Defending the triple-option offense has stymied some of the top minds in college football. But Saturday, in a meeting of option teams, neither Navy nor Georgia Southern had difficulty stopping each other.
But the defense most adept at the task was Navy’s in a 13-7 victory over a Georgia Southern team coached former Navy assistant coach Jeff Monken.
A Ricky Dobbs’ second-period touchdown, two Joe Buckley field goals, and the play of senior linebacker Tyler Simmons and junior defensive end Jabaree Tuani were the difference before 33,391 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis.
Just five days removed from an emotionally- and physically-draining 17-14 loss to Maryland, Navy (1-1) struggled against the FCS Eagles as standout quarterback Dobbs managed just 44 yards on 25 carries and the Navy offense rushed for its lowest total (109 yards) in eight years.
But the Midshipmen defense was stout throughout, holding Southern to 109 yards, the fewest for a Midshipmen opponent since 1997. Southern (1-1) got past the Navy 40-yard-line just once, cashing in for its lone touchdown early in the third period.
Tuani matched his career high with nine tackles, including 2.5 for a loss. Simmons had a career-high seven tackles, forced a fumble, and combined with Tuani for a sack. Senior nose guard Shane Bothel (7 tackles, sack, forced fumble) also excelled.
“We go into every game with that mindset, the game’s always on us,” said senior safety Wyatt Middleton. “We always want everything on our shoulders. We always want to carry the team.”
The Navy defense dominated the first half, paving the way for a 13-0 lead. Of Southern’s two first downs, one came via facemask penalty. The Mids appeared ready for whatever the Eagles tried.
“Their offense is a lot like ours,’ said Tuani. “I was just trying to play responsibility football. It reminded me of camp.”
The Navy offense had opportunities, but failed to maximize, settling for an 18-yard field goal by Buckley after driving to the Southern 1-yard-line on the game’s opening possession. That was followed by four Midshipmen possessions that failed to produce a first down.
After Bothel forced a fumble that senior defensive end Billy Yarborough recovered at the Southern 25, Navy went nowhere. But another Buckley field goal made it 6-0.
Navy got its lone touchdown after Southern failed to convert on a fake punt. Mids’ sophomore John Howell stuffed Eagles runner Tobi Akinniraye four yards short on a 4th and 5, and Navy took over at the Southern 40. The Mids converted their own 4th down play with a dive by Vince Murray (9 carries, 50 yards). Five plays later, Dobbs scored the 39th touchdown of his career.
“After last week, it felt good to finish,” said Dobbs, who fumbled three times near the goal line in the loss to Maryland, and was stopped at the 1 on the game’s deciding play.
Southern’s lone touchdown came after junior Laron Scott returned the second-half kickoff 49 yards as the Eagles crossed the 50-yard-line for the first time. Ten plays later, on 4th and 8, Southern junior quarterback Jaybo Shaw hit sophomore slot back J.J. Wilcox on a crossing pattern for a 17-yard touchdown play.
“I can’t repeat what I said at halftime,” said Monken. “I thought our guys needed to play with more confidence, like they were supposed to win the game. I thought we played that way in the second half.”
But the rest of the game belonged to the Navy defense, which allowed only three first downs on the Eagles’ final three possessions. Tuani came up big on two third down plays to end drives. Southern’s final possession was extinguished by a sack by junior Aaron McCauley.
“[Coaches] talked this whole week, we should step it up and somebody make a play so we could get off the field,” said Middleton.
Navy got the ball with 6 minutes, 8 seconds left, and didn’t give it up. The biggest play came when Dobbs, facing 3rd and 18, fired a bomb down the middle. Southern junior safety A.J. Gray had position, but Navy senior wide receiver Greg Jones wrestled the ball away on a 44-yard completion.
“I thought it might be like this, just the standpoint of two option teams that see each other all spring, that see each other all camp,” said Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo of facing the Mids’ mirror-image. Niumatalolo and Monken served together on the staff of former Navy coach Paul Johnson (2002-07).
With a game next week at Louisiana Tech, Navy will try to find a way to get room for Dobbs, who in two games has rushed 54 times for just 107 yards, for a 2.0 per-carry average.
“That’s the neat thing about this option,” said Dobbs. “If they focus on one person, that just opens it up for everyone else.”
