Strictly by the numbers:
Total offense: Wake - 300.3 ypg (103rd nationally), Navy - 361.7 ypg (59th nationally)
Passing offense: Wake - 188.7 ypg (84th nationally), Navy - 63.3 ypg (119th nationally)
Rushing offense: Wake - 111.6 ypg (101st nationally), Navy - 298.3 ypg (1st nationally)
Total Defense: Wake - 300.3 ypg (19th nationally), Navy - 341.8 ypg (51st nationally)
Passing defense: Wake - 184.3 ypg (28th nationally), Navy - 215.7 ypg (77th nationally)
Rushing defense: Wake - 116.1 ypg (21st nationally), Navy - 126.2 ypg (29th nationally)
Game Outlook:
This should be a pretty entertaining game. Wake Forest has had a lot of great individual efforts this year (Aaron Curry and Alphonso Smith) but could not come together as a great "team". Wake played many more young guys than they did in previous years due to injury and attrition and therefore were not as fundamentally sound as usual. Riley Skinner was good, but not quite as accurate as last year due to facing much more pressure this year behind a young o-line.
Navy is its usual self. Many expected a drop off this year in wins due to Paul Johnson leaving the Midshipmen and taking over at Georgia Tech. However, first year coach Ken Niumatalolo did a great job and led the team to an 8-4 record, including the win over Wake Forest. He had spent his previous six seasons at Navy as assistant head coach and offensive line coach. They led the nation in rushing again.
Prediction: It is just hard, especially when the teams are pretty evenly matched, to beat a team twice in one season. Wake will be looking to build momentum for next year and seniors Curry and Smith will not want to go out losers. I say Wake gets revenge and wins the first bowl game of 2008-2009 by 10, 27-17.
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