Navy Falls to Air Force, 35-7
Navy at Air Force, Oct. 6, 2018 (image: NavySports.com)
The Navy Midshipmen lost 35-7 to the Falcons of Air Force Saturday afternoon in Colorado Springs, CO. Navy drops to 2-3 on the season. Air Force improves to 2-3.
Navy’s performance was disappointing all-around. The offense which had averaged 355.6 yards per game was held to only 129 on Saturday. Malcolm Perry was ineffective on the ground. Garret Lewis scored the only Midshipmen TD on a two-yard run in the second quarter. (Zach Abey was unavailable due to a leg injury.)
Navy’s defense took a hit in the first quarter when Taylor Heflin was called for targeting and ejected after helmet-to-helmet contact with Air Force’s starting quarterback D.J. Hammond. Although Hammond exited the game for a time, the sophomore returned hot, running for three TDs and throwing for another in his first career start.
Joseph Saucier and Ronald Cleveland both had nice games for Air Force. Saucier recorded a 48-yard TD run. Cleveland caught a short pass from Hammond and turned it into a 61-yard TD play.
Here’s a look at the game numbers.
Navy at Air Force: Final Stats
Total Yards: NAVY: 178… Air Force: 399
Pass Yards: NAVY: 49… Air Force: 142
Rushing Yards: NAVY: 129… Air Force: 257
Penalty Yards: NAVY: 4 for 40 yards… Air Force: 3 for 32 yards
1st Downs: NAVY: 9… Air Force: 17
3rd Downs: NAVY: 2 of 13… Air Force: 5 of 12
4th Downs: NAVY: 1 of 3… Air Force: 1 of 3
Time of Possession: NAVY: 27:03… Air Force: 32:57
This was the first game in the chase for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. Air Force will play Army Nov. 3. Navy will face Army on Dec. 8 in the Mids’ final regular season game.
Up next for Navy is Temple next Saturday, Oct. 13, back home in Annapolis. Air Force will play San Diego State on Friday, Oct. 12.
