The 2021 Navy Midshipmen football team represented the United States Naval Academy as a member of the American Athletic Conference (AAC) in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Midshipmen were led by 14th-year head coach Ken Niumatalolo and played their home games at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
Preseason
American Athletic Conference preseason media poll The American Athletic Conference preseason media poll was released at the virtual media day held August 4, 2021. Cincinnati, who finished the 2020 season ranked No. 8 nationally, was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the 2021 preseason media poll.
Media poll 1 Cincinnati 262 (22) 2 UCF 241 (2) 3 SMU 188 4 Houston 181 5 Memphis 168 6 Tulsa 153 7 Tulane 132 т-8 East Carolina 85 т-8 Navy 85 10 Temple 46 11 South Florida 43
Schedule
Personnel
Coaching staff Ken Niumatalolo Head coach Hawaii (1989) Offensive staff Ivin Jasper Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach 22 Hawaii (1994) Joe DuPaix Slotbacks coach 7 Southern Utah (1998) Ashley Ingram Running game coordinator / offensive centers and guards coach 14 North Alabama (1996) Jason MacDonald Fullbacks Coach 3 Springfield College (MA) (2004) Danny O'Rourke Special teams coordinator / offensive tackles coach 20 West Georgia (1999) Mick Yokitis Wide receivers coach 11 Navy (2006) Billy Ray Stutzmann Offensive assistant coach 3 Hawaii (2013) Defensive staff Brian Newberry Defensive coordinator / safeties coach 3 Baylor (1998) James Adams Cornerbacks coach 2 Wake Forest (2006) Kevin Downing Defensive ends / raiders coach 3 North Carolina Central (2004) Robert Green Defensive assistant coach / Director of Racial Equality 9 Navy (1998) Joe Coniglio Defensive assistant coach 1 Miami University (2006) Steve Johns Strikers Coach 14 Occidental (1991) Jerrick Hall Nose Guards / defensive tackles coach 3 NC State (2004) P.J. Volker Linebackers coach 3 Mount St. Joseph (2005) Support staff Brian Blick Director of football operations 5 Navy (2012) Va'a Niumatalolo Assistant to the director of football operations 2 BYU (2018) Bryan Fitzpatrick Associate director of athletics – Football Strength, Conditioning & Sports Performance 10 Towson (2005) David Mahoney Recruiting coordinator 5 Navy (2007) Bryan Miller Associate football strength and conditioning coach / sports science coordinator 7 North Park Omar Nelson Director of player personnel 5 Navy (1997) Capt. Donald Bowers, USMC Director of player development 2 Navy (2011) Kevin Slattery Director of Football Creative Design 3 York College (PA) (2016) Hanna Kotlarek Director of Football Creative Services 1 Laura Webb Administrative assistant to the head football coach 2
Source:
Roster
Rankings
Game summaries
Marshall
Statistics MarshallNavy First downs 23 24 Total yards 464 398 Rushing yards 101 337 Passing yards 363 61 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 18:41 41:19
Team Category Player StatisticsMarshall Passing Grant Wells 20/30, 333 yards, 2 INT Rushing Rasheen Ali 14 carries, 59 yards, 4 TD Receiving Talik Keaton 5 receptions, 100 yardsNavy Passing Maasai Maynor 2/6, 27 yards Rushing James Harris II 11 carries, 80 yards Receiving Mychal Copper 2 receptions, 30 yards
Air Force
Statistics Air ForceNavy First downs 14 6 Total yards 225 68 Rushing yards 176 36 Passing yards 49 32 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 36:48 23:12
Team Category Player StatisticsAir Force Passing Haaziq Daniels 3/10, 49 yards Rushing Brad Roberts 29 carries, 97 yards, 2 TD Receiving Micah Davis 1 reception, 27 yardsNavy Passing Maasai Maynor 3/5, 32 yards, Rushing Xavier Arline 16 carries, 31 yards Receiving Mychal Copper 1 reception, 15 yards
Since this game was on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, both teams donned special commemorative uniforms. The Air Force Falcons were designed to honor a B-52 bomber crew that flew in Operation Linebacker II during 1972. While the Midshipmen's uniform celebrated the United States Marine Corps, inspired by the iconic "Dress Blue A" uniform, with white gloves, black cleats, red trim, and royal blue pants. The helmet, shoulder and pant designs feature an Eagle, Globe and Anchor, as well as, the battle cry "OORAH", on the front of the helmet. The back of the helmet reads "Semper Fi", the Marine Corps motto abbreviated from Semper Fidelis, meaning "always faithful." The red stripe on the pants is known as the "Blood Stripe," a way to honor fallen and injured Marines.
At Houston
Statistics NavyHouston First downs 16 20 Total yards 300 384 Rushing yards 202 127 Passing yards 98 257 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 33:21 26:39
Team Category Player StatisticsNavy Passing Xavier Arline 3/6, 83 yards Rushing Xavier Arline 19 rushes, 64 yards, 1 TD Receiving Mychal Cooper 3 receptions, 83 yardsHouston Passing Clayton Tune 22/30, 257 yards, 1 TD Rushing Alton McCaskill 17 rushes, 74 yards Receiving Christian Trahan 4 receptions, 65 yards
UCF
Statistics UCFNavy First downs 17 26 Total yards 326 406 Rushing yards 148 348 Passing yards 178 58 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 20:42 39:18
Team Category Player StatisticsUCF Passing Mikey Keene 16/26, 178 yards, 2TD, INT Rushing Johnny Richardson 11 carries, 59 yards Receiving Brandon Johnson 4 receptions, 79 yards, 2 TDNavy Passing Tai Lavatai 2/4, 58 yards Rushing Carlinos Acie 11 carries, 85 yards Receiving Chance Warren 1 reception, 49 yards
This was the Navy Midshipmen's first win since October 17, 2020 when they played at ECU. Navy snapped their losing streak and got their first win this season. Also during this game, the Naval Academy Athletic Association retired former All-American and College Football Hall of Fame safety Chet Moeller's number 48 jersey. Moeller, who was also the East Coast Athletic (ECAC) Player of the Year in 1975, played for the Midshipmen from 1972 to 1975. He is the first defensive player to have his number retired by the Midshipmen.
No. 24 SMU
Statistics SMUNavy First downs 22 12 Total yards 404 241 Rushing yards 80 177 Passing yards 324 64 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 27:41 32:19
Team Category Player StatisticsSMU Passing Tanner Mordecai 30/40, 324 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Tre Siggers 14 carries, 49 yards, TD Receiving Reggie Roberson Jr. 5 receptions, 100 yards, TDNavy Passing Tai Lavatai 4/7, 64 yards, TD Rushing Tai Lavatai 24 carries, 53 yards Receiving Kai Puailoa-Rojas 1 reception, 37 yards, TD
At Memphis
Statistics NavyMemphis First downs 17 15 Total yards 241 415 Rushing yards 198 200 Passing yards 43 215 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 39:19 20:41
Team Category Player StatisticsNavy Passing Tai Lavatai 3/4, 27 yards, TD Rushing Isaac Ruoss 18 carries, 75 yards Receiving Mychal Copper 1 reception, 21 yards, TDMemphis Passing Seth Henigan 8/12, 215 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Calvin Austin III 1 carry, 69 yards, TD Receiving Eddie Lewis 3 receptions, 92 yards, TD
No. 2 Cincinnati
Statistics CincinnatiNavy First downs 14 22 Total yards 271 308 Rushing yards 21 67 Passing yards 176 116 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 20:33 39:27
Team Category Player StatisticsCincinnati Passing Desmond Ridder 18/30, 176 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jerome Ford 15 carries, 90 yards, TD Receiving Josh Whyle 4 receptions, 60 yards, 2 TD Navy Passing Tai Lavatai 11/15, 116 yards, INT Rushing Isaac Ruoss 19 carries, 80 yards Receiving Kai Puailoa-Rojas 2 receptions, 47 yards
At Tulsa
Statistics NavyTulsa First downs 16 13 Total yards 302 294 Rushing yards 302 129 Passing yards 0 165 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 37:18 22:42
Team Category Player StatisticsNavy Passing Team 0/1, 0 yards Rushing Carlinos Acie 3 carries, 80 yards Receiving Tulsa Passing Davis Brin 13/23, 165 yards, TD, INT Rushing Anthony Watkins 5 carries, 81 yards Receiving Juancarlos Santana 7 receptions, 109 yards
At No. 10 Notre Dame
Statistics NavyNotre Dame First downs 11 21 Total yards 184 430 Rushing yards 166 150 Passing yards 18 280 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 34:33 25:27
Team Category Player StatisticsNavy Passing Xavier Arline 1/2, 18 yards Rushing Isaac Ruoss 22 carries, 73 yards Receiving Jayden Umbarger 1 reception, 18 yards Notre Dame Passing Jack Coan 23/29, 269 yards, TD Rushing Kyren Williams 17 carries, 95 yards, 2 TD Receiving Kevin Austin Jr. 6 receptions, 139 yards, TD
East Carolina
Statistics East CarolinaNavy First downs 24 17 Total yards 563 382 Rushing yards 158 345 Passing yards 405 37 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 32:40 27:20
Team Category Player StatisticsEast Carolina Passing Holton Ahlers 27/32, 405 yards, 3 TD Rushing Keaton Mitchell 18 carries, 94 yards, TD Receiving Tyler Snead 5 receptions, 137 yards, 2 TDNavy Passing Tai Lavatai 4/4, 37 yards, 2 TD Rushing Carlinos Acie 6 carries, 155 yards, TD Receiving Mychal Copper 2 receptions, 31 yards, TD
At Temple
Statistics NavyTemple First downs 21 11 Total yards 291 182 Rushing yards 219 84 Passing yards 72 98 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 37:11 22:49
Team Category Player StatisticsNavy Passing Tai Lavatai 5/11, 57 yards, TD Rushing Carlinos Acie 10 carries, 86 yards, TD Receiving Chance Warren 3 receptions, 43 yards, 2 TD Temple Passing Mariano Valenti 10/14, 73 yards Rushing Tayvon Ruley 9 carries, 68 yards, TD Receiving Jose Barbon 5 receptions, 34 yards
Vs. Army
Statistics ArmyNavy First downs 11 13 Total yards 232 278 Rushing yards 124 196 Passing yards 108 92 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 25:35 34:25
Team Category Player StatisticsArmy Passing Christian Anderson 7/15, 108 yards Rushing Christian Anderson 9 carries, 67 yards, TD Receiving Isaiah Alston 1 reception, 35 yardsNavy Passing Tai Lavatai 4/6, 82 yards Rushing Tai Lavatai 20 carries, 62 yards, 2 TD Receiving Mychal Copper 1 reception, 28 yards
This year's Army–Navy Game uniforms for the Navy Midshipmen spotlight Naval Aviation, namely the carrier-based F/A-18 Super Hornet in a themed uniform named "Fly Navy". The color-rush navy kits feature the current active U.S. Military roundel national insignia, (a white star with white and red stripes), on each shoulder. On the left upper chest is a triangular squadron patch highlighting the Strike Fighter Wing, U.S. Atlantic Fleet based out of Naval Air Station in Oceana, Virginia. The pants have a red stripe between two white stripes running down the side, while the gloves have the "Fly Navy" script on the palms.
The right side of the helmet is emblazoned with "the roundel" while left side of the helmet has a hand-painted F/A-18 Super Hornet ("the Rhino"), which are operated by naval aviators and also the jet flown by the Navy's elite flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels. On the back of the helmet, three sets of gold wings are featured which are earned by naval aviators: Single Anchor–Navy Aviators (pilots); Double Anchor–Naval Flight Officers (navigators); and AC–Aircrew.
This year's exclusive Game Ball by Team Issue features the silhouette of an F/A-18 Super Hornet, the U.S. Military Roundel and color scheme, as well as an intricate stitching design around the laces.
References