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Navy Outduels Pitt after 2 OTs, 48-45

Pittsburgh, PA- Navy PK Joey Bullen converted an extra point in the first OT and a 29-yard FG in the second OT before a high-arching spot pass from Pitt’s Pat Bostick to WR Darrel Strong was stuffed by Navy DB Rashawn King to give Navy (4-2) a high-scoring, hard fought win in two OTs over Pitt, 48-45. It was an exciting see-saw battle which saw neither team lead by more than seven points during the entire game.  Both teams each went into to punt formation only twice during the entire game.  For Navy, it was the second OT ever in school history.  Last season, CollegeFootballFan.com attended the first when Navy answered Tulsa’s initial seven points in the first OT with a 25-yard pass from Brian Hampton to O.J. Washington.  However, Joey Bullen’s extra point missed its mark giving the Golden Hurricane a 24-23 win.  Bullen didn’t miss this time giving the Mids not only a tie in the first OT period, but his FG made the difference in the second to give Navy its first OT victory.  It was a fantastic game at Heinz Field before 30,103 where we met a Pitt fan, Tom from Damascus, MD, from whom we purchased a ticket and watched the game with.

     Pitt (2-4,0-1)punted to Navy after its first possession, and the Mids shocked Pitt on its first play as the nation’s leading ground attack went right to the air with a 57-yard pass from QB Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada to the same O.J. Washington.  SB Reggie Campbell (4 rushes for 15 yards, 2 catches for 35, 3 TDs) ran around left end for Navy’s first score, and Bullen connected to give USNA a 7-0 lead.  Knowing Navy would use four downs as often as possible, Dave Wannstedt used the same strategy on the first Panther possession to send Pitt on an eventual 75-yard scoring drive with RB Conredge Collins taking it in from the two.  Conor Lee’s PAT not only tied the score, 7-7, he also tied the school record with his 60^th consecutive PAT.  He shattered that record with five more after this one.  The drive was indicative of how Navy’s defense would play the rest of the evening though as the Mids missed numerous tackles throughout the game. 

     The start of the second period found Navy with a fourth and two at the Pitt eleven.  To paraphrase Admiral Farragut’s famous quote during the Civil War battle of Mobile Bay, Head Coach Paul Johnson’s mantra is, “Damn the field goal!  Touchdown instead!”  Kaheaku-Enhada faked a hand-off to the FB and dove to the nine for a first down at the nine.  He then connected with SB Reggie Campbell for a 9-yarder to go back up, 14-7.  Pitt’s Aaron Smith took the ensuing kick-off to the Navy 44.  Frosh RB LeSean McCoy (32 carries for 169 yards, 3 TDs) plunged over from the two for the 14-14 tie.  Navy retaliated with a 65-yard drive as FB Adam Ballard, who combined with Navy’s other FB Eric Kettani for 131 yards on 29 carries, bulled it over from the two to re-take the lead for Navy Blue and Gold, 21-14.  Pitt’s offense matched USNA’s output when Frosh QB Pat Bostick (20 of 28 for 191 yards) tossed a five-yard pass to Derrick Turner with :40 left in the first half to tie it up again, 21-21.  Navy surprised Pitt again in the time remaining as Kaheaku-Enhada (9 for 12, 166 yards, 2 TDs) fired a 41-yard pass to put the Mids in FG range, but Bullen’s kick from 36 yards went wide left to keep the score deadlocked at halftime.

     Before the game, Honorary Captains and former Heisman Trophy winners from both schools were introduced as the ’63 winner, Roger Staubach, represented Navy, and the ’76 winner, Tony Dorsett represented Pitt.  Both guys who still look like they’ve stayed in pretty good shape long after their playing days, are such special players that both are members of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame!  Both were loudly applauded for their for their collegiate exploits, but booed soundly as well in the Steel City when references were made of their Super Bowl feats with the Dallas Cowboys!  To start halftime, former Pitt RB and alum Curtis Martin was introduced to the appreciative Pitt crowd.  NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s quote was the most impressive read.  He said, “Curtis Martin represents everything an NFL player should be.” Tom remembered the time his son, who went on to play QB at William and Mary, played in the Big 33 Game (Pennsylvania All-Stars vs. Maryland All Stars).  All the pre-game hype was about a Penn State-bound RB, but Tom said people left that day impressed by some kid named Curtis Martin.  The Pitt band played loud and proud to honor each of America’s armed services with their traditional marches, and played the “Stars and Stripes Forever” as Pitt students unfurled an American flag covering the entire field as fireworks burst over the Ohio River.  It was a great halftime tribute on an appropriate night with an appropriate opponent. Tom and I agree that it was a show that should have pre-empted and ESPN halftime report! Maybe Rutgers students would learn something.

     A holding call by Navy on its first series of Q3 threw the game out of sync. They punted.  A review of a LeSean McCoy fumble close to the goal line reversed a potential Pitt turnover, and McCoy proceeded to take it in from the two to give the Panthers their first lead of the game, 28-21.  Reggie Campbell almost retaliated on the ensuing kick-off with a return to Pitt’s 33.  RB Shun Singleton scored from the one to knot the score once again, 28-28.  Pitt came back with a return to Navy’s 45. It was a big night for both return teams entering opposition’s territory on several occasions.  On a third and one at Navy’s four, Bostick’s out pass backfired for a 2-yard loss.  Pitt settled for Lee’s 23-yard FG for a 31-28 lead seemingly throwing off their rhythm to keep up with Navy’s touchdown production.  Navy’s next drive featured a 37-yard gain by Kaheaku -Enhada.  When Pitt tackled Ballard for a 2-yard gain, the Pitt contingency cheered in mock disbelief!  A two-yard gain was like a sack on this night as the Navy option attack seemed to pick up five to seven yards every play.  As good as the backs were, the Navy offensive line did a great job opening up big holes up front to send backs through untouched for several yards.  Kaheaku –Enhada (122 rushing yards)  ran the QB draw for a 3-yard TD run to put Navy back ahead, 35-31, with 19 ticks left in Q3.  Navy tipped the see-saw on the next series as King picked off Bostick’s first attempt of a long pass at the Navy 36 before the period ended.

     Pitt held though and forced Navy into punt formation, but would Navy punt from its own 43?  No way! Pitt knew it too, and stopped P Greg Veteto short on his rushing attempt to take control back on Navy’s 45.  Paul Johnson seemed to outsmart himself on that call instead of punting the Panthers deep into their own territory.  McCoy broke more Navy arm tackles and knifed through the porous defense for a 21-yard touchdown run to overtake Navy, 38-35.  Navy started another drive from its 35 after the Pitt kick-off landed out of bounds.  With a fourth and three now at Pitt’s 20, Johnson decided to try to draw Pitt offsides but to no avail, and instead settled for Bullen’s 37-yard FG to tie the score, 38-38, with 4:57 left - plenty of time for both confident offenses to score.  So confident was Pitt, that on fourth and one from its own 27, Bostick completed a 12-yard pass to WR Cedric McGee for a first down, but Wannstedt reneged on a fourth and three at the Mids 46 to punt for a second time to set the Mids back on their 15 with 1:26 left.  Smart move!  Navy drove to Pitt’s 31 with only :11 remaining.  With no TOs left, Johnson sent Bullen in, but the 48-yarder fell short.  To the chagrin of the remaining Pitt fans, Bostick took a knee with :02 left, and the game went into overtime.

     Navy won the toss for the first OT and chose to go to the defense first.  Lee connected with a 36-yard FG for Pitt, but offsides by Navy gave Pitt a fresh set of downs, and Pitt took its three points back off the board.  The strategy didn’t backfire as Bostick took the ball over the center for a one-yard TD plunge for a 45-38 lead.  Like the Tulsa OT last season, Navy went right to the air on play one for a 25-yard scoring pass as SB Reggie Campbell beat the defender with a sprint into the end zone.  Tom couldn’t figure out how a DB could let a receiver get behind him in that situation.  Bullen came through with a good conversion to send the game into OT#2.  Pitt actually did sack Kaheaku –Enhada on the first play, and Navy worked on centering the ball to set Bullen up for a successful 29-yard FG for a tenuous 3-point Navy lead, 48-45. Bostick came out firing on Pitt’s next offensive play with a 16-yard pass to Marcel Pestano to Navy’s nine.  I told Tom that the best thing for Navy was that Pitt could not get another first down.  Navy bent but didn’t break holding Pitt to a third and goal at the two.  A motion penalty against Pitt was declined bringing up fourth and goal at the two.  Wannstedt used his time-out.  Tom and I figured Pitt’s best chance was to run McCoy around end as he successfully did all night as Navy missed many tackles against him all night, or we figured he’d at least kick for the tie and go another round. Pitt came out with two wide-outs. Bostick dropped back, arched his high pass to 6’5” Darrel Strong who Rashawn King jammed right at the line of scrimmage.  Strong never had a chance.  The ball fell, and so did Pitt.  Navy players sprinted on to the field from the sideline to celebrate with the defense. It was a big win for them.   Pitt fans turned to the exits of Heinz Field with a fervent sigh of “Dave’s got to go!” It was a questionable last play call based on the running success his offense enjoyed all night.  It was a wild, exciting offensive battle more like a WAC game than an East coast rivalry revived, and an intense battle that we’ll never forget.  We’re glad that we had an opportunity to be there, and can thank Tom and his wife, whose ticket I got because she was a no-show, for a great seat on the 40-yard line at a great game!

     Pitt hosts #15 Cincinnati (6-0) on October 20. The media reports the Panthers write off these non-conference losses as unimportant with opportunities to start to compete for the Big East Conference title.  Down 0-1 already in conference play with a loss to UConn, it’s hard to imagine that they look forward to playing the #15 Bearcats, #5 South Florida, or # 8 West Virginia.  Navy plays its Homecoming on Oct. 20 against 4-2 Wake Forrest, Thursday night winners over Florida State.  We’ll be there to visit Annapolis in what should be another good competitive game for Navy against another legitimate BCS team. The Mid defense will be running a lot of tackling drills until then. Before CollegeFootballFan.com heads down to Crabtown though, we have two other games ahead to enjoy.  We’ll capture D-III action on Saturday when #24 College of New Jersey with Cousin Robert Keyes starting at OT visits 2-3 William Paterson University.  Then next Thursday night, aforementioned #5 South Florida visits the Birthplace of College Football to face fast-fading Rutgers who visits Syracuse five days earlier.

 Extra Points:  Navy’s defense still misses JR LB Clint Sovie whom we saw injured in the 42-24 loss at Rutgers.  He was one of the few experienced defensive players returning for the Mids this season.

 Kaheaku-Enhada (9 for 12, 166 yards, 2 TDs) rushed for 122 yards on 25 carries.  However, his passing improved greatly since we saw him trying to force passes in his second start against Rutgers.  He had much more zip on the ball.

 Our last-minute, guest host, Tom, originally from Johnstown, PA is a die-hard Steelers fan who told me that a thrill of his spectating days was being in attendance at Three Rivers for Franco Harris’s “Immaculate Reception.”  He played on some power house Bishop McCourt teams during his high school days as well.

 A Marine Corps flyover took place before the game, but it was hard to see four jets (saw one) as it is now dark at 8 pm EDT.

For CollegeFootballFan.com, it was our third game this season totaling over 90 points, the second with a total of 93.  If Roger Staubach shows up with us for Navy’s Homecoming against Wake Forest, watch out!  Roger was not only at this game, but he was T. Boone Pickens guest when we were also in Stillwater for Oklahoma State’s 49-45 win over Texas Tech.  Seeing Navy and Texas Tech gave us opportunities to see the respective leading rushing team and passing team.  It would make a great bowl match-up this year, but with all the contracts, no chance that it can happen.

      The last time Pitt and Navy squared off was in 1989. CollegeFootballFan.com saw Pitt beat Navy, 13-11, in 1974.   Mark May, ESPN commentator, former All-American Pitt tackle, Outland Trophy winner, College Football Hall of Famer, and a member of three Washington Redskin Super Bowl teams as a “Hog” played for the Panthers from 1977-1980.  May made a comment to Lou Holtz on a recent college show about his success insinuating how it was beating up on a program like Navy in particular.  I remember winning a lot of friendly wagers in 1978 in college for subs, beers, and other good stuff when Navy defeated sophomore May’s 6-1 Panthers, 21-11.  I wish I could have heard May’s broadcast this evening.  Like you Mark, but take that! 

Pitt hosted Grambling in the second game of the season.  Grambling couldn’t afford to send its band. Tom told me Pitt paid their way to bring the Marching Tigers to Heinz Field.  Like the Hampton band we saw last Saturday at Princeton, it was surely a fun show to attend.  On the other hand, Pitt’s first two games were against Eastern Michigan and Grambling while Penn State played Florida International, a weakened Notre Dame, and Buffalo.  Pitt and PSU should be playing each other every year.  There’s nothing to get the blood boiling like a good, old intra-state rivalry, and we’re not talking about Temple, Joe.  This would be a good, early game to get both teams ready for upcoming, tough conference games every year.  Maybe Pennsylvania should do what West Virginia did to get WVU and Marshall to play every year.  They could legislate the game to revive a great, traditional, in-state rivalry.