Somehow, while you were sleeping on them, Navy has gone 7-0 so far this season.
They鈥檙e one of just six FBS schools that remain undefeated.
Navy is ranked 23rd in the AFCA Coaches poll and unranked in the AP Top 25. They received the most amount of votes for teams not in the Top 25 which means, technically, they鈥檙e ranked 26th in the country.
The rankings might seem a tad disrespectful given their record, but third-year Midshipmen head coach Brian Newberry seems unfazed.
“We鈥檝e won seven games but they haven鈥檛 been sexy wins and that鈥檚 what people want. I don鈥檛 care as long as we find ways to win and keep doing what we’re doing. The respect and those things will come. I don鈥檛 think our players care much about that either,鈥� he told 91欧美激情 contributor Joe Yasharoff.
Navy 鈥� who’s known for their signature triple option run-heavy offense, averages over 37 points a game and 318 yards rushing per game 鈥� tops in the nation.
鈥�(We鈥檙e) trying to take advantage of the fact that not a lot of people run it,” senior quarterback Blake Horvath said. “It鈥檚 hard to prepare for and when we can operate efficiently, it鈥檚 difficult to stop.”
The first seven games were no cakewalks, including a gutty win against fellow service academy Air Force and a dramatic victory at Temple.
Things only get more challenging down the stretch for the Mids. The next month features a gauntlet of tough games 鈥� one of the toughest final stretches of any team in the country 鈥� at #12 Notre Dame and #25 Memphis sandwiched around a home date against formerly ranked South Florida.
And on Saturday, Navy faces a difficult road match-up against 6-1 North Texas featuring a juggernaut of an offense that leads the nation in scoring at 45 points per game.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a really good football team,” Newberry said. “One of the best offenses I鈥檝e seen in a long time and the quarterback is a special player, the running backs are outstanding, the scheme is really challenging to defend. We鈥檒l have to do a great job of stopping the run and eliminating explosive plays. it鈥檚 certainly going to present a huge challenge for us defensively.”
The last time Navy played North Texas in Denton was 2007. It was one for the books. The Mids outscored the Mean Green 74-62.
At the time, it was the highest scoring game in FBS history.
You can probably expect another high scoring affair this time.
Navy is led by Horvath who was not highly recruited out of Hilliard, Ohio, but has played himself into the periphery of the Heisman Trophy conversation with five straight games with over 100 yards rushing.
“He鈥檚 got the ‘it factor.’ He鈥檚 got some qualities you don鈥檛 coach,鈥� Newberry said. “He鈥檚 a special young man. Great players are at their best when their best is needed and that鈥檚 Blake Horvath. He makes everyone around him better. You can鈥檛 say enough good things about him as a person and as a football player.鈥�
Once he finishes his football career, Horvath plans on attending flight school in Pensacola, Florida, to realize his ambition of becoming a pilot.
“Just a ton of pride, honestly, is the biggest thing, proud of every single Midshipmen that represents this place 鈥� all the alumni and the pride that we have for our country is the biggest thing,” Horvath said. “It鈥檚 an honor to represent a storied history and tradition. There鈥檚 so much greatness that鈥檚 come before us. They set the table for what鈥檚 expected of us.”
Newberry added, “I think I鈥檝e got one of the best jobs in the country because of the young men I get to coach on a daily basis. Football is really, really important, but it鈥檚 about more than just football here and I appreciate that. 鈥� I skip into work every day.”
This year will be Horvath鈥檚 final Army-Navy game, a rivalry like no other in sports. The game will be played on Dec. 3 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. After that, Navy could even qualify for the new 12-team College Football Playoff.
鈥淲hether that be the (Commanders-in-Chief’s Trophy), conference championship, College Football Playoffs, all those are still in front of us 鈥� those are the goals we鈥檝e had since day one,鈥� Horvath said.
There鈥檚 still a long way to go, but Navy is in the midst of what could be a very special season. So stop sleeping on them.
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