Delaware 59, Navy 52
Navy Comes Up Short in a Shootout
Navy Surrenders 581 Yards To Division I-AA Delaware, Drops to 4-4 on the Season
Navy quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada can't get away from several Delaware defenders. Delaware is the sixth division I-AA team to defeat a division I-A team this season.
(Toni L. Sandys - The Post)
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Sunday, October 28, 2007
The blank looks and silence that the Navy football team took into the locker room following its game against Delaware yesterday belied that the Midshipmen had just gained 506 yards and scored 52 points.
A few seconds later, the Blue Hens left the field screaming and cheering. They had good reason, because they had just won, 59-52, before 35,213 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
It was the most points the Midshipmen (4-4) had scored in a game they lost; the previous high came in a 48-41 loss to Hawaii in 1999.
The Blue Hens (7-1) became the fifth team this season to score at least 40 points against Navy. By way of comparison, opponents had four such games from 2003 to '06. Delaware totaled 581 yards on offense.
"We don't tackle well," Navy Coach Paul Johnson said. "We don't rush the passer well. We don't cover well. . . . We tried everything I know of. We have to get better at what we have."
The first half could be summed up this way. Navy took a 28-21 lead following a two-yard touchdown run by junior Eric Kettani with 59 seconds left in the half, yet the score was tied at halftime.
The Blue Hens tied it at 28 on an 11-yard touchdown pass from senior Joe Flacco to junior Kervin Michaud with three seconds left.
Delaware took control late in the third quarter. A 34-yard touchdown pass from Flacco to junior Aaron Love gave the Blue Hens a 42-35 lead. The Midshipmen reached their 47 on the next drive but lost possession when Kettani fumbled with 1:32 left in the third.
As the quarter ended, the Delaware fans stood and cheered. Their team had the momentum and kept it following a 36-yard field goal by junior Jon Striefsky with 14:14 to play that extended the lead to 45-35.
Navy closed to 45-42 after two-yard touchdown run by senior Reggie Campbell. The Blue Hens answered with a drive to the Navy 1. The Midshipmen held on second down and third down.
On fourth and goal from the 1, the Blue Hens called an option. Sophomore Ram Vela was the outside defender on the play, and he made a crucial mistake. He chose to defend Flacco, a 230-pound drop-back passer, rather than senior Omar Cuff, who holds the school record for rushing touchdowns in a season. Cuff received the pitch and outran Vela to the corner of the end zone for a 52-42 lead with 5:51 to play.
Incredibly, however, Navy had one last trick. Delaware was victimized by a trick play in its only loss this season, a 35-30 defeat at New Hampshire three weeks ago. The Wildcats scored a crucial touchdown on a double pass.
