Sun Belt Sports Fans

Navy 40, Western Kentucky 14

The Navy Midshipmen have bigger, better and bolder foes to face in the course of the 2011 college football season, but through their first two games, it’s hard to find too many weaknesses in their armor. No, this is not a BCS bowl contender or anything of the sort, but in their own world and an immediate context, the Midshipmen are performing about as well as they can reasonably expect. Crisp and effective performances on Saturdays are their own reward.

It was clear early thatWestern Kentuckywas outmatched against Navy. The Midshipmen ended the first quarter with a 13-0 lead after two big scoring plays, and would power their way to a 40-14 win inBowling Green,Kentuckyon Saturday night. Navy followed up one 40-point game againstDelawarewith another against the Hilltoppers of the Sun Belt Conference. Keeping in mind that WKU held SEC bowl teamKentuckyto under 200 yards in its season opener, Navy’s offensive prowess represented a worthy effort. If the Midshipmen continue to exhibit such consistency this season, they will be the odds-on favorite to reclaim the Commander-In-Chief’s trophy, and they’ll have a legitimate shot at racking up nine wins.

Navy struck just two minutes into the game when John Howell sprinted for a 50-yard touchdown run. After the Hilltoppers missed a 32-yard field goal late in the first, quarterback Kriss Proctor connected with Matt Aiken for a 44-yard touchdown pass as time ran out in the quarter.

Known for a grinding option run game, Navy totaled four quick drives to take full command of the game. After churning out 51 rushing yards on four run plays, Proctor hit Brandon Turner on a 27-yard touchdown pass to complete the third scoring drive in just over two minutes.Western Kentuckywould ride senior star running back Bobby Rainey for 50 yards to try and stay in the game, the last 13 of which got Rainey in the endzone to cut the score to 20-7.  But Navy answered in two minutes, as Alexander Teich and Aaron Santiago took two carries each to travel 60 yards for another score, putting the game out of reach at 27-7.

The win came with a price for Navy, who lost the seniorSantiagoto a broken arm in the second half. The country’s-best run game pounded out 410 yards for Navy, with Howell and Teich topping 100 yards each. Proctor finished with 100 passing yards on just three completions, two of which were touchdowns. Rainey finished with 131 yards on 21 carries for the Hilltoppers, including their only two scores.

Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer