Navy has prided itself on playing solid special-teams and disciplined football all season long.
However, as the Midshipmen prepare to play at Connecticut next Saturday, they must find a way to return to that form after special-teams breakdowns and costly penalties played critical roles in their 24-23 overtime loss to Tulsa (3-1) Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis.
The biggest letdown on special teams came at the end of overtime, when Tulsa?s Nick Graham blocked Matt Harmon?s extra-point attempt. The play came just after Navy quarterback Brian Hampton connected with wide receiver O.J. Washington on a 25-yard touchdown pass to bring the Mids within one point.
Navy (3-1) also had a chance to win in regulation, but a holding penalty, followed one play later by a Tulsa sack on Hampton, forced the Midshipmen to punt.
“This game was more of a battle than our other games this year,” Hampton said. “We had some errors in the other games, but they didn?t hurt us. We had a lot less plays today, so they meant more.”
For the game, Navy got called for five penalties for 49 yards against Tulsa. In three previous games, the Midshipmen had seven penalties for 51 yards. Also, Harmon?s blocked extra point was Navy?s first miss of the year. He also missed a 37-yard field goal as time expired; it was his second miss of the year.
Navy coach Paul Johnson said his team cannot expect to win Saturday if it makes similar mistakes.
“What cost us the game [Saturday] were penalties and mistakes,” Johnson said. “Other than right at the end of the half, both teams had four possessions and scored on two of them. You cannot make mistakes when you are in a game like that.”
For Navy to bounce back, it also needs to improve on a passing defense that allowed 285 yards against Tulsa and is averaging 256 yards per game. Freshman safety Jeromy Miles led the defensive backfield with a career-best seven tackles. Senior linebacker Rob Caldwell led Navy overall with a season-high 13 stops and broke up a pass in the fourth quarter.
“We did all right in the secondary, but to win games we need to play better,” Miles said. “We made too many mistakes.”
Navy-Tulsa notes
» One of the most controversial moments of Saturday?s game came with 6:13 left in regulation after Tulsa?s Jarod Tracy was credited with a 29-yard field goal to tie the game with the 25-second play clock apparently expired. “Clearly the 25-second clock ran out,” Johnson said.
» Saturday?s game was the first overtime game in school history. Overtime began in college football in 1996.
» Brian Hampton led Navy with 137 yards rushing on 30 carries. He also went six of 11 passing for 73 yards with an interception and a touchdown.
» Tulsa quarterback Paul Smith completed 24 of 36 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns.
