Mids offense sputters in loss
White leads Memphis to big second half to spoil upset bid
MEMPHIS, TENN. — Memphis quarterback Brady White came alive in the second half, while the Navy offense sputtered badly over the final 37 minutes — completing changing the momentum of a game that had seemed headed for an upset early.
White tossed three touchdown passes in the second half and the Memphis defense dominated from the midway mark of the second quarter, handing Navy a 35-23 loss before an announced crowd of 33,909 at the Liberty Bowl.
White completed 14 of 18 passes for 196 yards for Memphis (4-0), which came away victorious in its American Athletic Conference opener. White, who had just 29 passing yards at halftime, connected with wide receivers Antonio Gibson, Kedarian Jones and Damonte Coxie for touchdowns as the Tigers outscored the Midshipmen 21-3 after intermission.
Tailback Kenneth Gainwell rushed for 104 yards with most of that coming on one play as the Tigers rallied from an early 20-7 deficit. A 73-yard bomb to Gibson was the backbreaker while a 31-yard scoring strike to Coxie was the dagger.
Quarterback Malcolm Perry rushed for 91 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries to lead Navy (2-1), which dropped its West Division opener. Perry also completed 5 of 9 passes for 80 yards and a score, but almost all that offense came in the first 23 minutes.
Slotback Keoni-Kordell Makekau established a career-high with 101 rushing yards for Navy, which managed a mere 81 total yards in the second half. The Midshipmen lost starting fullback Nelson Smith to a head injury in the second quarter. The 5-foot-9, 218-pound junior reportedly absorbed a helmet-to-helmet hit and never returned.
Perry was forced to leave the game three times, the last coming during Navy’s final possession with just over three minutes remaining. Backup Perry Olsen replaced Perry all three times and was responsible for throwing an interception on fourth down with 2:06 left in the game.
Navy took the opening kickoff and immediately hit a big play with Makekau turning the corner and racing 41 yards into enemy territory. Perry completed an 8-yard pass to wide receiver Mychal Cooper on third down to keep the drive alive then raced 14 yards to set up first-and-goal.
Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line and Perry dove into the end zone to give the Midshipmen an early 7-0 lead.
It didn’t last long – one play and just 12 seconds to be exact. Gainwell burst through a big hole on the left side and found no defenders on the second and third levels, racing 75 yards to pay-dirt to tie the score.
After the two teams traded punts, Navy retook the lead with a workmanlike 10-play, 86-yard drive. Makekau took a pitch, cut upfield and raced 25 yards to the Memphis 18-yard line.
Facing third-and-8 from the 17-yard line, Perry delivered a beautiful pass to wide receiver Chance Warren in the back of the end zone for the score. Perry dropped into the only window it could have gone — over the cornerback and into the arms of Warren.
Kicker Bijan Nichols missed the extra point, banging the ball off the upright, and Navy led 13-7 with 44 seconds left in the opening period.
Navy’s defense came up big after Smith lost a fumble in his own territory. Memphis had driven to the 7-yard line when Jake Springer came flying off the edge to sack White and force a fumble that was recovered by fellow outside linebacker Nizaire Cromartie.
The Midshipmen immediately went deep following the sudden change situation with Perry making another superb pass and hitting wide receiver Ryan Mitchell in stride for a 45-yard bomb. That put Navy in the red zone and nine plays later Perry slithered in from 1-yard out to increase the advantage to 20-7 with 7:01remaining in the first half.
That two-score lead was quickly erased when Memphis returner Gabriel Rogers fielded the ensuing kickoff at his own goal line then weaved his way 99 yards completely untouched for a touchdown that reduced the deficit to 20-14 at the 6:48 mark.
Niumatalolo made the curious decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 from his own 34-yard line and Perry was stuffed for no gain. It was an unnecessary turnover on downs that gave Memphis an extremely short field.
Once again, the Navy defense stepped up and bailed out the offense. Defensive end Jackson Perkins threw Gainwell for a 7-yard loss on third down and Memphis had to settle for a 55-yard field goal attempt that kicker Riley Patterson missed wide left.
The Midshipmen got into position to attempt a 46-yard field goal with one second left, but Nichols was wide left and the visitors took a six-point lead into intermission.