Navy Football 2008 No. 9 Observations from an Olde Poolie
November 1, 2008 Navy 33 Temple 27 (OT). WOW! What an unbelievable comeback and win for a gutsy group of Midshipmen. Down 27 - 7 with 13 minutes to play, Navy, behind Ricky Dobbs, scored three touchdowns in the final quarter to win in overtime to stun Temple. It was a great day for football under blue skies and 60 degree temperatures before over 34,000 fans on senior day in Navy - Marine Corps Stadium. Temple was leading 27 - 20 with 1:41 left on the clock. They had a first down on their 45 and Navy was out of time outs. Kneel down three times and punt with maybe 10 seconds left in the game. In stead Temple tried to run the ball. DB Middleton grabbed the runner, LB Pospisil stripped the ball, and LB Captain Clint Sovie scooped up the ball and lumbered 42 yards for a touchdown Harmon's PAT was good to tie the game with 31 seconds left.
Navy took the opening kick-off and behind QB Kaheaku-Enhada marched 79 yards on the ground with Enhada scoring through a big hole to lead 7 - 0 after eight and a half minutes. Temple - using a variety of passes - went 75 yards in ten plays to tie the game 7 - 7 with 3:27 left in the quarter. Midway through the second quarter Navy recovered a fumble at it's own ten to prevent a Temple score.
Early in the third quarter, Temple scored on a 49 yard pass. Temple 14 Navy 7. Navy's offense struggled; and after each team punted, Temple scored again on a 49 yard pass to a receiver who was 20 yards past any defender. Temple 21 Navy 7. Soph. QB Dobbs replaced Enhada who re-injured his hamstring. On his first possession Dobbs was intercepted. After a 35 yard return another, 15 yards was added for a face mask penalty and Temple was at he Midshipmen 26. Four plays later they scored to lead 27 - 7 with 13:41 left in the game. Dobbs then led an 80 yard drive, including two good passes, then scored on a 22 yard pass to WR Thiel. Temple 27 Navy 14 with 9:16 left. The defense held and Temple punted to Navy's 36. Two passes good for 41 yards and Dobbs doing the ground work Navy moved to the two.. Kettani scored on a two yard run after a short and late pitch from Dobbs. The PAT attempt was blocked. Temple 27 Navy 20 with 2:52 remaining. Navy tried an on-sides kick but Temple recovered on their 32. The Owls made a first down then the Midshipmen, who never quit, picked up the fumble to force overtime.
Overtime. Navy won the toss and elected to go on defense first .At this point a lot of Midshipmen left their seats and moved to the south end of the field to cheer on the team. A lot of fans left midway through the quarter. After a 15 yard pass Temple had the ball at the ten. Another pass to the two. No gain on third down. A pass on 4th down to the back of the end zone was dropped - a defender helped. Navy then started at the 25. They stayed on the ground and Dobbs scored on a one yard plunge for the win.
The Midshipmen did not appear to play with 100 % intensity until the fourth quarter. Behind by 20 points they cranked up the intensity and made one of the biggest come backs in the history of Navy - Marine Corps Stadium. They never gave up! "I'm speechless. Things looked bleak there for awhile. I'm just kind of stunned right now," Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo said afterwards. "Our kids are unbelievable ... the way they won that game was unbelievable. Just the resiliency they showed to continue to fight and scratch and claw. Our kids played with great heart and determination today."
The Midshipmen had 293 yards on the ground with 57 carries. They were 8 - 12 -2 for 106 yards
passing. Kettani had 118 yards on 22 carries. Enhada 64 and Dobbs 47. Temple was 21 - 28 -0 and 340 yards passing. The Midshipmen will play in the inaugural EagleBank Bowl in RFK Stadium in Washington, DC on December 20.
On Friday night Navy's Sprint Team beat Army 26 - 0 to finish the season 7-0.
Air Force used three field goals to defeat Army 16 - 7 at West point.
Navy is off next week then take on the Fighting Irish at Noon on November 15 in Baltimore. Could be an exciting game.
Notre Dame's (5-3) Record
Sept. 6 Notre Dame 21 San Diego St. 13
Sept. 13 Notre Dame 35 Michigan 17
Sept. 20 @ Michigan St. 23 Notre Dame 7
Sept. 27 Notre Dame 38 Purdue 21
Oct. 4 Notre Dame 28 Stanford 21
Oct. 11 @ North Carolina 29 Notre Dame 24
Oct. 25 Notre Dame 33 @ Washington 7
Nov. 1 Pittsburgh 36 @ Notre Dame 33 (4ot)
Nov. 8 @ Boston Coll.
Nov. 15 @ Navy (Balt.) 12:00 CBS
2008 Navy Schedule ( 6-3)
Aug. 30 Navy 41 Towson 13
Sept. 5 at Ball State 35 Navy 24.
Sept. 13 at Duke 41 Navy 31.
Sept. 20 Navy 23 Rutgers 21
Sept. 27 Navy 24 at Wake Forest 17
Oct. 4 Navy 33 at Air Force 26
Oct. 18 Pittsburgh 42 Navy 21
Oct. 25 Navy 34 SMU 7
Nov. 1 Navy 33 Temple 27 (OT)
Nov. 15 Notre Dame (Balt.) 12:00 Noon (CBS)
Nov. 25 at Northern Illinois (Tues) 7 pm (ESPN2)
Dec. 6 Army (Phil.) 12:00 Noon (CBS)
GO NAVY BEAT NOTE DAME! GO NAVY BEAT ARMY!
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