Tuani finished that game with three tackles for a loss, one sack and one pass breakup in what coaches deemed the crowning performance of a distinguished career that includes 14 sacks (fourth all-time at Navy) and 38½ tackles for a loss (third all-time). Tuani has 3½ sacks this year. It would take eight more to match the alll-time record.
“He’s been a great leader, and I still stick by my word: the best defensive lineman since I’ve been here,” said Niumatalolo, who’s been at Navy since 2002 as either head coach or an assistant. “Last week he was unbelievable. I mean getting pressure, deflecting balls, sacks, tackles for loss, getting push on runs plays. Just did a great job.”
Niumatalolo also referenced last year’s 34-31 loss to Duke, when Navy rallied from a 24-0 deficit to get within three points with 2 minutes 34 seconds to play. Then, after Duke recovered the Midshipmen’s onside kick attempt, Tuani made consecutive tackles for a loss and a third tackle that forced a punt and gave Navy the ball with 57 seconds to play.
Even though the comeback fell short, Tuani wound up with nine tackles, the second-highest total of his career, and one sack. In 2008, Tuani logged a career-high 10 tackles, including eight solo, and a forced fumble against Air Force in his first game against the fellow service academy.
Tuani finished that season as ECAC rookie of the year, beating out players from BCS schools such as West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Penn State and Boston College. That was the promising start to a career during which Tuani has played in all of Navy’s 50 games over four years, started 45 of the past 46 and survived the physical demands of Football Bowl Subdivision play despite standing just 6 feet 1.
In each of Tuani’s first three years, Navy won at least eight games. This year, the best the Midshipmen can do is seven wins, but considering where they were three weeks ago, that feat would be perhaps as gratifying as any on his long list of achievements.
“I definitely look back on everything that’s happened in the past, my freshman, sophomore year, and everything has come down to this year,” said Tuani, who’s played this season with a handful of ailments. “Obviously this year doesn’t seem necessarily as good as those previous years, but if we can do almost the impossible by winning the next game, beating Army and going to a bowl game, and winning the bowl game, this could be my best season here.”
Navy lost to Notre Dame on Oct. 29, 56-14, in a game that was all but settled by halftime, and there was legitimate concern the rest of the season could unravel given the team’s fragile spirit and 2-6 record. The defense was especially in question, having yielded at least 38 points for the third time in four weeks.
But since then, Navy has allowed an average of 15.5 points over the past two games, both against opponents with potent offenses. The Mustangs, for instance, had scored at least 38 points in five of their previous seven games, but Tuani was the primary reason they finished 12 points below their average.
“What people don’t realize is he’s played with a lot of injuries. He’s been banged up, but he’s continued to play hard every game,” Green said. “He gets double-teamed on pass rush. He gets the attention of everybody we play. He’s a leader on defense, and we’re going to miss him a lot. I don’t even want to think about it.”
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