The Bearcats (6-2, 3-1 AAC) welcome in the Navy Midshipmen (3-5, 3-3 AAC) to Nippert Stadium as the Bearcats are looking to bounce back after their tough 25-21 loss to UCF last weekend. However, the Midshipmen come into this one leading the American Athletic Conference in rushing yards per game as they average 250.8 yards per game as they really utilize the triple option which we all know has given the Bearcats some trouble in the past. However, the Midshipmen also lead the conference in run defense as they have only allowed 92.1 rushing yards per game and that is a huge testament to the Bearcats this week as the run game was not there in the teams 25-21 loss to UCF last weekend where they finished with just 39 rushing yards on the game, so look for the Bearcats to find a way to get Charles McClelland and Corey Kiner involved early.
The Bearcats would get great news as Jabari Taylor looks to be back after missing the UCF game due to an injury he suffered early in the SMU game, which is huge for the Bearcats after the Knights ran down the Bearcats throats last weekend in their 25-21 loss, and with Navy utilizing the triple option offense that is great news for the Bearcats as Taylor plays such a massive role up front for the Bearcats on defense. Other notes are that Lorenz Metz started at right guard making his first start of the season in place of Jeremy Cooper, who is dressed for this contest, Dylan O’Quinn moved over to left guard.
The Bearcats offense came out firing as Ben Bryant found Jadon Thompson on a quick RPO (run-pass option) for a gain of 50 yards after a face mask penalty was added on after the 35 yard catch by Thompson, but the offense would stall shortly after as Ryan Coe would strike from 47 yards out to give the Bearcats an early 3-0 lead over the Midshipmen. The Bearcats would respond right away with a huge three and out on defense as the triple option gave the Bearcats no issues there on the first drive as they were looking to put some points on the board early. The Bearcats offense would get in the red zone once again, but would be forced to another field as Coe would connect again, this time from 27 yards out and the Bearcats would take a 6-0 lead with 5 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
The Midshipmen would start to establish momentum on their second drive of the game as they continued to run the ball as the triple option was starting to wear the Bearcats down early after a 27 yard run from Xavier Arline set up the drive to get the Midshipmen into the red zone and be forced to settle for a field goal that was eventually blocked by Jowon Briggs and the Bearcats come away with a huge stop as the Midshipmen were looking to get some points on the board here at Nippert Stadium.
The Bearcats would capitalize off the turnover as Bryant was really connecting with junior wide receiver Tyler Scott on the following drive as Scott had five catches for 81 yards and a touchdown after finding the end zone after a huge 38 yard catch and run-on 4th and 1. Scott is starting to settle back in after a hot start to the season that was put on pause after a minor ankle injury versus USF, but continues to show why he is such a valuable option for Ben Bryant and the Bearcats offense.
The Midshipmen would march their way down the field following a 32-yard run from Xavier Arline would get the Midshipmen in red zone territory, but the Bearcats defense prevailed as they forced the Midshipmen to settle for a 28-yard field goal as they would now lead 13-3 with just under two minutes left in the first half. The Bearcats wouldn’t be able to add some more points before the break as they would take a 13-3 lead to the break.
The story of the first half has been redshirt freshman Dontay Corleone as he has dominated the battle up front in the trenches as he led the team with six tackles as the Bearcats were facing a triple option offense as the Midshipmen ran the ball 24 times in the first half while attempting zero pass attempts.
The Bearcats offense was starting to click though as Bryant was 15-of-23 for 169 yards and a touchdown at the break as Bryant was really working with junior wide receiver Tyler Scott who had seven catches for 95 yards and a touchdown in the first half as the junior receiver was starting to get back in rhythm after bouncing back from an ankle injury the last couple weeks.
