Heisman stakes. American Convention championship stakes. Faculty Soccer Playoff stakes.
There was no scarcity of stakes on the road Saturday morning when the Navy Midshipmen made the lengthy trek to Denton, TX for the primary time since a record-breaking 74-62 matchup 18 years in the past. On this event, Navy entered with an unblemished report towards one of many faculty soccer’s final breakout groups — the North Texas Imply Inexperienced.
Whereas Navy is famend for its FBS-leading speeding assault, it was a person floor efficiency from the North Texas aspect which stole the present in entrance of an electrical DATCU Stadium crowd. True freshman tailback Caleb Hawkins generated a career-high 197 yards and all 4 Imply Inexperienced touchdowns to guide his group to a 31-17 victory, unseating Navy from its undefeated standing.
“In all probability probably the most full sport we’ve performed since I’ve been the pinnacle coach right here,” North Texas head coach Eric Morris stated. “That was a group win. All people stepped up in enormous methods down the stretch. For our guys we began quick, they had been in a position to acquire momentum, however the fourth quarter was pretty much as good of soccer as I’ve seen our group play.”
North Texas drew headlines final Friday when star redshirt freshman quarterback Drew Mestemaker fired for 608 yards and 4 touchdowns in a dominant street win over Charlotte. Whereas Mestemaker nonetheless shined with a 19-of-24 displaying and 234 yards, the Imply Inexperienced spearheaded their FBS-best scoring offense in a distinct method vs. Navy — via a heavy dose of Hawkins.
“We pleasure ourselves in taking what the protection provides us,” Morris stated on the offensive technique shift. “We thought they’d attempt to strain once we tempo’d, and we had some tempo runs that we appreciated that we had been in a position to pop a niche there early. The offensive line was equipped. They practiced higher than they’ve all all the 12 months. We bought all 5 of them again final week, and when now we have these 5 in, they’re actually good at what they do, day in and day trip. For us, we proceed to dictate what we need to do on offense slightly than any person making us one-dimensional.”
The true freshman constructed a 14-0 first quarter lead with two brief speeding touchdowns after which prolonged the margin to as lopsided as 21-3 on a second quarter 14-yard scamper. When Navy stormed again to trim the deficit to seven within the third, North Texas referred to as on its dependable younger operating again as soon as once more to construct cushion. Hawkins delivered the punishing blow within the last minute of the third body, turning into the third freshman within the Faculty Soccer Playoff period — together with Samaje Perine (Oklahoma, 2014) and Jermar Jefferson (Oregon State, 2018) — to report a number of 4-touchdown video games in a single season. Hawkins generated all 4 scores from inside 15 yards, accruing North Texas’ crimson zone landing complete to 40 — rating atop the FBS.
“He’s a terrific participant, however he’s even a greater child, a greater human being, a greater teammate,” Morris stated of Hawkins. “All people’s gonna see this stuff that occur along with his stats, however he had some blitz pickups immediately the place he completely stoned individuals. Their linebackers are quick and aggressive and so they blitz. For a real freshman, that was probably the most spectacular factor watching again on the iPad.”
North Texas’ protection entered the competition tied for third within the FBS in takeaways with 17. The Imply Inexperienced doubled down on that lofty rating, dominating the turnover battle in commanding 3-0 vogue on a Navy group which solely coughed up six giveaways throughout its 7-0 begin. A fumbled jet sweep alternate stalled one promising Navy drive on the North Texas 25-yard line. Then within the second half, the Imply Inexperienced picked off Navy on two crucial events.
With North Texas clinging onto a 24-17 lead within the late third quarter, Quinton Hammonds made an incredible one-handed snag along with his proper glove towards the sideline. Then within the late fourth, all probabilities of a Midshipmen comeback had been eradicated when Hammonds cleanly secured a floater towards the objective line. The protection logged his first two picks of the 12 months because the Imply Inexperienced improved their season turnover margin to a spectacular +10.
“The 2 interceptions had been at essential instances within the sport, the place we had been in a position to run a ton of clock off,” Morris stated. “It is a sport with restricted possessions on either side. I don’t suppose they’re snug going up-tempo. They need to have a look at the image and have the ability to get the right play name, and that’s what makes them so exhausting to defend — they’re actually good at it. It type of put the ball again in our court docket and allowed us to manage issues.”
Turnovers apart, Navy’s offense stored tempo with North Texas’ No. 1 ranked FBS scoring offense. Heisman hopeful quarterback Blake Horvath excelled within the run sport along with his sixth-consecutive outing with 110+ speeding yards and at the very least one landing, contributing 112 of his group’s 311 speeding yards. Brandon Chatman added 67 yards and a landing, whereas Alex Tecza posted 59 and Eli Heidenreich recorded 57. Nonetheless, the Midshipmen performed in unfamiliar territory by trailing for all however three minutes of the competition, requiring the option-oriented offense to shift to a extra conventional and up-tempo scheme as the sport progressed.
Navy (7-1, 5-1 American) misplaced its undefeated standing after recording its greatest begin since 1978, however the Midshipmen aren’t out of the image. They await a gauntlet of a schedule that includes Notre Dame, South Florida, Memphis, and Military, hoping to rebound from their first hiccup with a signature victory.
North Texas (8-1, 4-1 American) toppled Navy for the primary time within the historic sequence, which featured two earlier conferences. The Imply Inexperienced prolonged their streak to nine-straight contests with 30+ factors, and within the course of, generated eight wins a in a season for the primary time since 2018. North Texas stays within the hunt for the American Convention title, and the Faculty Soccer Playoff race, with UAB, Rice, and Temple looming on the schedule.
“It’s all the time been a objective,” North Texas offensive deal with Braylon Nelson stated relating to the convention championship race. “It crosses our thoughts. We all know we simply need to exit, play our sport, do our job, and simply win.”
