Navy’s young defense grew up a lot Saturday ? and all it took was giving up 36 points in the first half to Duke.
After that, Navy held Duke to just seven points during the final 30 minutes en route to a 46-43 comeback victory in front of crowd of 31,278 fans on a sun-soaked afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis.
Recommended Stories
The Midshipmen (2-2) hope to take that momentum into this week as they prepare to host service academy rival Air Force Saturday at 1 p.m.
The Falcons (3-1) are coming off their first defeat of the year after losing to Brigham Young, 31-6.
“As poorly as we played in the first half, especially on defense, it was hard to stay in the fight at halftime,” said Navy coach Paul Johnson, whose team trailed 36-25 at halftime against Duke. ” [Duke] threw it over our heads right away and it would have been easy to stop. But we kept coming back. We have a lot to clean up, but it’s a little easier to do after a win.”
Navy’s rally against Duke, which culminated with a game-winning 44-yard field goal by backup kicker Joey Bullen as time expired, snapped the Midshipmen’s two-game losing streak. However, Bullen?s heroics do not overshadow Johnson?s concerns for his defense, which has allowed its past three opponents to score 118 points.
The Blue Devils picked apart Navy’s secondary, asDuke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis completed 23-of-36 pass attempts for 428 yards, an interception and four touchdowns ? all to receiver Eron Riley. Riley finished with six catches for 235 yards.
Johnson said Navy adjusted to that combination by using six defensive backs in the second half. The Midshipmen’s defense responded late in the fourth quarter when junior defensive back Ketric Buffin came up with his fourth interception in as many games, which led to Navy’s game-winning score.
“This is big,” Buffin said. “This gives us something to build upon. I looked at everyone’s eyes and saw how hard the linebackers and everyone was fighting. I said, ‘don’t quit and [the secondary] will make a play for you.'”
Along with Navy’s improved play on defense during the second half, the Midshipmen also received help from backup quarterback Jarod Bryant. Bryant replaced starter Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada in the fourth quarter and led the team to 14 points. Bryant?s performance went a long way in redeeming him for his play last week, when he fumbled the ball away on Navy?s first posession in overtime against Ball State. Ball State kicked a field goal on its ensuing possession for a 34-31 victory.
“It would have been easy for us to give up [Saturday], but we kept playing,” Bryant said. “Hats off to our defense for that.”
NAVY NOTES
» Navy is now 13-3 since the start of the 2003 season in games following a loss as the Midshipmen snapped a two-game losing streak.
» Navy improved to 4-19 under coach Paul Johnson when giving up at least 30 points. The Midshipmen haven’t won such a game since their 51-30 win over Colorado State in the Poinsettia Bowl in 2005.
» Navy junior kicker Matt Harmon connected on a career-long 46-yard field goal with 7:21 left in the first quarter.
» Navy junior cornerback Ketic Buffin became the first player in school history to have aninterception in the first four games of a season.
