt by driving 75 yards in 18 plays with Teague capping the drive with a 23-yard field goal to give Navy a three-point lead.  The Mids were forced to kick a field goal after lineman Graham Vickers jumped on third-and-goal from the Army 1.
• On the ensuing kickoff, freshman Noah Copeland forced Army returner Scott Williams to cough up the ball and Navy freshman Jordan Drake recovered it at the Army 27.  Teague would turn the Army miscue into points with a 44-yard field goal to give Navy a 27-21 lead.
• Army got the ball back and quickly moved down the field and had the ball first-and-10 at the Navy 28 when the Navy defense came up big.
• After Brown rushed for four yards on first down, Army tried to catch Navy napping by throwing the ball but Steelman was dropped by junior linebacker Matt Warrick for a loss of five yards.  Steelman would pick up four yards on third down as Tra’ves Bush came flying up from the safety position to make the stop and then on fourth down Steelman was sacked for a loss of one by Warrick to give the ball back to the Midshipmen with 4:31 left.

The Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy
• The Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy is presented annually to the winner of the football competition among the three major service academies — Army, Navy and Air Force — and is named in honor of the President of the United States.
• Navy has dominated of late, winning the trophy a Service Academy record seven-consecutive years from 2003-09 and winning a Service Academy record 15 straight games against Air Force and Army in the process.  Air Force has won the trophy each of the last two years.
• Navy has won the trophy a total of 12 times: 1973, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1981, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
• When there is no clear-cut winner,  the trophy remains with the winner of the previous year’s competition.  • The three-sided trophy stands two-and-a-half-feet tall and is engraved with the academy seals.  Reproductions of the three mascots — the Army Mule, the Navy Goat and the Air Force Falcon — are ensconced on the respective sides of this bauble.  The trophy is sponsored by the West Point Association of Graduates, the Naval Academy Alumni Association and the Air Force Association of Graduates.
• The year in which the trophy is won is engraved on AA plate gracing the respective academy’s side of the trophy.

Service Academy Dominance
• Navy has amassed a 82-44 (.651) overall record in the last 10 years, while Air Force is 68-55 (.553) and Army is 32-87 (.269).  The Mids are 17-2 against the other two Service Academies since 2003.

Dominant Era in Army-Navy History
• Navy’s 27-21 victory over Army in 2011 was its 10th consecutive win over the Black Knights, the longest streak in series history by either team.
• The Mids have won those 10 in a row against Army in dominant fashion, outscoring the Black Knights, 349-112 (34.9-11.2).

Our Nation’s Future Leaders
• Navy’s 28 seniors received their Service Assignments on Wednesday, November 28. Graduates of the Naval Academy serve a minimum of five years in the Navy or Marine Corps, while pilots serve eight years upon earning their wings.
•    18 seniors will be commissioned Ensigns in the United States Navy, while 10 will be commissioned 2nd Lieutenants in the Marine Corps.

Service Assignments for the Class of 2013
Andrew Barker, Surface Warfare
Matt Brewer, Marine Corps Ground
Tra’ves Bush, Surface Warfare
Josh Cabral, Naval Flight Officer
Evan Campbell, Marine Corps Ground
Prentice Christian, Surface Warfare
Billy Coats, Marine Corps Pilot
Matt Couch, Supply Corps
Josh Dowling-Fitzpatrick, Navy Pilot
Jerad Fehr, Special Warfare (SEALS)
Brye French, Marine Corps Ground
Jonathan Gazaille, Supply Corps
Gee Gee Greene, Surface Warfare
Beau Haworth, Suface Warfare
Wes Henderson, Navy Pilot
John Howell, Marine Corps Pilot
Tyler Lynch, Naval Flight Officer
John Michael Nurthen, Civil Engineer
John O’Boyle, Marine Corps Ground
Ryan Paulson, Navy Pilot
Kahikolu Pescaia, Navy Pilot
Joe Ryan, Marine Corps Ground
Matt Shibata, Marine Corps Ground
Bo Snelson, Marine Corps Ground
Collin Sturdivant, Naval Flight Officer
Brandon Turner, Surface Warfare
Matt Warrick, Marine Corps Ground
Keegan Wetzel, Submarines (Nuclear)

Navy Quick Hitters
• Navy has been the dominant Service Academy over the last decade, posting an 18-2 record against Army (10-0) and Air Force (8-2) in the last 20 meetings combined, winning seven consecutive Commander-In-Chief’s Trophies from 2003-09 and going to nine bowl games in the last 10 years.  Navy has amassed an 82-44 (.651) overall record in the last 10 years, while Air Force is 68-55 (.553) and Army is 32-87 (.269).  The 82 wins are the 21st most in the country over the last decade.
• The Midshipmen punched their ticket to the Dec. 29 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park in San Francisco with a 24-17 victory over Florida Atlantic on Nov. 3. It will be Navy’s 18th bowl appearance all-time, including its ninth in the last 10 years. The Mids will take on Arizona State.
• Ken Niumatalolo has led the Midshipmen to a 39-25 (.609) record in his fifth season as head coach.  He is fourth all-time at Navy in career wins.  Niumatalolo holds Navy coaching records for most wins in the first two (18), three (27), four (32) and five seasons (39) of a career.
• Navy’s four losses this season (Notre Dame, Penn State, San Jose State and Troy) have come at the hands of opponents who are a combined 35-13 (.729).  Notre Dame (12-0) is ranked No. 1 in the country and will play in the BCS National Championship Game, while San Jose State (10-2) is ranked 24th in the country.
• Navy has played six bowl eligible teams this year (counting Penn State who will not be going to a bowl due to NCAA sanctions) and compiled a 3-3 record against the six programs.  The Mids defeated Air Force (6-6), Central Michigan (6-6) and East Carolina (8-4) and lost to Notre Dame (12-0), Penn State (8-4) and San Jose State (10-2).
• Over the last nine games (7-2), Navy has outscored the opposition in the second half, 146-80.  The Navy defense has allowed just eight touchdowns in the second half of the last nine contests.
• The Mids have turned the ball over 12 times in their four losses and five times in their seven wins.
•     Senior outside linebacker Keegan Wetzel scored a perfect 1600 on his SAT and is believed to be the only current FBS player in the country to accomplish such a feat.  He carries a 3.89 GPA in systems engineering and is an Academic All-America candidate.  Wetzel has also been a force on the field for the Midshipmen, recording 63 tackles (fourth most on the team), a team-high 13.5 tackles for a loss, a team-high six sacks, has forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.  He is just two sacks away from third on Navy’s single-season sacks list.
• Keenan Reynolds is the first freshman to start at quarterback for Navy since Jim Kubiak started five games in 1991.  Meanwhile, he is just the third freshman in school history to start at quarterback (the other was Alton Grizzard in 1987). Reynolds is 5-1 as a starting quarterback with wins over Central Michigan, Indiana, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic and Texas State and a loss to Troy.  He also came off the bench with Navy down eight points to Air Force and led the Mids to an overtime victory.  Kubiak won just one game as a freshman starter (beat a 5-5 Army team) and Grizzard won two (lost to Army).  Reynolds is the first Navy quarterback to win his first four career starts since senior Bob Powers, who won his first six career starts in 1979.
• Sophomore punter Pablo Beltran is averaging 45.1 yards per punt (34 punts) this season and should his average hold, he would become the school’s single-season record holder. John Skaggs currently holds the single-season punting record at 44.8 yards per punt in 2001.  Beltran would stand 10th nationally if he qualified (must average 3.6 punts per game).
• Navy was 4-0 during the month of October after going 0-5 last year in October. It is the first time Navy went undefeated in the month of October since 1996.  That Navy team finished 9-3 and defeated California in the Aloha Bowl.
• Navy owns a 6-3 record all-time in overtime games, winning six of its last seven.
• Navy owns an 82-44 (.651) record over the last 10 years after posting a 3-30 (.091) mark from 2000-02.  The 82 wins are the 21st most in the country over the last decade.
• Navy is trying to finish No. 1 in fewest penalties and fewest penalty yards per game for the second consecutive year and for the third time in the last four seasons.  The Mids are currently second in penalties (3.4 /gm) and in penalty yards per game (26.5).
• Navy is 3-0 this year and 30-4 (.882) under Niumatalolo when scoring first and 4-4 this year and 9-21 (.300) under Niumatalolo when the opponent scores first.
• The Mids are 3-0 ths year and  24-3 (.889) under Niumatalolo when leading after the first quarter and 4-4 this year and 15-22 (.405) under Niumatalolo when trailing or tied after the first stanza.
• Navy is 6-0 this year and 27-4 (.871) under Niumatalolo when leading at the half and 1-4 this year and 11-22 (.333) under Niumatalolo when tied or trailing at the half.
• Navy is 5-0 this year and 31-3 (.912) under Niumatalolo when leading after three quarters and 2-4 this year and 7-23 (.233) under Niumatalolo when tied or trailing after three quarters.
•    Navy owns a 19-7 (.731) record in games played at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium under Niumatalolo and is 20-18 (.526) away from home.

Setting the Stage
• Navy and Texas State will meet on the gridiron for the first time when they square off on Saturday afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Senior Day.  Kickoff is set for 3:34 pm Eastern.
• Navy enters the weekend looking to win on Senior Day for a 10th consecutive year.  The last time Navy lost on Senior Day was on Nov. 16, 2002, when the Mids lost to Connecticut in a monsoon, 38-0.
• Saturday’s game will be televised nationally by CBS Sports Network with Grant Boone, former Oakland Raider Pro Bowl tight end Todd Christensen and Sheehan Stanwick-Burch calling the action.

Game Day Festivities
• Pregame festivities will get underway at approximately 1:00 pm with the Navy Football Team Walk.  Originating at the Blue Angel in the southwest corner of the stadium, the team will make its way down the sidewalk and through NavyFest before walking up the drive to the stadium.  Fans are encouraged to line up on both sides of the sidewalk to cheer for the team.
• The March-On of the Brigade of Midshipmen will take place at 3:04 pm.  The march-on will be broadcast live for Navy All-Access subscribers.
• A salute to Navy’s 27 seniors will take place at 3:22 pm.
• Saturday’s fly-over (3:31 pm) will be two F-18′s out of Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.
•    Between the first and second quarter, the Navy men’s and women’s tennis teams will be recognized.

Scouting Texas State
•    Texas State is 3-6 on the year and coming off a 62-55 loss to No. 20 Louisiana Tech.
• The Bobcats own victories over Houston (30-13), Stephen F. Austin (41-37) and Idaho (38-7).  They have losses against Texas Tech (58-10), Nevada (34-21), New Mexico (35-14), San Jose State (31-20) and Utah State (38-7) along with Louisiana Tech.
•    Former Navy slot back Marcus Curry leads Texas State with 513 yards rushing and nine touchdowns on 84 carries.  He also has 11 catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
• Quarterback Shaun Rutherford has completed 129 of his 200 passes for 1,454 Yards and 11 touchdowns with just five interceptions.  Rutherford is also Texas State’s second-leading rusher with 388 yards and four touchdowns on 119 carries.
•    Andy Erickson is Rutherford’s favorite target with 33 catches for 426 yards and three touchdowns, while Chase Harper has caught 20 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns.
• Jason McLean leads the defense with 58 tackles and four passes broken up, while Xavier Daniels had 51 stops, four passes broken up, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble.

Navy Vs. The WAC
•    Navy is 2-2 all-time against teams that are currently in the WAC.  The Mids are 2-0 against Louisiana Tech and 0-2 against San Jose State.
•    The Mids lost to San Jose State earlier this year, 12-0.

Lonestar State    
•    Navy has 18 players on its roster from the state of Texas:  Freshman corner Quincy Adams (San Antonio), freshman outside linebacker A.K.Akpunku (Arlington), sophomore punter Pablo Beltran (Humble), freshman corner Brandon Boyd (La Marque), sophomore fullback Noah Copeland (San Antonio), freshman wide receiver Devin Crayton (Helotes), sophomore defensive end Aaron Davis (Pearland), junior nose guard Alex Doolittle (Houston), senior wide receiver Jonathan Gazaille (Grand Prairie), senior wide receiver Tyler Lynch (Irving), freshman outside linebacker Nick Martinez (Elm Mott), freshman linebacker Nick McCrory (Seadrift), freshman defensive lineman Rex Montes (Grapevine), sophomore nose guard Brice Musgrove (Dallas Hill), sophomore guard Nathaniel Otto (Houston), freshman safety Roddy Reyna (San Antonio), senor slot back Bo Snelson (Pasadena) and junior slot back Darius Staten (Carrollton).

Navy Quick Hitters
• The Midshipmen punched their ticket to the Dec. 29 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park in San Francisco with a 24-17 victory over Florida Atlantic on Nov. 3. It will be Navy’s 18th bowl appearance all-time, including its ninth in the last 10 years.
• Navy has been the dominant Service Academy over the last decade going 18-2 against Army (10-0) and Air Force (8-2), winning seven-consecutive Commander-In-Chief’s Trophies from 2003-09 and going to nine bowl games in the last 10 years.
• Navy will join the BIG EAST for football only starting in 2015.
• Ken Niumatalolo has led the Midshipmen to a 38-25 (.603) record in his fifth season as head coach.  He is tied for fourth all-time at Navy in career wins with Wayne Hardin.  Niumatalolo holds Navy coaching records for most wins in the first two (18), three (27), four (32) and five seasons (38) of a career.
• Navy’s four losses this season (Notre Dame, Penn State, San Jose State and Troy) have come at the hands of opponents that are a combined 29-11 (.725) on the year.  Notre Dame (10-0) is currently ranked third in the country and San Jose State (8-2) is receiving votes.
• Over the last eight games (6-2), Navy has outscored the opposition 132-70 in the second half.  The defense has allowed just seven touchdowns in the second half of those contests.
• The Mids turned the ball over 12 times in the first four games (nine lost fumbles and three interceptions) and went 1-3.  Over the next five games, Navy turned it over just twice and went 5-0.  Last week against Troy, Navy lost two fumbles and lost to the Trojans, 41-31.  The Mids have turned the ball over 12 times in their four losses and four times in their six wins.
•     Senior outside linebacker Keegan Wetzel scored a perfect 1600 on his SAT and is believed to be the only current FBS player in the country to accomplish such a feat.  He carries a 3.89 GPA in systems engineering and is an Academic All-America candidate.  Wetzel has also been a force on the field for the Midshipmen, recording 57 tackles (fourth most on the team), a team-high 11.5 tackles for a loss and a team-high six sacks, has forced a fubmle and recovered a fumble.  He is just two sacks from third on Navy’s single-season sack list.
• Keenan Reynolds is the first freshman to start at quarterback for Navy since Jim Kubiak started five games in 1991.  Meanwhile, he is just the third freshman in school history to start at quarterback (the other was Alton Grizzard in 1987). Reynolds is 4-1 as a starting quarterback with wins over Central Michigan, Indiana, East Carolina and Florida Atlantic and a loss to Troy.  Kubiak won just one game as a freshman starter and Grizzard won two.  Reynolds is the first Navy quarterback to win his first four starts since senior Bob Powers, who won his first six career starts in 1979.  The Mids started 6-0 that year and finished 7-4 with a victory over Army.
• Sophomore punter Pablo Beltran is averaging 45.2 yards per punt (30 punts) this season. He would stand ninth in the country in punting if he qualified (must average 3.6 punts per game) and that average would be a school record for Navy in a single season.
• Freshman Nick Sloan is one of just 13 true freshman kickers starting in the FBS this year.  He is 9-for-11 on field goals and 32-for-32 on extra-points.
• Navy was 4-0 during the month of October after going 0-5 last year in October. It is the first time Navy went undefeated in the month of October since 1996.  That team finished 9-3 and defeated California in the Aloha Bowl.
• Navy owns a 6-3 record all-time in overtime games, winning six of its last seven.
• Navy owns an 81-44 (.648) record over the last 10 years after posting a 3-30 (.091) mark from 2000-02.  The 81 wins are the 21st most in the country over the last decade.
• Navy is trying to finish No. 1 in fewest penalties and fewest penalty yards per game for the second consecutive year and for the third time in the last four seasons.  The Mids are currently tied for second in penalties (3.4) per game and third in penalty yards per game (26.6)
• Navy is 29-4 (.879) under Ken Niumatalolo when scoring first and 9-21 (.300) when the opponent scores first.
• Under Niumatalolo, the Mids are 23-3 (.885) when leading after the first quarter and 15-22 (.405) when trailing or tied after the first stanza.
•    Navy owns a 18-7 (.720) record in games played at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium under Niumatalolo and is 20-18 (.526) away from home.

Spreading The Wealth
• Navy has had a remarkable 17 different players score a touchdown this year, including 14 players that have scored their first career touchdown.
• The 17 different players scoring TD’s are tied with Marshall for the second most in the country.
• Navy has had 14 different players score their first career touchdown this year, which is the most of any team in the country.

Wetzel A Star In And Out Of The Classroom
• Outside linebacker Keegan Wetzel has enjoyed a spectacular senior campaign, recording 57 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, six sacks, a pass break-up, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery this season.
• He leads the Mids in sacks and tackles for a loss.
• He is just two sacks away from third place on Navy’s single-season sacks list.
• Wetzel is also a star in the classroom, carrying a 3.89 grade-point average in systems engineering (honors courses).  He is an Academic All-America candidate and has already been named all-district.
• Wetzel scored a perfect 1600 on his SAT test and is believed to be the only current FBS player that garnered a perfect score on his SAT.

Greene Having Standout Senior Campaign
• A starter in each of the last 35 games dating back to the 2010 season, senior slot back Gee Gee Greene is having his best season yet in 2012 leading the Mids in rushing (90-679, 7.5 avg, 2 TDs) and is fourth in receiving (12 catches for 242 yards, 20.2 yards per catch, 2 TDs).
• He is averaging 7.5 yards per carry this year, which is the second-best average for a single season in school history. The record is 8.3 set by Shun White in 2008.
• Greene is trying to join White as the only other slot back to lead the team in rushing.  White rushed for 1,092 yards in 2008.
• In his career, Greene has rushed for 1,925 yards on 267 carries and scored nine touchdowns, while catching 42 passes for 697 yards and seven touchdowns.  He needs 201 more yards to pass Adam Ballard for 10th on Navy’s all-time rushing list and would join White as one of only two slot backs in the Top 10.
• He has averaged 7.2 yards per carry over his career, which is the program’s fifth-best rushing average, and 16.6 yards per reception.

Starting A Freshman At QB
• Keenan Reynolds became the first freshman to start at quarterback for Navy since Jim Kubiak started five games in 1991, when he guided the Midshipmen to a 31-13 victory over Central Michigan.
• Navy finished 1-10 in 1991 (1-5 with Kubiak as the starter) with its only victory coming against a 5-5 Army team in the final game of the season, 24-3.
• Reynolds is just the third freshman in program history to start at quarterback, joining Kubiak and Alton Grizzard, who started seven games at quarterback in 1987 (Navy was 2-5 with Grizzard as the quarterback and 0-4 without him).
• In his first-career start against Central Michigan, Reynolds completed six of his 11 passes for 134 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 59 yards in leading Navy to a 31-13 victory.  His three touchdowns passing are the most by a Navy quarterback since Chris McCoy threw three against Colgate in 1997.
• Reynolds won his second career start, rallying Navy to a 31-30 victory over Indiana.  He rushed for 66 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries and completed eight of 13 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. His four-yard TD pass to junior Matt Aiken with 2:02 left gave Navy the win.
• Reynolds improved to 3-0 as a starter with a nearly flawless performance against East Carolina as Navy rolled over the Pirates, 56-28.  Reynolds led the Mids to touchdowns on seven of his eight drives and totaled 132 yards of total offense and five touchdowns (3 rushing, 2 passing).
• Reynolds won his fourth straight start with a 24-17 win over Florida Atlantic.  He rushed for a career-high 159 yards and one touchdown on 26 carries and completed eight of his 15 passes for a career-high 147 yards and two touchdowns.
• Reynolds suffered his first defeat as a starting quarterback in his fifth-career start against Troy.  He carried the ball 21 times for 130 yards and three touchdowns, while completing eight of his 15 pass attempts for 159 yards.
• In his first five starts, Reynolds has rushed for 495 yards and eight touchdowns on 98 carries (99.0 yds/gm, 5.1 yds/carry) and has comleted 33 of his 59 pass attempts (.559) for 589 yards (117.4 yds/gm) with eight touchdowns and just one interception.  He has had at least one rushing touchdown in four of his five starts and has thrown at least one touchdown pass in four of his five starts.
• Reynolds was the first Navy quarterback to win his first four career starts since Bob Powers, who won his first six career starts in 1979.  The Mids started 6-0 that year and finished 7-4 with a victory over Army.
• Reynolds is believed to be just the third TRUE freshman to win his first four career starts at quarterback.  Notre Dame’s Matt LoVecchio won his first seven starts as a true freshman in 2000 and USC’s Matt Barkley won his first six starts in 2009.
• Reynolds is far short of qualifying for the NCAA passing efficiency leaderboard (you must average 15 pass attempts per game), but if he did qualify his 177.49 efficiency rating would lead the country.  Oregon freshman Marcus Mariota leads the country with a 176.96 rating.

Setting the Stage
• Navy and Troy will meet on the gridiron for the second time in as many years when they square off Saturday afternoon at Larry Blakeney Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.  Kickoff is set for 3:30 pm Eastern.
• Navy enters the weekend having won five consecutive games.  The last time Navy won six games in a row came at the start of the 1979 season when the Mids defeated The Citadel, Connecticut, Illinois, Air Force, William & Mary and Virginia.
• Saturday’s game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN3 with Dave Weekley and Forrest Conoly calling the action.

Scouting Troy
• Troy owns a 4-5 record this fall, but has close losses to Mississippi State (30-24) and Tennessee (55-48).

• The Trojans are ranked 50th in the country in rushing offense (173.7 yards per game), 15th in passing offense (315.0 yards per game), 15th in total offense (488.7 yards per game) and 53rd in scoring offense (30.11).
• Quarterback Corey Robinson has completed 184 of his 290 passes for 2,199 yards with nine touchdowns and eight interceptions.  His backup, Deon Anthony, has completed 59 of his 86 passes for 635 yards with seven touchdowns and just one interception.
• The leading receiver for the Owls is Chip Reeves, who has 47 catches for 804 yards and five touchdowns, while Eric Thomas has 44 catches for 521 yards and six touchdowns.
• Running back Shawn Southward is the leading rusher with 793 yards and nine touchdowns on 153 carries.
• The defense is ranked 72nd against the run (168.4 yards per game), 103rd against the pass (266.3 yards per game), 90th in total defense (434.8) and 81st in scoring defense (30.0).
• The defense is led by Brynden Trawick, who has 68 tackles and 4.5 tackles for a loss, while Brannon Bryan has recorded 56 tackles and a pick.

The Last Time … 
Navy 42, Troy 14    Oct. 5, 2011 | ANNAPOLIS, MD.
• Senior quarterback Kriss Proctor, playing with a dislocated left (throwing) elbow, completed four of his six pass attempts for 127 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 37 yards and two touchdowns to lead Navy to a 42-14 rout of Troy in front of a Senior Day crowd of 33,359 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.  The victory broke a six-game losing streak for the Mids.
• Proctor, who only played in the first half, directed Navy to five touchdown drives in seven possessions as the Mids built a 35-0 halftime lead.
• The Navy defense, which had been much maligned during the Mids’ losing skid, was superb, holding Troy to just 99 yards of total offense in the first half and forcing two turnovers.
• Nose guard Jared Marks recorded the first big play of the day on Troy’s first possession when he recovered a Corey Robinson fumble on the Navy 24-yard line.
• Six plays later, Navy converted the turnover into points as Proctor scored from the one.  Earlier in the drive, Proctor hitBrandon Turner for 25 yards on a screen pass on third-and-12 and hit slot back John Howell on the next play for 42 yards down to the Troy 11.
• Navy’s second touchdown was also set up by the defense as freshman Parrish Gaines stripped Shawn Southward andCollin Sturdivant recovered at the Navy 35-yard line.  It was the first-career caused fumble for Gaines and the first-career recovery for Sturdivant.
• It took Navy just two plays to move the 65 yards to paydirt with Proctor hitting Gee Gee Greene for 48 yards and a touchdown to cap the drive and the rout was on.
• The Mids would score three more times in the second quarter as fullback Alexander Teich scored on a five-yard run off an option pitch from Proctor, Greene scored on a 10-yard run and Proctor scored from five yards out.
• Senior slot back Mike Stukel capped the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
• Senior slot back Aaron Santiago, who returned from a broken arm earlier than anybody expected including the doctors, showed no rust in his first game since Sept. 10, leading the Mids with 80 yards rushing on six carries.

Navy Vs. The Sun Belt
• Navy is 6-0 all-time against the Sun Belt with victories over Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Troy and Western Kentucky (twice).
• The Mids defeated Florida Atlantic, 24-17, last week.

Bama Born    
• Navy has seven players on its roster from the state of Alabama:  freshman slot back Bradley Bostick (Birmingham), sophomore slot back Reuben Carson (Birmingham), senior linebacker Brye French (Deatsville), junior corner Eric Graham (Eight Mile), junior wide receiver Shawn Lynch (Pelham), freshman center Ben Tamburello (Hoover) and sophomore slot back Ryan Williams-Jenkins (Helena).

Navy Rallies To Beat Florida Atlantic
• Freshman quarterback Keenan Reynolds piled up 306 yards of total offense and three touchdowns to lead Navy to a 24-17 victory over Florida Atlantic in front of 29,326 fans at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.  The win was Navy’s sixth of the year and clinched a berth to play in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.  It is Navy’s ninth bowl game in the last 10 years.
• The Mids trailed 10-0 with 8:57 left in the second quarter, before Reynolds got Navy going with a 48-yard run down to the FAU 33.
• On the next play, Reynolds hit sophomore slot back Ryan Williams-Jenkins with a 22-yard pass down to the 11-yard line and three plays later, on third-and-13, Reynolds hit senior wide receiver Brandon Turner with a 14-yard touchdown pass to cut the FAU lead to 10-7.
• Florida Atlantic drove down to the Navy 15 on its next possession, but on third down Jonathan Wallace threw incomplete out of the wildcat formation and then on fourth down Wallace was stopped for no gain by sophomore nose guard Danny Ring on a screen pass from quarterback Graham Wilbert.
• The Mids took over at their own 15 with 2:10 left in the half and quickly drove down the field.  Reynolds hit junior wide receiver Shawn Lynch, who made a spectacular over the shoulder catch, for 28 yards to move the ball down to the FAU 43.  Reynolds then threw a screen pass to sophomore fullback Noah Copeland for 25 yards to get the ball to the FAU five-yard line. Two plays later Reynolds scored from the one to give Navy the 14-10 halftime lead.
• Navy took the second half kickoff and methodically moved down the field, but bogged down at the FAU 31-yard line.  Facing a fourth-and-eight, Niumatalolo elected to go for it instead of kicking a 48-yard field goal into the wind.  The gamble paid off as Reynolds hit senior wide receiver Brandon Turner with a 31-yard touchdown pass to make the score 21-10.
• Freshman kicker Nick Sloan made a 20-yard field goal with 2:08 left in the third quarter and it appeared that Navy was in command.  However, the Mids allowed Florida Atlantic back in the game thanks to a costly turnover.
• Reynolds left the game in the fourth quarter with a hyperextended elbow and on the next play, junior quarterback Trey Miller and senior fullback Prentice Christian fumbled the mesh (the fumble was credited to Christian) and FAU’s Andrae Kirk recovered the ball at the Navy 39.
• Seven plays later FAU scored on a three-yard touchdown run by Wallace and the Navy lead was cut to 24-17.
• The Mids took the ball and moved to the FAU 30-yard line, but on third-and-one sophomore slot Geoffrey Whitesidelost four yards on an errant pitch by Reynolds and Sloan missed wide left on a 51-yard field goal.
• With a chance to tie Florida Atlantic moved the ball down to the Navy 17-yard line, but Wilbert threw three straight incompletions, the last one forced by sophomore defensive end Paul Quessenberry, and the Mids got the ball back with 4:10 remaining at their own 22.
• Navy ran out the clock as Reynolds carried the ball five consecutive times for 24 yards and two first downs.
• Reynolds finished the day with a career-high 159 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries, while he threw for a career-high 147 yards and two touchdowns (8-15).
• Turner had the two touchdown catches for 45 yards, while Lynch had two catches for 32 yards.
• Sophomore corner Parrish Gaines, senior linebacker Brye French, senior outside linebacker Keegan Wetzel and senior safety Tra’ves Bush paced Navy with seven tackles apiece.  Freshman corner Kwazel Bertrand had his first career fumble recovery to go along with his six tackles.

Navy Quick Hitters
• The Midshipmen punched their ticket to the Dec. 29 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park in San Francisco last Saturday with a 24-17 victory over Florida Atlantic. It will be Navy’s 18th bowl appearance all-time, including its ninth in the last 10 years.
• Navy has been the dominant Service Academy over the last decade going 18-2 against Army (10-0) and Air Force (8-2), winning seven-consecutive Commander-In-Chief’s Trophies from 2003-09 and going to nine bowl games in the last 10 years.
• Navy will join the BIG EAST for football only starting in 2015.
• Navy’s three losses this season (Notre Dame, Penn State and San Jose State) have come at the hands of opponents that are a combined 22-5 (.815) on the year.  Notre Dame (9-0) is currently ranked fourth in the country, while Penn State (6-3) is receiving votes.  San Jose State (7-2) has received votes in the polls this year, as well.
• Over the last seven games (6-1), Navy has outscored the opposition 122-57 in the second half.  The defense has allowed just six touchdowns in the second half of those contests.
• The Mids turned the ball over 12 times in the first four games (nine lost fumbles and three interceptions) and went 1-3 in those four games.  Over the last five games, Navy has turned it over just twice and are 5-0.
• Ken Niumatalolo has led the Midshipmen to a 38-24 (.613) record in his fifth season as head coach.  He is tied for fourth all-time at Navy in career wins with Wayne Hardin.  Niumatalolo holds Navy coaching records for most wins in the first two (18), three (27), four (32) and five seasons (38) of a career.
• Senior outside linebacker Keegan Wetzel scored a perfect 1600 on his SAT and is believed to be the only current FBS player in the country to accomplish such a feat.  He carries a 3.89 GPA in systems engineering and is an Academic All-America candidate.  Wetzel has also been a force on the field for the Midshipmen, recording 52 tackles (fourth most on the team), a team-high 11 tackles for a loss and a team-high six sacks.  He is just two sacks from third on Navy’s single-season sack list.
• Keenan Reynolds is the first freshman to start at quarterback for Navy since Jim Kubiak started five games in 1991 and is just the third freshman in school history to start at quarterback (the other was Alton Grizzard in 1987). Reynolds is 4-0 as a starting quarterback with wins over Central Michigan, Indiana, East Carolina and Florida Atlantic.  Kubiak won just one game as a freshman starter and Grizzard won two.  Reynolds is the first Navy quarterback to win his first four starts since senior Bob Powers, who won his first six career starts in 1979.  The Mids started 6-0 that year and finished 7-4 with a victory over Army.
• Sophomore punter and Ray Guy candidate Pablo Beltran is averaging 44.7 yards per punt (27 punts) this season. He would stand 11th in the country in punting if he qualified (must average 3.6 punts per game).
• Freshman Nick Sloan is one of just 12 true freshman kickers starting in the FBS this year.  He is 8-for-10 on field goals and 28-for-28 on extra-points.
• Navy was 4-0 during the month of October after going 0-5 last year in October. It is the first time Navy went undefeated in the month of October since 1996.  That team finished 9-3 and defeated California in the Aloha Bowl.
• Navy owns a 6-3 record all-time in overtime games, winning six of its last seven.
• Navy owns an 81-43 (.653) record over the last 10 years after posting a 3-30 (.091) mark from 2000-02.  The 81 wins are the 21st most in the country over the last decade.
• Navy is trying to finish first in fewest penalties and fewest penalty yards per game for the second consecutive year and for the third time in the last four seasons.  The Mids are currently tied for first with Kansas State in fewest penalties per game (3.44) and fewest penalty yards per game (26.44).
• Navy is 29-4 (.879) under Ken Niumatalolo when scoring first and 9-20 (.310) when the opponent scores first.
• Under Niumatalolo, the Mids are 23-3 (.885) when leading after the first quarter and 15-21 (.417) when trailing or tied after the first stanza.
• Navy owns a 18-7 (.720) record in games played at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium under Niumatalolo and is 20-17 (.541) away from home.

Setting the Stage
• Navy and Florida Atlantic will meet on the gridiron for the first time when they square off Saturday afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.  Kickoff is set for 3:34 pm and the presenting sponsor for Saturday’s game is Navy Mutual.
• Navy enters the weekend having won four consecutive games.  The last time Navy won five in a row came in 2009 when the Mids defeated Western Kentucky, Air Force (OT), Rice, SMU (OT) and  Wake Forest.  That Navy team went on to post a 10-4 record and defeat Missouri in the Texas Bowl, 35-13.
• A win on Saturday would send Navy to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco on Dec. 29 against an opponent from the Pac-12. It would be Navy’s ninth bowl game in the last 10 seasons.
• In honor of Veterans Day on Nov. 11 (Navy is on the road next weekend), the Naval Academy and Naval Academy Athletic Association will recognize all veterans in attendance during a first quarter timeout by asking them to stand and rise to be thanked for their service.
• Saturday’s game will be televised nationally by CBS Sports Network with Grant Boone, former Oakland Raider Pro Bowl tight end Todd Christensen and Sheehan Stanwick-Burch calling the action.

Game Day Festivities
• Pregame festivities will get underway at approximately 1:00 pm with the Navy Football Team Walk.  Originating at the Blue Angel in the southwest corner of the stadium, the team will make its way down the sidewalk and through NavyFest before walking up the drive to the stadium.  Fans are encouraged to line up on both sides of the sidewalk to cheer for the team.
• The March-On of the Brigade of Midshipmen will take place at 3:09 pm.  The march-on will be broadcast live for Navy All-Access subscribers.
• Saturday’s fly-over (3:31 pm) will be two F-18′s piloted by Lt. John Pegues (`03) and Lt. Diana Beauford (`05) out of Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.
• Navy women’s lacrosse coach Cindy Timchal will be recognized in the second quarter for her induction into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.  Timchal recently completed her 30th season as a Division I head coach and owns a career record of 412-108 (.792). She became the first college lacrosse coach to win 400 games this past season and she is the sport’s all-time leader in wins.  In five seasons at Navy, Timchal is 76-22 (.776) and has led the Midshipmen to three straight Patriot League titles. She is Navy’s only coach in its five-year history and the program has competed in the NCAA Tournament in each of the past three years.  Timchal won eight national championships while coaching at Maryland (1991-2006), including seven in a row, and she also had a nine-year stint at Northwestern (1982-90). Timchal is the only women’s lacrosse coach to take three different programs to the NCAA Division I Tournament.
• Other recognitions taking place on Saturday include the first Naval Academy Rugby Hall of Fame class and the 2012 Patriot League Champion men’s golf team.

Scouting Florida Atlantic
• The Owls are 2-6 on the year, but are coming off a 34-27 upset win over Troy last Saturday.
• FAU also defeated Wagner, 7-3, in the opener and has lost to Middle Tennessee State (31-17), Georgia (56-20), Alabama (40-7), North Texas (20-14), Louisiana-Monroe (35-14) and South Alabama (37-34, OT).
• Florida Atlantic is ranked 96th in the country in rushing offense (124.3), 92nd in passing offense (200.9), 103rd in total offense (325.1) and 111th in scoring offense (18.4).  Defensively, the Owls are ranked 98th in rushing defense (201.1), T41st in pass defense (211.9), 74th in total defense (413.0) and 89th in scoring defense (31.1).
• Running back Jonathan Wallace leads the Owls’ rushing attack with 382 yards and two touchdowns on 96 carries. Quarterback Graham Wilbert has completed 160 of his 245 pass attempts for 1,570 yards with 12 touchdowns and three interceptions.  Wilbert’s favorite target is William Dukes, who has 34 catches for 480 yards and two touchdowns.  Nexon Dorvilus has four touchdown catches on the year.
• The defense is led by Brent Harstad, who has recorded 71 tackles, two tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles.  David Hinds has been in on 68 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles.

Navy Vs. The Sun Belt
• Navy is 5-0 all-time against the Sun Belt with victories over Arkansas State, North Texas, Troy and Western Kentucky (twice).
• The Mids travel to Troy next Saturday for a 3:30 pm contest.

The Sunshine State    
• Navy has 18 players from the state of Florida on its roster:  freshman defensive end Will Anthony (Jacksonville), sophomore nose guard A.J. Barnaby (Deltona), freshman guard E.K. Binns (Cape Coral), junior nose guard Travis Bridges (Hollywood), junior corner Albrey Felder (Orange Park), sophomore center Tanner Fleming (Deltona), freshman wide receiver David Frechette (Orange Park), sophomore quarterback John Hendrick (Tampa), sophomore outside linebacker Chris Johnson (Cape Coral), freshman guard Zach Laniewski (Englewood), sophomore slot back Marcus Lewis (Cape Coral), junior linebacker Vinnie Mauro (Ft. Lauderdale), sophomore defensive end Ike McElrath (Milton), freshman tackle Bradford Mills (Ft. Lauderdale), freshman quarterback Ralph Montalvo (Miami), sophomore defensive end Danny Ring (Lighthouse Point), junior guard Thomas Stone (Melbourne) and sophomore linebacker Joe Worth(Valrico).

Looking For Five-Straight Wins
• Navy enters the weekend having won four consecutive games.
• The last time Navy won five in a row was in 2009 when the Mids defeated Western Kentucky, Air Force in overtime, won at Rice, won at SMU in overtime and defeated Wake Forest.  That Navy team went on to post a 10-4 record and defeat Missouri in the Texas Bowl, 35-13.

Second Half Dominance
• Over the last six games (5-1), Navy has outscored the opposition 112-50 in the second half.
• The defense has given up just five touchdowns in the second half of the last six games.

Wetzel A Star In And Out Of The Classroom
• Outside linebacker Keegan Wetzel has enjoyed a spectacular senior campaign, recording 45 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, six sacks, a pass break-up and a fumble recovery this season.
• He leads the Mids in sacks and tackles for a loss.
• He is just two sacks away from third place on Navy’s single-season sack list.
• Wetzel is also a star in the classroom, carrying a 3.89 grade point average in systems engineering (honors courses).  He is an Academic All-America candidate
• Wetzel scored a perfect 1600 on his SAT test and is believed to be the only current FBS player that garnered a perfect score on his SAT.

Mids Consistently Among Nation’s Top Rushing Teams
• Over the last 11 years, Navy has consistently been one of the top rushing teams in the country, never finishing lower than sixth.
• In 2002, Navy finished third in the country in rushing, averaging 270.8 yards per game.
• In 2003, Navy led the nation in rushing, averaging a then school-record 323.2 yards per game.  That is the fifth-best rushing average for a team over the last 10 years.
• In 2004, Navy finished third in the country in rushing, averaging 289.5 yards per game.
• In 2005, Navy led the country in rushing for the second time in three years, averaging 318.7 yards per game. The 318.7 yards per game is the seventh-best rushing average by a team in the last 10 years.
• Navy finished the 2006 campaign averaging a nation’s-best and then school-record 327.0 yards per game.  That is the fourth-best rushing average by a team in the last 10 years.
• The Mids rushed for a school-record 348.8 yards per game in 2007, becoming the first team in NCAA history to lead the nation in rushing three-consecutive years.   The 348.8 yards rushing is the second-best rushing average by a team in the last 10 years.  Only the 2000 Nebraska team (349.3) rushed for more over that time period.
• The 348.8 yards per game are the most yards rushing by a FBS team since Nebraska averaged 349.3 yds/gm in 2000.
• In 2008, Navy led the country in rushing for an unprecedented fourth-straight year, averaging 292.4 yds/gm.
• In 2009, Navy finished fourth in the nation in rushing, averaging 280.5 yds/gm.
• In 2010, the Mids finished sixth in the country in rushing offense, averaging 284.8 yds/gm.
• In 2011, Navy finished fourth in the country in rushing, averaging 312.3 yards per game.
• The Mids are averaging 271.1 yards per game this fall, which is the sixth-best rushing mark in the country.

Navy Offense In The Red Zone    
• Navy is 84th nationally in red zone offense, scoring on 24-of-31 chances (.770).
• Navy has scored 18 touchdowns (14 rushing, four passing), kicked six field goals, lost the ball once on downs and turned it over five times (three lost fumbles and two interceptions).

Navy Defense In The Red Zone    
• The Mids are tied for 65th in the country in red zone defense, allowing 23 scores on 28 opportunities.
• The opposition has scored 14 touchdowns (10 rushing, four passing), kicked nine field goals, missed a field goal, turned it over on downs twice, lost a fumble and threw an interception against Navy’s defense.

A’s Make Plays    
• Navy’s slot backs (or A-Backs as they are technically called) had a monster game against East Carolina rushing for 350 yards and two touchdowns on 40 carries (8.8 yards per carry).  It is the second-most yards rushing by the slots in the triple option era. In 2008 the slot backs rushed for 381 yards against Towson, thanks in large part to Shun White’s school-record 348 yards rushing.
• Over the last two games, the Navy slot backs have rushed for 514 yards and three touchdowns on 65 carries (7.9 yards per carry).

Setting the Stage
• Navy and East Carolina will meet on the gridiron for the fourth time when they square off Saturday afternoon at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (50,000).  Kickoff is set for 3:30 pm.
• East Carolina won last year’s game in a thriller, 38-35, on Homecoming in Annapolis. Back-up quarterback Trey Miller came off the bench to throw 59 and 37-yard touchdown passes to give Navy a 35-31 lead, but ECU won the game on a three-yard touchdown run by Reggie Bullock with 2:14 left to play.
• Navy’s last trip to Greenville resulted in a 76-35 victory over East Carolina on Nov. 6, 2010.
• Navy enters the weekend having won three consecutive games overall and two straight on the road.  The last time Navy won four in a row came at the end of the 2010 season when the Mids won at East Carolina, beat Central Michigan and Arkansas State at home and then beat Army in Philadelphia.  Navy last won three straight road games in 2009 when the Mids won at Wake Forest, at Air Force and at Northern Illinois.
• Saturday’s game will be televised nationally by Fox College Sports with Adam Alexander, Gary Reasons and Leslie McCaslin calling the action.

Scouting East Carolina
• The Pirates are 5-3 on the year with victories over Appalachian State (35-13), Southern Miss (24-14), UTEP (28-18), Memphis (41-7) and UAB (42-35). The Pirates have lost to South Carolina (48-10), North Carolina (27-6) and UCF (40-20).
• Quarterback Shane Carden has completed 141 of his 219 passes for 1,685 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.
• Carden’s favorite target is wide receiver Justin Hardy, who has 51 catches for 749 yards and eight touchdowns.  Hardy is tied for 18th in the country in receiving yards per game (93.6).
• Running back Vintavious Cooper is the leading rusher with 630 yards on 111 carries with three touchdowns.
• The defense is led by Jeremy Grove, who has 55 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles.  Damon Magazu has recorded 48 tackles and two pass break-ups.
• ECU ranks 103rd in the country in rushing offense (117.5), 41st in passing offense (265.0), 78th in total offense (382.5) and 77th in scoring offense (25.8).
• The Pirates rank 32nd in rush defense (123.1), 102nd in pass defense (269.5), 61st in total defense (392.6) and 56th in scoring defense (25.3).

The Last Time … 
East Carolina 38, Navy 35    OCT. 22, 2011 | ANNAPOLIS, MD.
• East Carolina quarterback Dominique Davis completed 40 of his 45 pass attempts for 372 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Pirates to a 38-35 victory over Navy in front of 34,612 fans at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Homecoming.
• Davis completed an NCAA-record 26-consecutive passes to start the game as the Pirates built a 17-7 halftime advantage thanks to touchdown passes of three yards to Lance Lewis and 10 yards to Michael Bowman.
• The Mids lost starting quarterback Kriss Proctor to an injured left elbow midway through the second quarter when he was hit late by East Carolina’s Matt Milner.  Proctor was replaced by sophomore Trey Miller, who moved the ball down to the ECU 38-yard line before fumbling the snap and East Carolina’s Michael Brooks recovered it.  ECU would score a touchdown on the ensuing series.
• Navy’s Marcus Thomas returned the second half kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to cut the ECU lead to 17-14.  It was Navy’s first kickoff return for a TD since Reggie Campbell returned one against Army in 2007.  Meanwhile, it was the fourth-longest return in school history.
• After the Pirates answered with a one-yard touchdown run by Reggie Bullock, the Mids cut the lead to three again when Alexander Teich took the toss from Miller and scored from the one to make the score 24-21.
• Bullock, however, would answer again for East Carolina, this time scoring on a 13-yard run with 14:53 left in the game.
• Navy would come right back and make it 31-28 when Miller hit Brandon Turner with a 59-yard touchdown pass.  The Mids took their first lead of the game since going up 7-0 when Miller threw a strike to Matt Aiken for a 37-yard touchdown pass to give Navy a 35-31 lead with 7:51 left.
• ECU took the ensuing kickoff and marched 77 yards in 15 plays, milking 5:37 off the clock, and took a 38-35 lead on a three-yard touchdown run by Bullock.
• The Mids got the ball back at their own 28 with 2:14 left and Miller quickly went to work.
• On the most controversial call of the game, Miller hit Aiken down the left sideline at the two-yard line on third down. Aiken made a spectacular grab, secured the ball, got two feet down, turned and dove over the goal line.  After breaking the plane, he landed a yard inside the end zone and the ball came loose.  The officials on the field called it an incomplete pass, however Navy challenged the ruling on the field.  The official in the replay booth confirmed the ruling on the field setting up a third-and-10.  Miller hit Aiken over the middle for eight yards with 22 seconds left giving Navy plenty of time to get the field goal team on the field.
• With eight seconds left, the field goal team was in place. Teague got the ball off fast and high, but it clanged off the right goal post, sending the Mids to their fifth-straight loss.

Navy Vs. Conference USA
• Navy is 25-28-1 (.472) all-time against teams currently in Conference USA.
• Navy, Houston, Memphis, SMU and UCF are all future members of the BIG EAST.

The Tar Heel State    
• Navy has 12 players from the state of North Carolina on its roster.
• Sophomore corner Eric Johnson (Fayetteville), sophomore quarterback Greg Bryant (Fayetteville), junior wide receiverHayden Maples (Raleigh), freshman corner Myer Krah (Durham), sophomore safety Chris Ferguson (Angier), freshman slot back Jamaal Williams (Durham), junior wide receiver Brantley Horton (Cleveland), sophomore outside linebackerObi Uzoma (Wake Forest), senior defensive end Collin Sturdivant, junior offensive tackle Adam Geuss (Charlotte), senior offensive tackle Andrew Barker (High Point) and senior wide receiver John O’Boyle (Charlotte).

Navy Quick Hitters
• Opening the year against Notre Dame in Dublin and at Penn State was the toughest opening two games in school history.
• In the last 40 years, Navy has started the year with two opponents from BCS conferences just eight times and only twice (2005 and 1982) did the Mids go on to have a winning record.
• Navy has been the dominant Service Academy over the last decade going 18-2 against Army (10-0) and Air Force (8-2), winning seven-consecutive Commander-In-Chief’s Trophies from 2003-09 and going to eight straight bowl games from 2003-10.
• Navy will join the BIG EAST for football only starting in 2015.
• Since 2003, Navy has won 19 games against schools from a BCS conference.  The 19 wins against BCS schools during that time period are the most in the country by a non-BCS school.  Navy’s wins against BCS schools have come against Vanderbilt (`03, `04), Duke (`04, `05, `06, `07), Rutgers (`04, `08), Stanford (`06), Connecticut (`06), Pitt (`07), Notre Dame (`07, `09, `10), Wake Forest (`08, `09, `10), Missouri (`09) and Indiana (`12).
• Navy’s three losses this season (Notre Dame, Penn State and San Jose State) have come at the hands of opponents that are a combined 17-4 (.810) on the year.  Notre Dame (7-0) is currently ranked fifth in the country, while Penn State (5-2) is receiving votes in the AP Poll (it is ineligible for the USA Today/Coaches Poll).  San Jose State (5-2) was receiving votes before being knocked off by Utah State, 49-27, two week ago.
• Navy’s victory over Indiana last Saturday was the Mids’ first over a Big Ten opponent since winning at Illinois in 1979 and the first win over a Big Ten opponent in Annapolis since defeating Purdue in 1926.
• Navy has 12 players from the state of North Carolina on its roster.
• Navy is 25-28-1 (.472) all-time against teams currently in Conference USA.
• Over the last 11 years, Navy has consistently been one of the nation’s top rushing teams, never finishing lower than sixth.  The Mids are currently 13th in the country in rushing (236.7).
• The Navy defense has given up just 79 points over the last five games (20 quarters plus one overtime), allowing three points to VMI, 12 to San Jose State, 21 to Air Force, 13 to Central Michigan and 30 to Indiana. It is the fewest points allowed over a five-game stretch since 2009.
• For the seventh year in a row, the Naval Academy finished in the top five in the country for graduating NCAA student-athletes on the FBS level.  Navy graduated 100 percent of its student-athletes in six of the 20 NCAA sports reported.  Overall, 96 percent of Navy’s student-athletes that enrolled from 2000-03 graduated.
• Senior outside linebacker Keegan Wetzel scored a perfect 1600 on his SAT and is believed to be the only current FBS player in the country to accomplish such a feat.  He carries a 3.89 GPA in systems engineering and is an Academic All-America candidate and a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete-of-the-Year candidate.  Wetzel has also been a force on the field for the Midshipmen, recording 36 tackles, a team-high 8.5 tackles for a loss and a team-high four sacks.  He has also recovered a fumble and broken up a pass.
• Keenan Reynolds is the first freshman to start at quarterback for Navy since Jim Kubiak started five games in 1991 and is just the third freshman in school history to start at quarterback (the other was Alton Grizzard in 1987). Reynolds is 2-0 as a starting quarterback with wins over Central Michigan and Indiana.  Kubiak won just one game as a freshman starter and Grizzard won two.
• Navy has played 12 true freshmen so far this year, which is tied as the ninth most in the country.
• Navy has had 17 players make their first career starts this fall, which is the fourth most in the country.
• Sophomore punter Pablo Beltran is off to a great start in 2012, averaging 45.1 yards per punt (25 punts). He would stand 10th in the country in punting if he qualified (must average 3.1 punts per game).
• Freshman Nick Sloan is one of just 16 true freshman kickers starting in the FBS this year.  He is 7-for-7 on field goals and 17-for-17 on extra-points. He is one of just two kickers in the country that has not missed a kick all year (field goals or extra-points). The other is Jeremy Shelly of No. 1-ranked Alabama.
• Navy owns a 6-3 record all-time in overtime games, winning six of its last seven.
• Navy owns a 79-43 (.648) record over the last 10 years after posting a 3-30 (.091) mark from 2000-02. The 79 wins are tied as the 21st most in the county during that time period.
• Senior guard Josh Cabral and slot back Gee Gee Greene have started 32 consecutive games for the Midshipmen, while senior linebacker Matt Warrick has started 21 in a row and senior safety Tra’ves Bush 17 straight.
• Navy has turned the ball over 12 times this season (nine lost fumbles and three interceptions) after committing just 15 turnovers in 2011 (nine lost fumbles and six interceptions).  The Mids have not turned the ball over in the last three games.
• Navy is 28-4 (.875) under Ken Niumatalolo when scoring first and 8-20 (.286) when the opponent scores first.
• Under Niumatalolo, the Mids are 22-3 (.880) when leading after the first quarter and 14-21 (.400) when trailing or tied after the first stanza.
• Navy owns a 17-7 (.708) record in games played at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium under Niumatalolo and is 19-17 (.528) away from home.
• Niumatalolo holds Navy coaching records for most wins in the first two seasons (18), three seasons (27) and four seasons (32) of a career.

Defensive Scores    
• Jordan Drake’s 24-yard interception return for a touchdown against Indiana was Navy’s second interception return for a touchdown this year.  Matt Warrick had a seven-yard interception return for a touchdown against VMI in the third game of the season.
• The two defensive scores are the most by a Navy defense in the same season since 2008 when Navy had three defensive touchdowns (Ram Vela interception return against Army, Clint Sovie fumble return against Temple andRashawn King fumble return against Wake Forest).
• It is the first time that Navy has returned two interceptions for a touchdown in the same season since 2004 when David Mahoney (Rutgers) and Josh Smith (Army) turned the trick.

Looking For Four-Straight Wins
• Navy will be looking to win its fourth consecutive game for the first time since the end of the 2010 season when the Midshipmen won four in a row to end the regular season (76-35 over East Carolina, 38-37 over Central Michigan, 35-19 over Arkansas State and 31-17 over Army) .

Keeping The Opponents Off The Scoreboard
• The Navy defense has given up just 79 points over the last five games (20 quarters plus one overtime), allowing three points to VMI, 12 to San Jose State, 21 to Air Force, 13 to Central Michigan and 30 to Indiana.
• It is the fewest points Navy has allowed over a five-game stretch since 2009 when the Mids surrendered a combined 79 points to Notre Dame (21), Delaware (18), Hawai’i (24), Army (3) and Missouri (13).

Navy vs. the BCS / Non-BCS
• Since 2003, Navy has won 19 games against schools from a BCS conference.  The 19 wins against BCS schools during that time period, which have come against 10 different teams, are the most in the country by a non-BCS school.
• Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo has eight wins against teams from a BCS conference since taking over the program at the end of the 2007 season.
• Navy’s 19 wins against BCS schools have come against Vanderbilt (`03, `04), Duke (`04, `05, `06, `07), Rutgers (`04, `08), Stanford (`06), Connecticut (`06), Pitt (`07), Notre Dame (`07, `09, `10), Wake Forest (`08, `09, `10), Missouri (`09) and Indiana (`12).

Freshman Kicker
• Freshman Nick Sloan beat out five other kickers in preseason camp to earn the job as Navy’s kicker on field goals and PATs.  He made his first career field goal attempt from 26 yards against Notre Dame and also made his only PAT attempt.
• He is 7-for-7 on field goals and 17-for-17 on extra-points for the year. He is one of only two kickers in the country that has not missed a kick (extra point or field goal) this fall.  The other is Jeremy Shelly, the starting kicker for No. 1-ranked Alabama.
• Sloan is one of just 16 true freshman kickers starting in the FBS this year.  His 38 points are tied for the ninth most by a freshman this season.
• He is the first freshman to start at kicker for Navy since 1996 when Tim Shubzda started multiple games, including the opener against Rutgers.  Shubzda connected on four-of-six field goal attempts and all six of his PAT’s as a freshman, splitting time with Jason Covarubbias and Tom Vanderhorst.

Close Calls
• Navy lost five games in 2011 by a total of 11 points.  The five losses by eight points or less were tied for the fifth most in the country and cost the Mids a ninth-consecutive bowl game.
• The Mids are 2-0 this year in close encounters, knocking off Air Force by seven in overtime and beating Indiana by one.
• The Mids are 16-13 (.552) under head coach Ken Niumatalolo in games decided by eight points or less.

Setting the Stage
• Navy and Indiana will meet for the third time on the gridiron when they square off Saturday afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (34,000).  Kickoff is set for 3:34 pm and the presenting sponsors for Saturday’s game are SAIC and Verizon Wireless.
• This will be the first meeting between the two schools since 1986 when Indiana won 52-29 in Bloomington.  Navy is scheduled to open up the 2013 season in Bloomington on Sept. 7.
• Indiana’s trip to Annapolis will mark the first Big Ten team to play at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium since 2002 when Northwestern defeated Navy, 49-40.
• Saturday is Homecoming for Navy.  Navy is 38-24 all-time on Homecoming, but have lost two straight and five of the last six on Homecoming.  Last year, Navy lost to East Carolina, 38-35.  Navy’s last win on Homecoming came in 2009 when the Mids edged Wake Forest, 13-10.
• Saturday’s game will be televised nationally by CBS Sports Network with Grant Boone, former Oakland Raider Pro Bowl tight end Todd Christensen and Sheehan Stanwick-Burch calling the action.

Game Day Festivities
• Pregame festivities will get underway at approximately 1:00 pm with the Navy Football Team Walk.  Originating at the Blue Angel in the southwest corner of the stadium, the team will make its way down the sidewalk and through NavyFest before walking up the drive to the stadium.  Fans are encouraged to line up on both sides of the sidewalk to cheer for the team.
• The March-On of the Brigade of Midshipmen will take place at 3:09 pm.  The march-on will be broadcast live for Navy All-Access subscribers.
• Saturday’s fly-over will be two F-18′s and will take place at 3:31 pm. The pilots are based out of China Lake, Calif.
• Legendary Navy cross country coach Al Cantello will be honored at the second timeout in the first quarter.  Cantello is in his 50th year coaching at the Naval Academy and his 45th as the head men’s cross country coach. Since his arrival, the Midshipmen have been one of the most consistent men’s cross country programs, both regionally and nationally.  In 44 seasons at the helm of the cross country program, Cantello boasts a 241-69-1 career record.  Last season, Cantello led the Mids to their fourth consecutive Patriot League Championship, while garnering conference coach of the year accolades for the fourth straight season.
• Between the first and second quarter, the Naval Academy Athletic Association will honor the Navy women’s basketball team.  Head coach Stefanie Pemper guided the Mids to their second straight Patriot League title and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2012.  Navy defeated Holy Cross in the championship game, 57-48, as sophomore Jade Geif was named the Patriot League Tournament Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season.  The Mids fought valiantly before falling to Maryland, 59-44, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Scouting Indiana
•    The Hoosiers are 2-4 on the year with victories over Indiana State (24-17) and Massachusetts (45-6) and hard luck losses to Ball State (41-39), Northwestern (44-29), Michigan State (31-27) and Ohio State (52-49).
• Indiana is the only team in the country not to lose a fumble this year and its two turnovers are the fewest in the country.
•    Quarterback Cameron Coffman has been solid in replacing injured starter Tre Roberson, completing 108 of his 172 passes for 1,076 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception.
•    Shane Wynn is Coffman’s favorite target with 31 catches for 294 yards and five touchdowns. Cody Latimer has 27 catches for 431 yards and two touchdowns.
•    Stephen Houston has rushed for 368 yards and six touchdowns on 63 carries, while D’Angelo Roberts has carried the ball 50 times for 183 yards and two touchdowns.
•    On defense, Adam Replogle leads the Hoosiers with 41 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks, while David Cooper has 39 tackles and four tackles for a loss.
•    Indiana ranks 71st in the country in rushing offense (160.0), 15th in passing offense (313.0), 27th in total offense (473.0) and 32nd in scoring offense (35.5).
• The Hoosiers rank 109th in rush defense (221.2), 77th in pass defense (242.7), 103rd in total defense (463.8) and 92nd in scoring defense (31.8).

The Last Time …
Indiana 52, Navy 29    Sept. 20, 1986 | Bloomington, Ind.
• Indiana capitalized on four Navy turnovers and made good use of five big plays on offense to hand the Midshipmen a 52-29 defeat.
• The five key plays for the Hoosiers netted them 222 yards of offense and they added a 59-yard interception return that went for a touchdown.  The Mids fumbled the ball over on their second play from scrimmage in the game, with Indiana halfback Damon Swezy breaking loose for a 59-yard TD run on the next play.
• John Berner’s seven-yard run pulled the Mids even, but Indiana added a field goal late in the first period and then erupted for 28 second-quarter points, 21 of them the result of turnovers.
• Navy bounced back in the third period with 19 points, as tailback Chuck Smith scored from the four and from the one.  But the Hoosiers stemmed the comeback with a touchdown of their own, a 33-yard run by quarterback Dave Kramme.

Navy Vs. The Big 10
• Navy is 26-42-3 (.387) all-time against teams currently in the Big 10 Conference.
• The Mids lost earlier this year to Penn State, 34-7.  Navy last beat a team from the Big 10 in 1979 when Navy beat Illinois, 13-12.
• Navy is scheduled to play at Indiana on Sept. 7, 2013, and will play host to Ohio State on Aug. 30, 2014, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

Navy Quick Hitters
• Opening the year against Notre Dame in Dublin and at Penn State was the toughest opening two games in school history.
• In the last 40 years, Navy has started the year with two opponents from BCS conferences just eight times and only twice (2005 and 1982) did the Mids go on to have a winning record.
• Navy last beat a team from the Big 10 in 1979 when Navy beat Illinois in Champaign, 13-12.
• Navy has been the dominant Service Academy over the last decade going 18-2 against Army (10-0) and Air Force (8-2), winning seven-consecutive Commander-In-Chief’s Trophies from 2003-09 and going to eight straight bowl games from 2003-10.
• Navy will join the BIG EAST for football only starting in 2015.
• The Navy defense has given up just 49 points over the last four games (16 quarters plus one overtime), allowing three points to VMI, 12 to San Jose State, 21 to Air Force and 13 to Central Michigan.  It is the fewest points Navy has allowed over a four-game stretch since 1981 when the Mids surrendered a combined 46 points to Yale (23), Air Force (13), Boston College (10) and William & Mary (0).
• Since 2003, Navy has won 18 games against schools from a BCS conference.  The 18 wins against BCS schools during that time period are the most in the country by a non-BCS school.  Navy’s wins against BCS schools have come against Vanderbilt (`03, `04), Duke (`04, `05, `06, `07), Rutgers (`04, `08), Stanford (`06), Connecticut (`06), Pitt (`07), Notre Dame (`07, `09, `10), Wake Forest (`08, `09, `10) and Missouri (`09).
• Navy’s three losses this season (Notre Dame, Penn State and San Jose State) have come at the hands of opponents that are a combined 14-4 (.778) on the year.  Notre Dame (6-0) is currently ranked fifth in the country, while Penn State (4-2) is receiving votes in the AP Poll (it is ineligible for the USA Today/Coaches Poll).  San Jose State (4-2) was receiving votes before being knocked off by Utah State, 49-27, last week.
• For the seventh year in a row, the Naval Academy finished in the top five in the country for graduating NCAA student-athletes on the FBS level.  Navy graduated 100 percent of its student-athletes in six of the 20 NCAA sports reported.  Overall, 96 percent of Navy’s student-athletes that enrolled from 2000-03 graduated.
• Senior outside linebacker Keegan Wetzel scored a perfect 1600 on his SAT and is believed to be the only current FBS player in the country to accomplish such a feat.  He carries a 3.89 GPA in systems engineering and is an Academic All-America candidate and a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete-of-the-Year candidate.  Wetzel has also been a force on the field for the Midshipmen, recording 28 tackles, a team-high 5.5 tackles for a loss and a team-high four sacks.  He has also recovered a fumble and broken up a pass.
• Over the last 11 years, Navy has consistently been one of the nation’s top rushing teams, never finishing lower than sixth.  The Mids are currently 14th in the country in rushing (233.3).
• Navy has played 11 true freshmen this year, which is tied for the 15th most in the country.
• Navy has had 15 players make their first career starts this fall, which is tied for the fourth most in the country.
• Keenan Reynolds is the first freshman to start at quarterback for Navy since Jim Kubiak started five games in 1991. Reynolds won his first-career start, 31-13 over Central Michigan.
• Sophomore punter Pablo Beltran is off to a great start in 2012, averaging 45.5 yards per punt (22 punts). He stands 10th in the country in punting, while Navy is 16th in the country in net punting (40.7).
• Freshman Nick Sloan is one of just 16 true freshman kickers starting in the FBS this year.  He is 6-for-6 on field goals and 13-for-13 on extra-points.  He is one of four kickers in the FBS that has yet to miss a kick (field goal or extra point).
• Navy owns a 6-3 record all-time in overtime games, winning six of its last seven.
• Navy is tied for 94th in the country in red zone offense, scoring on just 13 of 18 chances.  Five of the 13 scores have been field goals.  The Mids are 7-7 in the red zone the last two games (4-4 against Air Force and 3-3 against Central Michigan).
• The Mids are ranked 25th in the country in red zone defense, allowing 13 scores on 18 opportunities.  Six of the 13 scores have been field goals.
• Navy owns a 78-43 (.645) record over the last 10 years after posting a 3-30 (.091) mark from 2000-02.  The 78 wins are tied for the 22nd-most wins in the country during that span.
• Senior guard Josh Cabral and slot back Gee Gee Greene have started 31 consecutive games for the Midshipmen, while senior linebacker Matt Warrick has started 20 straight games.
• Navy is 28-4 (.875) under Ken Niumatalolo when scoring first and 7-20 (.259) when the opponent scores first.
• Under Niumatalolo, the Mids are 22-3 (.880) when leading after the first quarter and 13-21 (.382) when trailing or tied after the first stanza.
• The Mids are 18-5 (.783) under Niumatalolo when rushing for 300 yards or more and 17-19 (.472) when the offense is held under 300 yards rushing.
• Navy has turned the ball over 12 times this season (nine lost fumbles and three interceptions) after committing just 15 turnovers in 2011 (nine lost fumbles and six interceptions).  Junior quarterback Trey Miller has been responsible for 10 of Navy’s 12 turnovers (seven fumbles and three interceptions) with five of those turnovers coming inside the opponent’s 30-yard line.
• The Navy offense has lost nine fumbles this year after losing just nine fumbles in 12 games a year ago.  The Mids are tied for the sixth most lost fumbles in the country.
• Indiana is the only team in the country not to lose a fumble this year and its two total turnovers are the fewest in the country.
• Navy ranks 99th in the country in third down offense, converting just 25 of 52 tries (.347).  The Mids are 11-17 (.647) on fourth down, which ranks 31st in the country.
• The Navy defense ranks 100th in third down defense, giving up 34 conversions in 73 attempts (.466).  The Mids held Central Michigan to 2-10 (.200) third down conversions last week.
• Opponents, however, are just 2-for-8 (.250) when going for it on fourth down against the Navy defense, which ranks as the 15th best fourth down defense in the country.
• Navy owns a 16-7 (.696) record in games played at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium under Niumatalolo and is 19-17 (.528) away from home.
• Niumatalolo holds Navy coaching records for most wins in the first two seasons (18), three seasons (27) and four seasons (32) of a career.  His 35 wins in five seasons is tied with Wayne Hardin for second-most.

Reynolds Leads Mids To 31-13 Victory Over Central Michigan
• Freshman quarterback Keenan Reynolds threw for 134 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 59 more yards to lead Navy to a 31-13 victory over Central Michigan.
• Reynolds, who was the first freshman to start at quarterback at Navy since Jim Kubiak in 1991, is the first Navy quarterback to throw three touchdowns since Chris McCoy against Colgate in 1991.
• Navy won the coin toss and elected to receive with Reynolds promptly driving the Mids 74 yards on eight plays.  On the first play of the game he hit senior slot back Bo Snelson down the middle for 26 yards and on the final play of the drive he hit senior wide receiver Brandon Turner with a 23-yard touchdown strike to put the Mids up 7-0.
• After a Central Michigan field goal, Reynolds led Navy on a 66-yard drive, this time hitting senior slot back Gee Gee Greene with a 19-yard touchdown pass to make the score 14-3.
• Central Michigan cut Navy’s lead to 17-13 thanks to a touchdown right before the end of the half, followed by a field goal on the first drive of the third quarter.  Navy, however, answered with an 11-play, 61-yard drive that ate up 5:29 on the clock as senior fullback Prentice Christian scored his first career touchdown from two yards out to push the Mids’ lead to 24-13.
• After the Navy defense held the CMU offense to a three-and-out, Reynolds hit Greene with a 41-yard touchdown pass on the first play to make the score 31-13.
• Sophomore fullback Noah Copeland led the Mids in rushing with 70 yards on 15 carries, while Christian tacked on 64 yards on 13 carries.
• The Navy defense was sensational all night, playing perhaps its best game of the year against the high-powered Chippewa attack.
• Navy held Central Michigan to 221 yards of total offense, including just 70 on the ground.  CMU managed just 12 first downs against the Mids.
• Sophomore corner Parrish Gaines led Navy with seven tackles and a tackle for a loss, while senior safety Tra’ves Bushrecorded six tackles.  Senior outside linebacker Keegan Wetzel was in on five tackles, two tackles for a loss, a sack and a pass break-up, while senior defensive end Wes Henderson recorded four tackles, two tackles for a loss, a sack and a pass break-up.

Looking For Three-Straight Wins
• Navy will be looking to win its third consecutive game for the first time since the end of the 2010 season when the Midshipmen won four in a row to end the regular season (76-35 over East Carolina, 38-37 over Central Michigan, 35-19 over Arkansas State and 31-17 over Army) .

Keeping The Opponents Off The Scoreboard
• The Navy defense has given up just 49 points over the last four games (16 quarters plus one overtime), allowing three points to VMI, 12 to San Jose State, 21 to Air Force and 13 to Central Michigan.
• It is the fewest points Navy has allowed over a four-game stretch since 1981 when the Mids surrendered a combined 46 points to Yale (23), Air Force (13), Boston College (10) and William & Mary (0).

As always, this week’s 15-7-0 is brought to you by Roofing By Elite. Visit them at roofingbyelite.com. We make 15 observations about football ELITE, 7 about football “not so ELITE” and one “zero” who deserves to sleep on the roof from outside of football.

(As a reminder, we don’t do Baltimore Ravens game analysis here. We do PLENTY of that elsewhere. This is about the rest of the world of football.)

“The ELITE 15″…

1. Sometimes a single player can be a real program changer. For Maryland, Stefon Diggs might well be that player.

He at least does a hell of a Jacoby Jones impression…

Maryland improved to 4-2 (2-0 ACC) with a 27-20 win over Virginia despite Perry Hills being their leading rusher with SEVEN FLIPPING YARDS.

Also, Pe’Shon Howard looked pretty good in the new Terps’ hoops uniforms…

2. I hate saying it, but it’s awfully fun to watch Robert Griffin III play football.

It’s sorta not fair. The Minnesota Vikings were playing real football while the Skins’ QB was playing Madden from the year Michael Vick was on the cover…

Ugh. Now we have to hear DC fans running their mouths all week. Well, maybe all of them except this guy.

Also-I hope the Vikings enjoyed their taste of people thinking they were good for a week. The Cardinals waive hello, but we’ll get back to them.

3. ALERT! ALERT! Shonn Greene still plays in the NFL.

161 yards and 3TD’s for the New York Jets RB in a blowout loss over the Indianapolis Colts. But no, I’m GLAD I picked up Vick Ballard before getting trounced in Fantasy Football.

Also, tt was so totally worth putting Tim Tebow in for punt protection so you could one day be able to do this in a blowout win!

And…

4. The reports of LSU’s demise were greatly exaggerated.

I mean, just ask these guys!

Steve Spurrier isn’t really sure if he’s mad about his Gamecocks’ performance…

The East-West SEC showdown actually split a few households…

So now we wait for LSU-Alabama III…or IV…or who the eff knows why don’t we just play this game a hundred times to determine a national champ every year?

5. For Orioles fans who haven’t been paying as much attention to college football this season, Kansas State QB Collin Klein is in the “name to know” category.

It wasn’t an overwhelming performance for the Heisman Trophy candidate in Kansas State’s narrow win over Iowa State, but his three rushing TD’s looked better in a week where Geno Smith didn’t particularly shine…

K-State and WVU tangle next week. It had a chance to mean even more, but it still looks like kind of a big deal.

6. The Atlanta Falcons only needed 40 seconds on the clock to come back and beat the Raiders.

Matt Ryan was FAR from brilliant, but Matt Bryant bailed him out at the end to keep the Falcons perfect.

Do you feel like LOL-ing today? Here’s Carson Palmer trying to make a tackle…

Also part of the reason the Falcons are the only undefeated team left in the NFL? Harry Douglas’ concentration…

7. You like that Russell Wilson gets to actually enjoy a last second miracle win this time.

Because this time it really WAS a catch!

Let’s enjoy this grab from Doug Baldwin…

Wes Welker would tell you what he thought of the game, but it would probably come out sounding like “BROWNAHHHHH”…

I think it’s appropriate to wrap up this one with the most Tom Brady thing EVER…

Oh I almost forgot. Richard Sherman Tweeted something funny postgame…

Setting the Stage
• Navy and Central Michigan will meet for the third time on the gridiron when they square off Friday night at Kelly/Shorts Stadium (30,255).  Kickoff is set for 8:00 pm.
• Navy, who leads the series, 2-0, won a thrilling 38-37 decision over Central Michigan in 2010 when the Chippewas were unable to capitalize on a two-point conversion with four seconds remaining in the contest.  The Mids also beat the Chippewas in 2003, 63-34.
• Friday night’s game will be Navy’s first trip to Central Michigan. Furthermore, this will be the Mids’ first trip to the state of Michigan since 2006 when Navy defeated Eastern Michigan, 49-21, at Ford Field.
• Friday’s game will be televised nationally by ESPN2 with Carter Blackburn, Rod Gilmore and Jemele Hill calling the action.

Navy Quick Hitters
• Opening the year against Notre Dame in Dublin and at Penn State was the toughest opening two games in school history.
• In the last 40 years, Navy has started the year with two BCS opponents just eight times and only twice (2005 and 1982) did the Mids go on to have a winning record.
• Navy’s three losses this season (Notre Dame, Penn State and San Jose State) have come at the hands of opponents that are a combined 13-3 on the year (.813).  Notre Dame (5-0) is currently ranked seventh in the country, while San Jose State (4-1) and Penn State (4-2) are both receiving votes.
• Navy has been the dominant Service Academy over the last decade going 18-2 against Army (10-0) and Air Force (8-2).
• Navy will join the BIG EAST for football only starting in 2015.
• Senior outside linebacker Keegan Wetzel scored a perfect 1600 on his SAT and is believed to be the only current FBS player in the country to accomplish such a feat.  He carries a 3.89 GPA in systems engineering and is an Academic All-America candidate.  Wetzel has also been a force on the field, recording 23 tackles, four tackles for a loss, three sacks and a fumble recovery this season.
• Sophomore punter Pablo Beltran is off to a great start in 2012, averaging 45.4 yards per punt (19 punts). He stands 12th in the country in punting, while Navy is 20th in net punting (40.1).
• Freshman Nick Sloan is one of just 16 true freshman     kickers starting in the FBS this year.  He is 5-for-5 on field goals and 9-for-9 on extra-points.  He is one of five kickers in the FBS that has yet to miss a kick.
• Over the last 11 years, Navy has consistently been one of the top rushing teams in the country, never finishing lower than sixth.
• Navy owns a 6-3 record all-time in overtime games and has won six of its last seven games that went to overtime.
• The Mids are ranked 19th in the country in red zone defense, allowing 11 scores in 16 opportunities.  Last week against Air Force, the Navy defense did not allow a score on three Falcon opportunities.
• Navy owns a 77-43 (.642) record over the last 10 years after posting a 3-30 (.091) mark from 2000-02.  The 77 wins are tied for the 22nd-most wins in the country during that span.
• Senior guard Josh Cabral and slot back Gee Gee Greene have started 30 consecutive games for the Midshipmen.
• The Mids have been shut out in the first quarter in nine of the last 13 games dating back to last year and have not scored a touchdown in the first quarter in 12 of the last 14 contests.
• Navy has been outscored, 37-3, in the first quarter this year and 89-23 in the first quarter over the last 14 games dating back to last year.
• Navy is 27-4 (.870) under Ken Niumatalolo when scoring first and 7-20 (.259) when the opponent scores first.
• Navy has turned the ball over 12 times this season (nine lost fumbles and three interceptions) after committing just 15 turnovers in 2011 (nine lost fumbles and six interceptions).  Junior quarterback Trey Miller has been responsible for 10 of Navy’s 12 turnovers (seven fumbles and three interceptions) with five of those turnovers coming inside the opponent’s 30-yard line.
• Under Niumatalolo, the Mids are 21-3 (.875) when leading after the first quarter and 13-21 (.382) when trailing or tied after the first stanza.
• Navy has been held under 300 yards rushing in 10 of its last 17 games and the Mids are just 2-8 (.200) in those games (Army in 2011 and Air Force in 2012 are the two wins)
• The Mids are 18-5 (.783) under Niumatalolo when rushing for 300 yards or more and 16-19 (.457) when the offense is held under 300 yards rushing.
• An opposing running back has rushed for over 100 yards in a game against Navy in 10 of the last 17 contests.  In the previous 40 games, Navy surrendered only nine 100-yard rushing games to opposing running backs.
• Navy is tied for 107th in the country in red zone offense, scoring on just 10 of 15 chances.  The Mids did score on all four opportunities in the red zone the last time out against Air Force.
• The Navy offense has lost nine fumbles this year after losing just nine fumbles in 12 games a year ago.  The Mids are tied for the fourth nationally for most lost fumbles.
• Navy ranks 106th in the country in third down offense, converting just 18 of 56 tries (.321).
• The Navy defense ranks 111th in third down defense, giving up 32 conversions in 63 attempts (.508).  Opponents, however, are just 2-for-7 (.286) when going for it on fourth down against the Navy defense.
• Navy owns a 16-7 (.696) record in games played at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium under Niumatalolo and is 18-17 (.514) away from home.

Scouting Central Michigan
• The Chippewas are 2-3 on the year with victories over Southeast Missouri State (38-27) and Iowa (32-31) and losses to Michigan State (41-7), Northern Illinois (55-24) and Toledo (50-35).
• Quarterback Ryan Radcliff has completed 105 of his 179 pass attempts for 1,286 yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions.
• Radcliff’s favorite target is Cody Wilson, who has caught 33 passes for 394 yards.  Titus Davis has four touchdown catches among his 19 receptions on the year.
• Zurlon Tipton leads the Chippewas in rushing with 447 yards and six touchdowns on 72 carries..
• The defense is led by Justin Cherocci, who has recorded 47 tackles on the year.  Shamari Benton has been in on 40 tackles.

The Last Time … 
Navy 38, Central Michigan 37    Nov. 13, 2010 | ANNAPOLIS, MD.
• Quarterback Kriss Proctor, making just his third-career start, rushed for 201 yards and a touchdown on just 20 carries to lead Navy to a thrilling 38-37 victory over Central Michigan in front of 34,333 fans at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
• In a game that featured little defense, the two teams combined for 75 points and 965 yards of total offense as Navy clinched a winning season for the eighth-consecutive year.
• The Mids trailed 24-21 at the half, but outscored the Chippewas 14-0 in the pivotal third quarter.
• Proctor put the Mids up for good with a four-yard touchdown run on Navy’s first drive of the third quarter (28-24).
• The Mids made it 35-24 on their next drive as John Howell scored his first career rushing TD from six yards out.
• Defensive end Billy Yarborough stopped a Central Michigan fake punt on the next series and the Mids would convert it to points when Joe Buckley made a 35-yard field goal with 7:27 left in the contest.
• Central Michigan answered Buckley’s field goal with a 10-play, 72-yard drive with Zurlon Tipton scoring from the one-yard line to trim the Navy lead to 38-31 with 3:04 remaining.
• The Mids would pick up just one first down on their next possession with the Chippewas stopping Gee Gee Greene for a loss of two yards on third-and-three from the Navy 38.
• After Kyle Delahooke’s 49-yard punt, Central Michigan took the ball over at its own 20 with just 1:04 left.
• After Central Michigan quarterback Ryan Radcliff threw incomplete on first down, he hit consecutive passes for 16, 24 and 25 yards to move the ball down to the Navy 15-yard line.
• After a spike and an incompletion, Radcliff hit Carl Volny for eight yards on third down and then found Cody Wilson in the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-two to pull CMU within one point.  Chippewas head coach Dan Enos elected to go for the win and Radcliff’s pass in the back of the end zone was high, giving Navy a 38-37 victory.

Navy Scores Final 15 Points To Beat Air Force For The Eighth Time In The Last 10 Meetings
• Freshman quarterback Keenan Reynolds came off the bench for an injured Trey Miller and led the Mids to 15 consecutive points as Navy rallied for a 28-21 overtime victory over Air Force in front of 38,927 fans at Falcon Stadium.
• The Mids trailed 21-13 with 9:03 remaining when Reynolds came on for Miller, who had reinjured his left ankle on the previous series.
• Reynolds hit senior wide receiver Brandon Turner for seven yards on first down and 10 from his own 25 and then threw a swing pass to senior slot back Gee Gee Greene for 35 yards to move the ball down to the 33.
• After sophomore fullback Noah Copeland picked up three yards on first down, Reynolds hit junior wide receiver Casey Bolena for 13 yards and a first down at the Air Force 17.
• Copeland ran for two yards on first down and then Reynolds ran it in from 15 yards out on second down to pull the Mids to within two points.
• The Mids went for two and Reynolds pitched to Copeland, who broke one tackle before diving into the end zone to tie the game.
• Navy got the ball first in overtime where it moved the necessary 25 yards in seven plays, scoring the go-ahead touchdown when sophomore guard Jake Zuzek fell on a fumbled snap between Reynolds and sophomore centerTanner Fleming in the end zone for a touchdown.
• The Navy defense, which had forced three turnovers in the first half, stood strong again in overtime as sophomore outside linebacker Josh Tate dropped Cody Getz for a gain of two on first down, senior safety Tra’ves Bush and senior linebacker Brye French stopped quarterback Connor Dietz for a gain of three on second down and then senior linebacker Matt Warrick tripped up Dietz for a loss of one on third down.  On fourth-and-six from the 21, senior defensive end Wes Henderson knocked down the Dietz pass as the Navy bench stormed the field.
• Miller led the Mids with 110 yards on 18 carries, while Copeland rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.  Greene ran for 58 yards on nine carries.
• Bush led the Mids in tackles with 12 and recovered a fumble, while Warrick had 11 stops, including two for a loss. Junior linebacker Cody Peterson recorded a career-best 10 stops and a tackle for a loss.
• Senior outside linebacker Keegan Wetzel and freshman corner Quincy Adams each had a fumble recovery.
• Freshman kicker Nick Sloan was perfect on the day, making all three extra-points and going two-for-two on field goals (39 and 41 yards.)  His career-long 41-yard field goal into the wind with 9:03 in the game cut the Air Force lead to 14-13.

Starting A Freshman At QB
• Starting quarterback Trey Miller injured his left ankle in the fourth quarter of the Air Force game and it is unknown at this time if he will be available for the Central Michigan game.
• If Miller is not available, Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo will turn to freshman Keenan Reynolds, who came off the bench and rallied Navy to a 28-21 overtime victory over Air Force with the Mids scoring the game’s final 15 points.
• If Reynolds gets the nod, he would be the first freshman to start at quarterback for Navy since 1991 when Jim Kubiak started five games.

Perfect Passing
• Navy was a perfect 6-for-6 passing for 74 yards against Air Force (both Trey Miller and Keenan Reynolds were 3-for-3).
• It marked just the second time in program history that Navy has had a perfect passing day.  The only other time was in 2010 when Navy was 2-for-2 in a 35-17 whipping of Notre Dame at the Meadowlands.

Fumbles    
• The Navy offense has lost nine fumbles this year after losing just nine in 12 games a year ago.
• The Mids are tied for the fourth-most lost fumbles in the country.

Third Down Troubles    
• Navy has struggled all year to keep drives alive on offense and to get off the field on defense.
• Navy ranks 106th in the country in third down offense, converting just 18 of 56 tries (.321).
• The Navy defense ranks 111th in third down defense, giving up 32 conversions on 63 attempts (.508).  Opponents, however, are just 2-for-7 (.286) when going for it on fourth down against the Mids.

Offense Struggling In The Red Zone    
• Navy is tied for 107th nationally in red zone offense, scoring on just 10 of 15 chances.  The Mids did score on all four opportunities the last time out against Air Force.
• Navy has scored six touchdowns, kicked four field goals, lost the ball once on downs and turned it over four times (three lost fumbles by quarterback Trey Miller and an interception by Miller).

Defense Playing Well In The Red Zone    
• The Mids are ranked 19th in the country in red zone defense, allowing 11 scores on 16 opportunities.  Last week against Air Force, the Navy defense did not allow a score on three Air Force opportunities.
• The opposition has scored seven touchdowns, kicked four field goals, missed a field goal, turned it over on downs twice, lost a fumble and threw an interception against Navy’s defense.

Warrick And Sloan Named Independent Players Of The Week
• Senior linebacker Matt Warrick was a physical presence in Navy’s 28-21 overtime victory at Air Force.  Warrick’s 11 tackles included two tackles for loss, the last of which forced the Falcons into a final-snap 4th down-and-6 that the Midshipmen stopped to cement the comeback win.  Warrick reached double-digit tackles for the sixth time in his Navy career. This is the third time in his career that he’s been named Independent Defensive Player of the Week.
• Freshman kicker Nick Sloan had a perfect day against Air Force, kicking field goals of 39 and 41 yards, and made both of his PAT attempts, helping the Midshipmen take a step toward securing the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy for the eighth time in the last 10 years.