Navy Football Blue & Gold Recap

At least no one was hurt in Navy's annual Blue-Gold spring football game. In an ugly game played in miserable conditions the Blue squad beat the Gold 7-6. For the first time in school history the game was broadcast live by the CBS Sports Network. Navy fans probably wish the cameras weren't there to record the event as both offensive teams struggled.

The Mids combined for seven turnovers as the game was played in forty degree weather and a driving rainstorm. Twenty players including the starting slotbacks and fullback sat out the scrimmage due to injuries. The offenses were limited by the fact the quarterbacks were wearing green jerseys. The quarterbacks weren't live which meant once they were touched by defense the play was considered dead.

The Blue team featured the first string offense and the backups. Starting quarterback Kriss Proctor played for a little over a quarter. Proctor looked good rushing five times for 22 yards. Kriss completed 2-of-4 passes including a nice throw to sophomore wide receiver Matt Aiken for 37 yards. Aiken made a leaping catch between defenders. Proctor's last pass was a crossing route throw that slotback Marcus Thomas dropped costing his team a first down. Proctor directed the offense to three field goal attempts in his three possessions but the Blue failed to score as kicker Jon Teague missed all three of his field goal attempts in the windy, rainy conditions. Teague missed from 52 yards, 35 yards and 33 yards on three consecutive Blue team possessions. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo commented on Teague’s performance after the scrimmage.

"I was surprised because Jon has been kicking the heck out of the ball all spring. Obviously, he did not kick the ball well today, but I have great confidence in him."

Sophomore backup quarterback Trey Miller replaced Proctor for the Blue team in the second quarter. On his first drive he completed two passes but a dropped second down pass by John Howell that essentially ended the drive. Miller played most of the rest of the game for the Blue and ran 10 times for 15 yards. Troy completed 5-of-12 attempts for 49 yards. At halftime Miller was awarded the Vice Admiral William P. Mack Award. The Mack Award, which is voted on by the coaching staff, is presented to the most improved player during spring camp.

The Gold team was led by sophomore quarterback Jarvis Cummings much of the game. Cummings showed his quickness at times but was hamstrung by the Gold's offensive line inability to block the Blue team. Due to poor blocking and the quarterback green jersey rules the Blue was credited with ten sacks. Despite their struggles the Gold team produced the only offensive touchdown after a scoreless first half. Sophomore fullback Rob Lombardo scored on a two-yard run. Sophomore Brynmor Hughes missed the extra-point and the Gold led 6-0. The touchdown was set up when Cummings hit junior wide receiver Jonathan Gazaille with a 44-yard pass down to the Blue two-yard line. Gazaille made a nice adjustment to catch the ball.

In the second half the Blue did little on offense but the defense and the play of Gold quarterback Hayden Maples saved them from an embarrassing loss. After junior punter Justin Haan pinned the Gold at the seven Maples simply couldn't execute the quarterback-center exchange. Maples fumbled the ball on first down but was able to recover the ball. The next play he fumble again and after a scramble senior linebacker Caleb King recovered the loose ball in the back of the end zone for the touchdown. A Navy kicker finally made a kick when Teague converted the extra point. It was a real difficult evening for Maples. Maples was a high school quarterback who had played linebacker at the prep school in 2009. Maples’ only two rush attempts were fumbled and his only pass attempt was intercepted.

The Gold team wasn't able to move the ball its final three possessions. A possession was ended when the Blue team's sophomore safety Wave Ryder intercepted a Cummings pass.

For the game the Blue team had 212 yards of total offense. Junior fullback Kevin Eckel led the Blue with 39 yards rushing on 11 carries. The Blue defense overwhelmed the Gold offensive line and posted ten sacks. Junior outside linebacker Keegan Wetzel had three sacks and senior outside linebacker Jarred Shannon posted two sacks. Tra'ves Bush also had an interception. The Gold team produced just 94 yards of total offense in the game. They Gold was able to rush for just 20 yards because it allowed 10 sacks.

Cummings completed four of his 10 pass attempts for 63 yards, while Gazaille had two catches for 55 yards. Junior fullback Austin Beaty led the Gold team with seven carries for 29 yards. On defense sophomore linebacker Mike Huf continued a very good camp by leading the Gold with seven tackles. Senior outside linebacker Eric Stein, who hobbled off early only to return and post five tackles. Sophomore linebacker Michael Tuimavave and senior cornerback Gary Myers also recorded five tackles.

“The conditions were tough tonight, but they might be tough in the fall too," said Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo. "That being said, we were pretty vanilla on both sides of the ball and we got out of here with nobody getting hurt. I was really impressed with the young kids on the Gold team. They played like a Navy team was supposed to play. They were the underdogs and played with a lot of fire. The Blue team did not play with the same intensity."