The Navy football team has rushed out to a 5-1 start thanks to a ground attack that averages a national-best 350.2 yards a game.
The Midshipmen, though, could have a difficult time putting up similar numbers Saturday when they host No. 24 Rutgers at 1:30 p.m. at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for homecoming. The Scarlet Knights (5-0) come into Annapolis with statistically one of the best defenses in the country, especially against the run, where they allow just 73.8 yards a game.
Of equal, if not greater, concern for Navy is Rutgers? rushing attack, which is led by tailback Ray Rice, who is second in the country with an average of 161.2 rushing yards a game. Fullback Brian Leonard has chipped in 146 yards and two touchdowns to go with a team-high 19 catches for 169 yards.
“They have a really good football team,” Navy coach Paul Johnson said. “They have two great backs and an experienced offensive line. They are in the top 20 in a bunch of defensive categories. It?s going to be a huge challenge.
“On offense they are huge, and on defense they are athletic. They run well and they play really hard. They understand what they are trying to do. Rice is a great back ? there?s no doubt about that. He has great balance and is hard to tackle. He?s a really good player. He has good vision. He?s the best back we will have faced all year.”
A Navy win Saturday would represent a number of milestones for the Midshipmen. Most notably, it would make the team bowl-eligible, securing its berth in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. There, Navy would play against a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference Dec. 30 at 1 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. At the same time, a Navy win would represent the Midshipmen?s first victory over a ranked opponent at home since they upset No. 2 South Carolina on Nov. 17, 1984.
Defensive tackle John Chan said beating Rutgers would be ideal on many fronts, especially with Navy having a bye next week before facing Notre Dame Oct. 28 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
“Winning against Rutgers would be a great momentum-builder with the bye next week and help us feel even better to face Notre Dame,” Chan said. “But we have to beat Rutgers first, and then we can talk more about the schedule after that.”
NAVY NOTES
» Navy leads the all-time series against Rutgers, 10-9-1, including an 8-4-1 record against the Scarlet Knights at home. However, Rutgers won the last meeting between the two schools last year, 31-21.
