Middleton, Edwards gunning for one more
Does it get any more daunting than this?
You play for Navy. You’re a freshman starter. You’re part of a defense that just gave up 59 points in a home loss to I-AA Delaware. Now it’s on to Notre Dame, a team your school hasn’t beaten since Roger Staubach was your quarterback and man was just learning how to walk upright.
That’s the unenviable position in which safety Wyatt Middleton and cornerback Kevin Edwards found themselves in the fall of 2007.
But Middleton and Edwards helped turn the potential nightmare into their sweetest college football memory. Navy’s 46-44 victory in triple overtime snapped the longest losing streak in college football history (43 games), and established a new era in which the Midshipmen — despite recruiting disadvantages — would find a way to compete with Notre Dame and other powers.
“It was time for everybody to realize Navy can beat Notre Dame,” Middleton said. “Nobody thought that could be done.”
Saturday in the New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey, Middleton, Edwards and Navy (4-2) will try to topple Notre Dame (4-3) for the third time in four seasons.
“If we can do it, it would definitely set our class apart from any other class at the Naval Academy,” Edwards said.
Win or lose, the legacy of this senior class already is established. That was assured last year when Navy beat Notre Dame for a second time. Instead of the Mids toppling a nemesis in the midst of a down year, as was the case in 2007, they stunned an Irish team that was ranked No. 19, and did it in South Bend, 23-21.
“Freshmen year we upset ’em, then junior year we really upset ’em,” Middleton said.
Last year’s victory helped hasten the departure of Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis after five seasons. New coach Brian Kelly has installed a spread offense and has won three straight behind junior quarterback Dayne Crist (1,855 yards, 14 touchdowns) and junior wideout Michael Floyd (44 receptions, 624 yards, 6 touchdowns), who is questionable (hamstring).
It will be the task of Edwards and Middleton to derail the Irish passing game. Both have had their moments against Notre Dame.
Edwards’ start against the Irish in his freshman year was the first of his career and he made six tackles. Last year, Edwards made a key play, stopping Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen at the goal line, forcing a fumble.
As a freshman, Middleton had 14 tackles against Notre Dame. Last year, he had eight tackles and recovered a fumble. Middleton has always had added incentive against the Irish. His sister, Kellie, is a 2006 Notre Dame graduate.
“She’s been at every Navy-Notre Dame game,” he said. “That makes it a little more of a rivalry for me.”
