NAVY 24 Florida Atlantic University 17

NAVY FOOTBALL No. 9                                   

Observations from an Olde Poolie

November 3, 2012.  Navy 24 Florida Atlantic University 17.   Whew!  On a cold, blustery,  wintry-like day with a mixture of sun and clouds before over 29,000 chilled fans, Navy's football team fell behind 10 to 0 but woke up half way through the second quarter to rally behind QB Reynolds and score 24 unanswered points; then held on to notch their fifth straight win and qualify for a bowl game.



Navy went three and out it's first possession. Made one first down on it's next possession and Nick Sloan missed a 45 yard field goal attempt.   FAU took over on it's 28 yard line and used 15 plays to score early in the second quarter.  FAU 7 Navy 0. Again Navy managed one first down and got off a terrible 17 yard punt. FAU moved down and kicked a 53 yard FG to lead 10 – 0 with 8:57 remaining in the half.  Reynolds than went over the left side, and ran 48 yards to the FAU 33. After a 22 yard pass to SB Ryan Williams-Jenkins, Reynolds found WR Brandon Turner open in the end zone for a TD. FAU 10 Navy 7.  FAU drove to Navy's 15 but the defense held – with a big stop on fourth and two. With a little over two minutes remaining, Reynolds then led an 84 yard drive in 6 plays and scored on a one yard run.  Navy 14 FAU 10 with 0:07 seconds left.



Navy took the second half kick-off and drove 67 yards in nine plays consuming 4:10 minutes. Reynolds, even with a windy condition, drilled a perfect 31 yard pass to Turner for his second TD.  Navy 21 FAU 10.  The defense held. The Midshipmen got to the 15 yard line;  then Sloan kicked a 20 yard FG. Navy 24 FAU 10.  Navy seemed to be in control but Reynolds injured his left elbow and had  go to the locker room for treatment. On his first snap, QB Miller and FB Christian muffed a hand-off and FAU recovered at the Navy 39. Seven plays later the Owls scored to close to 24 – 17 with 9:07 remaining.  Navy, behind Reynolds, got to the 34 yard line but Sloan's 51 yard FG attempt was wide.  FAU drove to Navy's 15. The defense held – DE Quessenbury  pressured the QB – and Navy took over at their own 21. With 4:10 left, Reynolds carried the ball on every play, picking up three first downs and ran out the clock.



This was a big win against a tough team The Owls essentially had nine men on the line and Navy had to adjust. Reynolds had 159 yards rushing. He was 8-15-0 for 147 yards and two TDs passing.  Navy gained a total of 246 yards on the ground. They had the ball 30:22 to 29:38.



The sixth win qualifies Navy to participate in the KRAFT FIGHT HUNGER BOWL in San Francisco on December 29, 2012 (4pm EST) at the AT&T Park (Giant's baseball stadium) against a team from the PAC-12  Conference.  It will be the ninth bowl game for Navy in ten years.

Army (2-7) broke a 13 game skid against service academy teams by beating  Air Force 41 – 21. Army led 35 – 7 but AF scored two TDs in the last quarter.

Next week Navy travels to southern Alabama to take on the 4-5 Troy Trojans.  Last week Troy lost to FAU in the last 17 seconds. Yesterday  they lost to Tennessee in a shoot-out 55-48.  Tennessee  scored 21 points in the last quarter to win. Troy completed 38 – 60 passes for 393 yards. They also had 225 rushing.  The Midshipmen could be in for a long day.

Navy's Schedule   (5 – 3)

Sept. 1   Notre Dame 50 Navy 10

Sept. 8   At Penn State 34  Navy 7  

Sept. 22  Navy 41  VMI 3  

Sept. 29 San Jose State 12 Navy 0

Oct. 6  Navy 28  at Air Force 21 (OT)

Oct. 13 Navy 31 at Central Michigan 13.

Oct. 20 Navy 31 Indiana 30

Oct. 27  at East Carolina State  3:30 pm CBSSC

Nov.  3   Navy  24 Florida Atlantic 17

Nov.  10 at Troy  (Ala)  3:30 pm

Nov.  17  Texas State 3:30 pm

Dec.  8  ARMY  Philadelphia  3:00 pm 

Dec. 29  Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, San Francisco 4:00 pm 

                                                                                                         
Troy (Alabama) Trojans Schedule   (4-5)

Sept.  1  Troy  39 at UAB 29

Sept.  8  Louisiana Lafayette 37 Troy 24

Sept. 15  Mississippi State 30 Troy 24

Sept. 22  Troy 14 at No. Texas 7

Sept. 29  Troy 31 at So. Alabama 10

Oct.  13   West. Kentucky 31 Troy 26

Oct. 20   Troy 38 Florida International Un. 37

Oct. 27  Fla Atl. Un. 34 Troy 27

Nov.  3  at Tennessee 55 Troy 48

Nov.  10   NAVY  3:30 pm


GO NAVY BEAT THOSE TROJANS!