Navy's Harmon Basks in Field Goal's Glow

As Matt Harmon walked off the practice field yesterday evening, he paused to ask Navy's sports information director if it was possible to get a copy of the broadcast of the Midshipmen's thrilling 23-21 victory over Rutgers. Harmon had yet to see any highlights from Saturday's game -- a shame, since it was his 24-yard field goal with 2 minutes 6 seconds remaining that provided the winning points.

Harmon's career at Navy has been marked by his consistency -- he has converted a school-record 60 consecutive extra points -- but also by two costly misses. As a sophomore against Tulsa, he had a point-after attempt blocked in overtime, and instead of forcing a second overtime, Navy lost, 24-23. Last year against Ball State, his 32-yard field goal attempt at the end of regulation was low and blocked; the game went into overtime and Navy lost, 34-31.

Both of those kicks were taken facing the north end zone at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, the same end of the field where Harmon lined up against Rutgers and made the first game-winner of his collegiate career.

"I'll remember last Saturday a lot more than the two before that. It's great to get that monkey off your back," Harmon said. "I try to treat every kick the same. Say a little prayer, and I know that Jarod [Bryant, the holder] and Scott [Reider, the long snapper] are going to get the job done and the line's going to block. Everybody's got a job, and if we all do it, we'll be fine."

Harmon is Navy's unquestioned top place kicker after spending the past two seasons splitting time with Joey Bullen. The senior has converted 9 of 10 field goal attempts this season, including his past eight. He missed a 47-yarder in the season opener against Towson, then hit a career-long 49 yarder the following week at Ball State. In his career, he has made 23 of 31 field goals; three of the misses have come from 45 yards or longer.

"What you're seeing now is because he worked his butt off," said Navy Coach Ken Niumatalolo, whose team is 2-2 and plays at No. 16 Wake Forest on Saturday. "He's stronger. . . . He's kicking with more confidence."

He's also trying not to think as much. Harmon, a former soccer player, comes from a family of kickers -- his older brother, Andrew, was a kicker at Gardner-Webb, and his younger brother, Ben, is kicking for his high school team -- and he turned to them for advice.

"Last year and the year before that, I'd kind of sit on the sidelines and think about it: I'd look at it and say, if we're on the 30, and we get four yards, it'll be however long a kick," Matt Harmon said. "This year, after talking to my brothers, I said I'm just going to go out and kick it. I don't care how far it is, I don't care what hash it's on -- every kick is a straight kick. It shouldn't matter how far back you are or what side you're on."

Harmon was recognized as one of three "Stars of the Week" by the Lou Groza National Collegiate Place-Kicker Award. And there was one other perk: Instead of getting up at 6:50 a.m., as he normally does, Harmon was able to sleep in until 8.

"They gave all the football players [in his company] a sleep-in," said Harmon, an economics major. "It was nice, because I had first period off so I had a little extra sleep before my accounting test today."

Midshipmen Notes: Defensive end Michael Walsh was on crutches with his right foot in a boot yesterday; he injured a toe against Rutgers, and is questionable for Saturday. Walsh is tied for the team lead in tackles for losses with two. . . . Linebacker Craig Schaefer (concussion) is probable. Right tackle Andrew McGinn, who has not played since suffering a concussion in the season opener, is doubtful.