Mids shock No. 6 Cougars
Quarterback Worth leads the way as Houston gets trampled by triple option
Houston football coach Tom Herman went on a national radio broadcast last week and declared that his team was absolutely capable of capturing a national championship this season.
But the Cougars probably won’t even make the College Football Playoff after suffering a stunning upset on a rain-soaked Saturday in Annapolis.
Quarterback Will Worth rushed for 115 yards and directed a triple-option offense that could not be stopped as Navy knocked off sixthranked Houston, 4640. Worth ran for a touchdown and threw for two scores as the Midshipmen handed the Cougars their first loss.
“It feels awesome to beat the No. 6 team in the nation,” Worth said. “We’ve been practicing versus the Houston defense in the spring and all camp and everything. Just to come out and execute the game [plan], that’s what made the difference.”
Sophomore Bennett Moehring kicked three field goals for Navy (4-1), which improved to 3-0 in the American Athletic Conference. Slotback Darryl Bonner and TV: Radio:
wide receiver Brandon Colon caught touchdown passes for the Mids, who amassed 306 rushing yards.
It was Navy’s first victory over an opponent ranked in the Associated Press top 10 since an upset of second-ranked South Carolina in 1984. And an announced crowd of 34,531 saw the Mids match a school record with their 13th straight home win.
Houston (5-1, 2-1) lost the ball out of bounds while attempting multiple laterals on the final play of the game and the Brigade of Midshipmen stormed the field to celebrate perhaps the biggest upset of the college football season.
“I just love my team. We have great kids. I’m just so blessed and fortunate to be able to coach these guys,” said coach Ken Niumatalolo, who was impressed with the way Navy rebounded from a disappointing defeat at Air Force. “I’m just so proud of the way our guys responded after such a difficult, heart-wrenching, gut-blowing loss last week. It just shows the character of this team, the character of our seniors, the character of our leaders.”
Outside linebacker Josiah Powell intercepted two passes to lead the Navy defense. Powell returned the second pickoff 34 yards for a touchdown to give Navy a 14-point lead early in the third quarter.
Asked during “The Dan Patrick Show” last week whether Houston could win a national title, Herman did not hesitate.
“I think … we’ve got as good a team as anybody in the country for three hours on a Saturday,” he said.
Those dreams were dashed Saturday, largely a result of three turnovers, two of which Navy turned into touchdowns.
“We played a really good football team tonight at home. We didn’t play very well in any phase of the game and we had a chance to win it in the fourth quarter,” Herman said. “You aren’t going to win very many games … turning the ball over three times.”
Quarterback Greg Ward Jr. likely saw his Heisman Trophy hopes vanish despite passing for 359 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 94 yards and an additional score. The Cougars fell despite outgaining the Mids 484 to 382.
Houston came in with the nation’s top-ranked rushing defense but was shredded by Navy. Worth did an outstanding job handling the ball and gained a lot of tough yards himself as the Mids finished with 264 more yards on the ground than the Cougars had been giving up per game.
Navy offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper was no doubt thrilled to see all the elements of the triple option come together for the first time this season. Fullbacks Shawn White and Chris High combined for 63 yards and a touchdown, with the former gaining some tough yards inside when the Mids really needed them in the second half. Starting slotbacks Toneo Gulley and Dishan Romine teamed to pick up 103 yards on pitchouts to the perimeter.
Navy got off to an inauspicious start, going three-and-out on the game’s opening possession, then watching Houston score a touchdown in just five plays on its first series. Ward dropped a perfectly placed throw into the arms of Steven Dunbar for a 32-yard scoring strike that gave the Cougars a quick 7-0 lead.
Romine gave Navy a huge lift by returning the ensuing kickoff 85 yards to the Houston 12-yard line. High took a quick pitch on first down and raced untouched into the end zone to tie the score.
Navy’s defense stiffened deep in its territory and held Houston to field goals on the next two possessions. Ty Cummings sandwiched field goals of 36 and 39 yards around a 24-yarder by Moehring as the Cougars took a 13-10 lead one minute into the second period.
Worth broke loose for runs of 13 and 20 yards in directing a touchdown drive that put the Mids ahead for the first time, 17-13, at the 10:33 mark. Gulley took a pitch and turned the corner for a 19-yard gain that helped set up a 2-yard plunge by Worth.
It didn’t take long for Houston to respond as Ward directed an 80-yard touchdown march that took just six plays and 1:52. A 30-yard completion down the middle to wideout Linell Bonner was the big play and set up a 19-yard pitch-and-catch between Ward and tailback Dillon Birden as the visitors retook the lead, 20-17, with 8:41 left in the first half.
A critical play came late in the second quarter when Houston’s D’Eriq King was flagged for roughing Navy punter Alex Barta. That 15-yard penalty gave the Mids new life and led to a 38-yard field goal by Moehring as time expired, creating a 20-20 tie at halftime.
A momentum swing came early in the second half as Navy forced a turnover then quickly turned it into points. Ward fumbled after being sandwiched by nose guard Patrick Forrestal and defensive end Jarvis Polu. Forrestal fell on the loose ball to set the Mids up at the visiting 41-yard line.
Moments later, Worth found Darryl Bonner wide open in the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown toss that gave Navy a 27-20 advantage.
Ward was responsible for another turnover on the ensuing possession, throwing a pass into the flat that went directly into the hands of Powell, who ran 34 yards with the interception return to increase the home team’s advantage to 34-20.
Facing its largest deficit of the season, Houston put together an impressive 14-play, 81-yard scoring drive to cut the deficit to a touchdown. Ward converted a couple of third downs with completions, then scored from 8 yards off an option keeper to make it 34-27 with 5:12 to go in the third.
The Cougars’ comeback attempt was hampered by their inability to stop the triple option. The Mids kept the pressure on by going 80 yards in seven plays to restore the two-touchdown lead.
The play of the game came as Houston long snapper Byron Simpson sailed the ball way over the head of punter Dane Roy and through the end zone for a safety. That increased the Navy lead to 44-33.
Houston attempted a onside free kick, but Alohi Gilman recovered for Navy. Moehring then kicked his third field goal of the game, this time from 40 yards to make it 46-33 with 4:38 remaining. First downs 28 20 Rushes-yards 33-125 63-306 Passing 359 76 Comp-att-int 32-50-2 3-5-0 Return yards 63 200 Punts-avg. 0-null 3-42.66 Fumbles-lost 2-1 2-0 Penalties-yards 4-30 1-5 Time of poss 25:13 34:47 RUSHING: Houston, Ward 17-94, Birden 13-51, Car 1-3, King 1-(minus 5), (Team) 1-(minus 18). Navy, Worth 32-115, Gulley 6-63, Romine 6-40, Sh.White 10-38, High 2-25, D.Bonner 5-20, Swain 2-5. PASSING: Houston, Ward 32-50-2-359. Navy, Worth 3-5-0-76. RECEIVING: Houston, L.Bonner 9-117, Dunbar 9-112, C.Allen 7-87, King 3-21, Birden 2-22, Car 1-5, I.Johnson 1-(minus 1). Navy, D.Bonner 2-42, Colon 134.