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New names but a familiar game for the Midshipmen

<p>Demond Brown (25), who rushed for 40 yards and a touchdown last season against Memphis, evades a tackle during Navy’s 45-20 victory over the Tigers in 2015. Navy lost some of their big-name players to graduation, but Memphis fans should expect much of what they saw last year again from the Midshipmen this season.</p>
Demond Brown (25), who rushed for 40 yards and a touchdown last season against Memphis, evades a tackle during Navy’s 45-20 victory over the Tigers in 2015. Navy lost some of their big-name players to graduation, but Memphis fans should expect much of what they saw last year again from the Midshipmen this season.
Tigers battle for AAC West dominance against Navy

Demond Brown (25), who rushed for 40 yards and a touchdown last season against Memphis, evades a tackle during Navy’s 45-20 victory over the Tigers in 2015. Navy lost some of their big-name players to graduation, but Memphis fans should expect much of what they saw last year again from the Midshipmen this season.

Remember Keenon Reynolds? That one guy who was a four-year starting quarterback for Navy and amassed over 8,500 yards of total offense and scored 119 total touchdowns?

Well, he’s still in Maryland, but luckily for Memphis, he’s with the Ravens in Baltimore and not the Midshipmen in Annapolis where the Tigers will travel this Saturday for an American Athletic Conference clash that will factor heavily in determining who represents the west division in the AAC title game.

Despite Reynold’s departure, Navy has kept their high-powered rushing attack rolling in 2016. The Midshipmen are fifth in the nation in rushing attempts with 51.8 per game and second in the AAC with 262.4 rushing yards per game. And, much like last season, Navy isn’t throwing the ball much – just 12 times per game, which ranks as the second fewest nationally behind only Army.

Other than Reynolds, another familiar name that won’t suit up for Navy is Chris Swain, who rushed for 108 yards and three touchdowns against the Tigers last season.

Swain, who graduated with Reynolds, played fullback, or what’s sometime referred to as the dive back in the triple option offense. He’s been replaced by Chris High, who’s carried the ball 39 times for 320 yards and eight touchdowns through five games. Shawn White will also get carries out of the dive back position.

Quarterback Will Worth, who came into the season as the backup quarterback before starter Tago Smith tore his ACL in the first game against Fordham, is second on the team in rushing with 288 yards and six touchdowns to go along with 603 yards passing and three touchdowns.

Toneo Gulley and Dishan Romine have combined for 346 yards on 42 carries this season, and they will likely be the starting running backs, or what’s sometimes referred to as the pitchman in the triple option. In all, 15 players have carried the ball this season for Navy, but these are the ones who will get the majority of the touches.

The Midshipmen are scoring 42 points per game at home, compared to just 17.5 points per game on the road, and they currently have a 12-game home winning streak with their last home loss in September 2014 against Western Kentucky.

Defensively, Navy ranks fifth in the AAC in scoring defense, and allowing 24.4 point per game sixth in total defense, surrendering 398.6 yards per game. Additionally, they are forcing 1.8 fumbles per game, sixth most in the country.

Junior linebacker Micah Thomas ranks fifth in the AAC with 7.5 tackles per game.

The Midshipmen rank sixth in the nation and first in the AAC in kickoff returns, averaging 28.6 yards per return, but they are one of only three teams in the top 10 in kickoff returns nationally that hasn’t returned a kick for a touchdown.

Navy is the least penalized team in the country, losing just 19.2 yards per game to penalties.

Kickoff between Navy and Memphis is set for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland. The game will be broadcast on CBSSN.


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