Navy ran the ball extremely well, came up with some key defensive stops and did just enough to come away with a 28-23 win Saturday in its season opener against visiting East Carolina. But coach Paul Johnson and his entire Midshipman squad know while a lot went right, they still have plenty of work to do if they want to go to a fourth straight bowl game.
Facing one of the worst rushing defenses in the country from 2005, Navy put up 403 yards on the ground, including 149 on 34 carries from quarterback Brian Hampton. Those rushes also included a 16-play, 93-yard scoring drive, all of which came on the ground.
The Midshipmen also came up with a critical fumble recovery in the second quarter and stopped a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter when the Pirates tried to pull within a field goal.
However, Navy also lost two fumbles, gave up 283 passing yards and had trouble establishing any type of passing game. Hampton was just 2 for 6 for six yards in the air, and two of those incomplete passes were overthrown to wide-open receivers.
“At times, it wasn?t pretty, but they fought hard and they found a way to win,” Johnson said. “Certainly, we need to make a lot of adjustments, but as I told the team, 28 is better than 23.”
Johnson credited Hampton for his tough play and his ability to find a way to move the offense. At the same time, he knows there is plenty of room for improvement.
“It was rough,” Johnson said of Hampton?s first start. “He played hard and ran the ball hard. He did some things to build on. We need to get him to relax and throw the ball. To his credit, he made plays for us to win.”
Defensively, linebackers David Mahoney and Clint Sovie had eight tackles each, while defensive lineman John Chan had six tackles. Also, linebacker Rob Caldwell forced a fumble right before halftime deep in East Carolina territory that cornerback Jeremy McGown recovered. That eventually led to a Hampton touchdown that tied the game at 14-14 and turned the momentum to the Mids? favor.
Navy notes
» Navy has won 19 straight and are 22-4 under Paul Johnson when it rushes for 300 yards.
» Fullback Adam Ballard?s streak of 100-yard games ended at three after he finished with 97 yards on 13 carries.
» Navy?s six yards passing was the fewest it has totaled since it had zero in a 38-28 win over Penn on Oct. 17, 1987.
» Navy players wore the No. 32 on their helmets as a tribute to slot back Eddie Martin, who was diagnosed with lymphoma.
