King leads Houston over Navy, 49-36

Annapolis – Navy outscored Houston in the first half of this American Athletic West clash, 24-21, but QB D’Eriq King led Houston to four second half touchdowns to sink Navy (2-5, 1-3), 49-36.  Navy’s secondary gave plenty of cushion to the Cougar receiving corps and showed a lack of quickness and speed in coverage to defend adequately.  Overall, the defense tackled poorly. Many times, Midshipman defenders played out of position.  Our Guest Game Analyst Jay Bechtel called it during our pre-game tailgate featuring Alex’s meat-off-the-bone /melt-in-your-mouth BBQ ribs, Frank’s Italian sausage sandwiches, and Brian’s traditionally great Old Bay chicken wings on top of assorted beers accumulated over previous tailgates this season by all of us including the son of Natty Bo, Navy Al.  Boy, was Jay right on the money when he said, “Navy will have to score 50 points to win today.”  He called it!  Houston tallied exactly 49.

King led the Cougars back from a 24-14 deficit starting in the first half leading the Cougars to 35 straight unanswered points.  Houston (6-1,3-0 AAC) has scored 41 points or more in its last seven games. Yet they still haven’t cracked the Top 25.  Their lone loss came against Texas Tech, 63-49.

Talk about wide-open 

Completing 25 of 38 passes for 413 yards and three TD passes, King threw for 100 yards or more to three receivers – Marquez Stevenson, Keith Corbin, and Courtney Lack.  They are good no doubt, but the Navy secondary gave them all too much room to be open most to the game.  USNA does not get the speediest nor quickest defensive backs at this level of college football.  These players are bound for a profession beyond pro football.  However, it shows more this season in particular.

 Navy starts out strong

Navy started scoring early and often to show Jay knew what he was talking about.  Since we last watched Navy here against Lehigh, HC Ken Niumatalolo switched Mason Perry to a slotback position from QB, and he inserted his most accurate passer, Garrett Lewis, as his starting QB.   Despite the change, Perry threw a 43-yard completion on a scoring drive on an option pass, and former starter Zach Abey came in to score a TD from the three.  However, the defense left big buffers for the Cougar receivers and just couldn’t match the speed of the Cougar RBs or WRs when they advanced beyond the front seven and into the secondary.  Houston closed the scoring in the first half on a two-play drive culminating in a 65-yard TD pass to Lark to trail, 24-21.

Here come the Cougars

Houston started its comeback in the third on a 14-yard scoring pass to TE Romello Booker to take the lead, 28-24.  Marquez Stevenson extended the Cougar score with a one-yard run on a reverse.  The Cougar defense shut down the Mids thanks to some big hits among 21 by ILB Austin Robinson, the second-most in AAC history. His performance including 4 ½ tackles for loss and two sacks earned him co-Defensive Player of the Week honors in the American Athletic.  King earned the Offensive Player of the Week accolades.

Houston continued to run rampant in the final quarter.  King and Corbin polished off a 54-yard drive with a two-yard TD pass.  DB Nick Watkins put up the final six with a 50-yard INT return.  Houston overwhelmed the Mids.  Up 49-24 however, Houston felt the wrath of Navy not quitting.   The Midshipman played tough and hard until the end closing with Miles Fells 14-yard TD run as 1:58 remained.  They scored again with :06 on a pass from Lewis to Taylor Jackson, but of course, it was too little, too late to get to the 50-points Jay predicted they would need.  Final score: Houston 49 Navy 36.

Next week

Houston might have a chance to crack the Top 25 next week as it hosts No. 21 South Florida at TDECU Stadium.  Navy (2-5,1-3) plays No. 3 Notre Dame in San Diego where there will be large navy contingent from both Navy and Marine Corps bases in the area.  After that, Navy’s challenge to turn around their season will still be difficult.  After the Irish, they travel to 6-1 Cincinnati who just fell to Temple to drop out of the rankings.  Then the travel to Orlando to meet No. 10 and undefeated Central Florida who currently owns the nation’s longest winning streak.  The Mids’ work is cut out to say the least.

Two more coming up, but where?

Up next for CFF.com is another Friday/Saturday double header weekend.  The Miami Hurricanes (5-2, 2-1 ACC) visit the Boston College Eagles (5-2, 2-1) in Chestnut Hill on Friday evening.  RB AJ Dillon has been out with an ankle injury the last two weeks for BC.  On Saturday, we’re up in the air with two choices. Originally, our plan was to see Lehigh vs.  Holy Cross to see a Crusaders home game for the first time.  However, both teams struggle mightily this year so we’ve decided to see a game of significance in New England instead.  We’ll decide now between Harvard (3-3, 1-2) visiting No. 20 Dartmouth (6-0, 3-0), or a Colonial Athletic battle between Rhode Island (4-3, 2-2) who just fell out of the FCS Top 25 and William & Mary (3-4, 2-2).  We’ll weigh different factors and probably mull it over on the way to Boston on Friday.  Check back here next week to see what we decide.