# 2017 Navy Midshipmen football team

The 2017 Navy Midshipmen football team represented the United States Naval Academy in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Midshipmen were led by tenth-year head coach Ken Niumatalolo and played their home games at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The Midshipmen competed as a member of the West Division of the American Athletic Conference and were third-year members of the conference. They finished the season 7–6 overall and 4–4 in AAC play to tie for third place in the West Division. They were invited to the Military Bowl, where they defeated Virginia, 49–7.

## Before the season
### Spring practices

Navy held spring practices during March and April 2017.

## During the season
### On television

The 2017 Navy Midshipmen football team is featured in the miniseries, A Season With Navy Football on Showtime, which premiered on Tuesday September 5, 2017. It depicts daily life of Midshipmen football players and coaches at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Each episode reviews highlights of every football game played during the current season of Navy football, as the series narrator boasts, is "one of the most accomplished football programs in the country".

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 1 | 8:00 p.m. | at Florida Atlantic* | | FAU StadiumBoca Raton, FL | ESPNU | W 42–19 | 28,481 |
| September 9 | 3:30 p.m. | Tulane | | Navy–Marine Corps Memorial StadiumAnnapolis, MD | CBSSN | W 23–21 | 30,420 |
| September 23 | 3:30 p.m. | Cincinnati | | Navy–Marine Corps Memorial StadiumAnnapolis, MD | CBSSN | W 42–32 | 33,134 |
| September 30 | 3:30 p.m. | at Tulsa | | Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman StadiumTulsa, OK | ESPNU | W 31–21 | 21,354 |
| October 7 | 3:30 p.m. | Air Force* | | Navy–Marine Corps Memorial StadiumAnnapolis, MD (Commander-in-Chief's Trophy) | CBSSN | W 48–45 | 38,792 |
| October 14 | 3:45 p.m. | at Memphis | No. 25 | Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPNU | L 27–30 | 40,177 |
| October 21 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 20 UCF | | Navy–Marine Corps Memorial StadiumAnnapolis, MD | CBSSN | L 21–31 | 35,277 |
| November 2 | 8:00 p.m. | at Temple | | Lincoln Financial FieldPhiladelphia, PA | ESPN | L 26–34 | 26,127 |
| November 11 | 3:30 p.m. | SMU | | Navy–Marine Corps Memorial StadiumAnnapolis, MD (Gansz Trophy) | CBSSN | W 43–40 | 36,157 |
| November 18 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 9 Notre Dame* | | Notre Dame StadiumNotre Dame, IN (rivalry) | NBC | L 17–24 | 77,622 |
| November 24 | 12:00 p.m. | at Houston | | TDECU StadiumHouston, TX | ESPN | L 14–24 | 29,252 |
| December 9 | 3:00 p.m. | vs. Army* | | Lincoln Financial FieldPhiladelphia, PA (Army–Navy Game, College GameDay) | CBS | L 13–14 | 68,625 |
| December 28 | 1:30 p.m. | Virginia* | | Navy–Marine Corps Memorial StadiumAnnapolis, MD (Military Bowl) | ESPN | W 49–7 | 35,921 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Personnel
### Coaching staff

| Name | Position | Seasons at Navy | Alma mater |
| Ken Niumatalolo | Head Coach | 19 | Hawaii (1989) |
| Ivin Jasper | Offensive Coordinator / quarterbacks coach | 18 | Hawaii (1994) |
| Dale Pehrson | Defensive Coordinator / defensive line coach | 22 | Utah (1976) |
| Justin Davis | Outside Linebackers Coach | 11 | Maine (2001) |
| Lt. Col. Robert Green, USMC | Outside Linebackers Coach | 5 | Navy (1998) |
| Ashley Ingram | Running Game Coordinator / offensive line coach | 10 | North Alabama (1996) |
| Steve Johns | Inside Linebackers | 10 | Occidental College (1991) |
| Dan O'Brien | Secondary Coach | 4 | Boston College (2005) |
| Mike Judge | Fullbacks Coach | 10 | Springfield College (2005) |
| Shaun Nua | Defensive line coach | 6 | BYU (2005) |
| Danny O'Rourke | Special Teams Coordinator / slotbacks coach | 16 | West Georgia (2000) |
| Napoleon Sykes | Defensive line coach | 4 | Wake Forest (2006) |
| Mick Yokitis | Wide Receivers Coach | 7 | Hawaii (2006) |

### Depth chart

Defense :
* FS
* Sean Williams
* Juan Hailey
* Jarid Ryan
| WLB | ILB | ILB | SLB |
| D.J. Palmore | Micah Thomas | Hudson Sullivan | Tyler Sayles |
| Kevin McCoy | Brandon Jones | Conner Dorris | Nizaire Cromartie |
| Myles Davenport | Winn Howard | Taylor Heflin | Josh Webb |
* SS
* Jarid Ryan
* Juan Hailey
* Jake Springer
* CB
* Elijah Merchant
* Jarid Ryan
* Cameron Bryant
| DE | NT | DE |
| Amos Mason | Jackson Pittman | Jarvis Polu |
| Nnamdi Uzoma | Joshua Van Dunk | Anthony Villalobos |
| Anthony Villalobos | Dave Tolentino | Vic Thomas |
* CB
* Tyris Wooten
* Noruwa Obanor
* Juan Hailey
Offense :
* WR
* Tyler Carmona
* Craig Scott
* Chad Lewellyn
* SB
* Malcolm Perry
* Tre Walker
* Jahmaal Daniel
| LT | LG | C | RG | RT |
| Jake Hawk | Robert Lindsey | Parker Wade | Evan Martin | Andrew Wood |
| Kendel Wright | Laurent Njiki | David Forney | Steve Satchell | Ford Higgins |
| Michael Raiford | Seth White | Bryan Barrett | T.J. Salu | Michael Railford |
* SB
* Darry Bonner
* Josh Brown
* John Brown III
* WR
* Brandon Colon
* Terrence Laster
* Taylor Jackson
* QB
* Zach Abey
* Garret Lewis
* Reggie Hayes
* Key reserves
* FB
* Chris High
* Joshua Walker
* Myles Benning
* Special teams
* PK Bennett Moehring & Owen White
* P Owen White & Erik Harris
* KR Tre Walker & John Brown III
* PR Craig Scott & Darryl Bonner
Depth Chart 2017 True Freshman Double Position : *

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | — | RV | — | — | — | RV | 25 | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Coaches | — | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 24 | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |

## Game summaries
### At Florida Atlantic

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Navy | 7 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
| Florida Atlantic | 3 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 19 |
After a lightning delay, Navy ended the long night with a total of 345 yards. Also, Midshipmen quarterback Zack Abey, making his third start, rushed for 200 yards and passed for 100. This achievement made it the first time in Naval Academy history that a quarter has done so in a single game.

### Tulane

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tulane | 0 | 13 | 0 | 8 | 21 |
| • Navy | 7 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 23 |
With this victory, Navy has won their 15th straight regular season win playing at their home stadium. In addition to head coach Ken Niumatalolo's 79th career win at Navy, the most in Naval Academy history.

### Cincinnati

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cincinnati | 7 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 32 |
| • Navy | 14 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
With this victory, Navy Midshipmen set a Naval Academy record for 16 consecutive wins at home, making it the longest active regular season streak in the FBS. They also set a new record in Navy football history for the most rushing yards in a single game with 573. (This beat their previous record set on November 10, 2007, at North Texas with 572 yards.)

### At Tulsa

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Navy | 0 | 14 | 3 | 14 | 31 |
| Tulsa | 14 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 21 |

### Air Force

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Air Force | 7 | 3 | 14 | 21 | 45 |
| Navy | 7 | 21 | 10 | 10 | 48 |
at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, Maryland
* Date: October 7
* Game time: 3:30 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • 83 °F (28 °C) • Wind S 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn)-15 miles per hour (24 km/h; 13 kn)
* Game attendance: 38,792
* Referee: Brad Van Vark
* TV announcers (CBS Sports Network): Carter Blackburn, Aaron Taylor, and Jenny Dell
* Automated ScoreBook
Game information :
Air Force
Arion Worthman 9/16, 257 Yds, 2 TD 20 Rush, 139 Yds, 2 TD
Marcus Bennett 5 Rec, 161 Yds, 2 TD
Navy
Zach Abey 4/11, 86 Yds, 2 TD 29 Rush, 214 Yds, 2 TD
Malcolm Perry 2 Rec, 45 Yds, TD :
With a stadium-record crowd, this victory earned the Midshipmen their best start since they went 5–0 in 2004. Game highlights include, Midshipmen slotback Malcolm Perry had two touchdowns; a 40-yard catch and a 91-yard touchdown run, the second longest TD run in Navy history. While quarterback Zach Abey ran for 214 yards and two touchdowns, rushing for 75 yards on one. Also the Midshipmen rushed for 400-plus yards in three straight games. The last team to do so was Rice with four straight games (1996).
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | AFA | NAVY |
| 1 | 7:52 | 1 | 91 | 0:14 | Navy | Malcolm Perry 91-yard touchdown run, Bennett Moehring kick good | 0 | 7 |
| 1 | 5:30 | 5 | 77 | 2:22 | Air Force | Marcus Bennett 59-yard touchdown reception from Arion Worthman, Luke Stebel kick good | 7 | 7 |
| 2 | 8:36 | 10 | 45 | 4:58 | Navy | Darryl Bonner 10-yard touchdown run, Bennett Moehring kick good | 7 | 14 |
| 2 | 3:45 | 6 | 41 | 3:06 | Navy | Zach Abey 1-yard touchdown run, Bennett Moehring kick good | 7 | 21 |
| 2 | 1:52 | 2 | 40 | 0:14 | Navy | Malcolm Perry 40-yard touchdown reception from Zach Abey, Bennett Moehring kick good | 7 | 28 |
| 2 | 0:00 | 11 | 55 | 1:52 | Air Force | 26-yard field goal by Luke Strebel | 10 | 28 |
| 3 | 10:56 | 8 | 61 | 4:04 | Navy | 21-yard field goal by Bennett Moehring | 10 | 31 |
| 3 | 9:26 | 4 | 73 | 1:30 | Air Force | Tim McVey 6-yard touchdown run, Luke Strebel kick good | 17 | 31 |
| 3 | 9:14 | 1 | 75 | 0:12 | Navy | Zach Abey 75-yard touchdown run, Bennett Moehring kick good | 17 | 38 |
| 3 | 4:30 | 11 | 73 | 4:44 | Air Force | Arion Worthman 1-yard touchdown run, Luke Strebel kick good | 24 | 38 |
| 4 | 11:28 | 8 | 89 | 3:26 | Air Force | Arion Worthman 3-yard touchdown run, Luke Strebel kick good | 31 | 38 |
| 4 | 6:08 | 10 | 52 | 5:20 | Navy | 25-yard field goal by Bennett Moehring | 31 | 41 |
| 4 | 4:09 | 5 | 75 | 1:59 | Air Force | Tim McVey 2-yard touchdown run, Luke Strebel kick good | 38 | 41 |
| 4 | 1:53 | 2 | 57 | 0:35 | Air Force | Marcus Bennett 51-yard touchdown reception from Arion Worthman, Luke Strebel kick good | 45 | 41 |
| 4 | 0:15 | 11 | 75 | 1:38 | Navy | Tyler Carmona 16-yard touchdown reception from Zach Abey, Bennett Moehring kick good | 45 | 48 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 45 | 48 |

### At Memphis

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 25 Navy | 10 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 27 |
| • Memphis | 7 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 30 |

### UCF

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 20 UCF | 7 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 31 |
| Navy | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |

### At Temple

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Navy | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 26 |
| • Temple | 10 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 34 |

### SMU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| SMU | 5 | 6 | 21 | 8 | 40 |
| • Navy | 13 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 43 |
Navy slotback/quarterback Malcolm Perry had a breakout performance in for the injured but active quarterback Zach Abey. Perry rushed for 282 yards with 4 touchdowns in his first start at quarterback (third most in Naval Academy history). Also, fullback Anthony Gargiulo ran for a career-high 145 yards with a touchdown. Backup kicker J.R. Osborn kicked an 18-yard, game-winning field goal as time expired to give the Midshipmen the win in dramatic fashion. With this victory, Navy becomes bowl eligible for the 15th time in the last 16 seasons. It's also Navy's 35th win on Senior Day in the last four years, a milestone few schools have reached.

### At Notre Dame

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Navy | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| • No. 9 Notre Dame | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 24 |

### At Houston

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Navy | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| • Houston | 7 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 24 |

### Vs. Army

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Army | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Navy | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 13 |

### Vs. Virginia (Military Bowl)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Virginia | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| • Navy | 14 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 49 |
With their fourth bowl game victory in five seasons, Navy ran the ball 76 times for 452 rushing yards and scored seven rushing touchdowns. All touchdowns came from quarterbacks Malcolm Perry and Zach Abey. Getting his third start at quarterback, Perry rushed for two touchdowns and led the Midshipmen with 114 rushing yards. Abey came into the game after Perry suffered a foot injury in the third quarter and scored five rushing touchdowns with 88 total yards. Abey became the fifth player in FBS and Military Bowl history to rush for five touchdowns in a FBS bowl game, joining Barry Sanders and Kareem Hunt.