GAME PREVIEW: TULSA HOSTS NAVY

Friday, October 29

Tulsa, Okla.

6:30 pm

Tulsa

Navy

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Photo by: David Dermer

GAME PREVIEW: TULSA HOSTS NAVY

10/28/2021 12:50:00 PM | Football

GAME KICKS OFF FRIDAY AT 6:30 PM

GAME 8: TULSA (3-4, 2-1 American) vs. NAVY 1-6, 1-4 American)
Date/Time:	Friday, Oct. 29, 6:35 p.m. (CT)
Site:	Tulsa, Oklahoma
Stadium:	Skelly Field @ H.A. Chapman Stadium
Coaches:	TULSA – Philip Montgomery (Tarleton State '95), 7th year NAVY – Ken Niumatalolo (Hawaii '89), 14th year
TV:	ESPN2
Talent:	Jason Benetti (pxp), Andre Ware (analyst), Paul Carcaterra (sideline)
Tickets:	Buy HERE
Radio:	Big Country 99.5 FM or Online
Talent:	Bruce Howard (pxp), Rick Couri (analyst), Jeremie Poplin (sideline)
Live Stats:	Live Stats
Virtual Program:	Game Day Program
Series:	Navy leads 6-2
First Meeting:	Sept. 18, 2004 (Navy 29, Tulsa 0), Tulsa, Okla.
Last Meeting:	Dec. 5, 2020 (Tulsa 19, Navy 6), Annapolis, Md.
Game Notes:	Tulsa \| Navy \| American Athletic Conference

TULSA, Okla. –– On a day that Tulsa honors the school's fourth and most recent Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Drew Pearson, the Golden Hurricane will be looking for its third straight win of the season as the Navy Midshipmen visit Friday night.

Tulsa, 3-4 overall and 2-1 in American Athletic Conference play, will be looking for its second consecutive win over the Midshipmen. The Mids are 1-6 on the season with its one win coming against UCF, while two of its losses came against top-20 teams – No. 2 Cincinnati and No. 23 SMU – by only seven points apiece.

Navy has a 6-2 series lead over the Hurricane, including a 4-0 record in Tulsa.

Pearson, who in August became the fourth Tulsa player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, will be recognized at his alma mater at the start of halftime.

Pearson Induction — Drew Pearson at the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Every defense has its challenges when facing the option attack of the Midshipmen. The Hurricane will need to be solid upfront to control the Mids rushing attack that has produced 211 rushing yards pe game.

Navy has decided on Tai Lavatai at the quarterback position, while fullbacks Isaac Ruoss and James Harris II lead the Midshipmen run game. Ruoss has totaled a team-high 388 yards and Harris is next with 273 yards, while slotback Chance Warren can find a crease and get yards in a hurry.

Lavatai has gained 178 yards and a team-high four rushing touchdowns on the season. He has completed 21 of only 36 passes for 273 yards and two scores. Warren and receiver Mychal Cooper are Lavatai's top pass catchers. Cooper has eight receptions for a team-high 160 yards, a 20-yard average per catch, and Warren averages 18.3 yards on six receptions.

The Navy offensive line has just one senior, right guard Pierce Branbury, who is joined up front by one junior and three sophomores.

The Hurricane defense has held opposing offenses to 141 rushing yards and will have to be at the top of their game to defend the Mids attack.

Tulsa's frontline, a key to controlling the Navy fullbacks, is led by tackle Jaxon Player, nose guard Tyarise Stevenson and end Cullen Wick. Anthony Goodlow, Everitt Rogers, Deven Lamp, Joseph Anderson and Elijah Taylor also see considerable playing time up front.

Wick has totaled 21 tackles and 7.5 TFL for -23 yards to lead the front line in just five games, while Player has also tallied 21 stops with six tackles for -15 yards.

Tulsa's linebacker corps has seen a number of players contributing this season. Yohance Burnett, Justin Wright and Grant Sawyer are the starters. Treyvon Reeves, who was a starter in 2020, has been back in the lineup after missing the first four contests. Robert Revels III, Dorian Hopkins and Mitchell Kulkin will see playing time as well.

Burnett leads the linebackers with 39 tackles, while Justin Wright has totaled 37 stops and 4.5 TFLs for -17 yards. Hopkins has collected 20 tackles, Sawyer 17 and Revels has 11.

Although the secondary won't see a usual potent passing attack that's become a staple of American Athletic Conference football, the Mids have been able to connect in its passing game.

Tulsa cornerback Tyon Davis leads the Hurricane in tackles with 47 stops and has seven pass breakups, while Travon Fuller leads Tulsa with eight pass breakups and two interceptions for the nation's fifth-most 10 passes defended.

Tyree Carlisle, Reggie Ellis and Kenney Solomon add depth at the corner slots.

The safety position brings experience to the secondary with three seniors – TieNeal Martin, Cristian Williams and Bryson Powers. Fellow starting safety Kendarin Ray will miss his second straight game, while sophomore Jaise Oliver and junior LJ Wallace will fill in at strong safety for Ray.

Powers has totaled 34 tackles, one pass breakup, one forced fumble and the one interception this season. Martin has 18 stops and three breakups and Williams has collected 14 tackles.

With minimal offensive possessions expected due to Navy's ball control option offense, the Hurricane offense will need to protect the ball and score points. The run game will be tested as Navy's defensive unit is ranked second in the American Athletic Conference when it comes to defending the run, allowing only 128.6 yards per game. The Midshipmen are also ranked third when it comes to total defense, giving up just 354 yards per contest.

Linebacker Diego Fagot has played All-America type football, leading the way for the Navy defenders with 63 tackles and nine TFL for -23 yards. Fellow linebacker Johnny Hodges has tallied 39 stops and had a team-high four pass breakups. The striker and raider positions have been active for the Midshipmen as the top three players – Tyler Fletcher, John Marshall and Nicholas Straw – have combined for 71 tackles and 4.5 TFL for -15 yards.

The front line isn't as big as most defensive fronts but has been productive as senior tackle J'arius Warren leads the way with 24 stops and 2.5 TFL, followed by nose guard Donald Berniard with 14 tackles and two TFL as well.

Navy corners Jamal Glenn and Michael McMorris are ranked 3-4 on the team for tackles. Glenn has 35 stops and McMorris 26 tackles to go along with three forced fumbles and two pass breakups. The safety position is young for the Mids with a freshman and sophomore in the starting lineup.

The Tulsa offense puts up 459 yards per game with a fairly balanced attack, rushing for 183.7 yards on 273 carries and passing for another 275.5 yards on 234 attempts.

Davis Brin, who has completed 136-of-234 passes for 1,930 yards and 10 touchdowns, will be behind center for the Hurricane.

Tulsa's receiving corps has three receivers with over 300 yards, as Josh Johnson leads the way with 582 yards and three touchdowns. Sam Crawford Jr. has 436 yards and four TDs on 23 catches, while Juan Carlos Santana has caught 24 passes for 346 yards.

Johnson has turned in three 100+ receiving games this year, while Crawford has two 100-yard receiving games. Keylon Stokes, a 2,500-yard career receiver, has battled injuries and has missed three of the last five games.

Tulsa's running game has had three runners gain over 100 yards in at least one game this season. Shamari Brooks has three 100+ games including a 145-yard performance in Tulsa's last outing, while Anthony Watkins has turned in a 115-yard game and Deneric Prince has a 151 and 110-yard outings.

On the year, Brooks leads the way with 561 yards, followed by Prince with 321 yards and Watkins with 277 yards. Brooks, who is Tulsa's fifth player all-time to rush for over 3,000 yards, has 3,261 career yards.

The backs run behind a veteran and versatile offensive line, led by all-AAC tackles Tyler Smith on the left side and Chris Paul at right tackle. Dylan Couch and X'Zauvea Gadlin are slotted at guard and Gerard Wheeler handles the snapping duties.

Tulsa tight ends Ethan Hall and James Palmer have been important cogs in Tulsa's run game.

Special team's coverage has been an area of concern for the Hurricane this season. Opponents have returned three kickoffs and one punt for touchdowns this year, so with a ball control offense like Navy the Hurricane can't give up the one big special team's play.

Tulsa has experience with both their kicker and punter. Senior Zack Long has connected on 9-of-9 field goals this year, including a season-long of 45 yards. Sophomore Lachlan Wilson has averaged 47.6 yards on 39 punts and has placed 13 inside the 20-yard line.

Long snapper Rey Higuera is in his fifth season starting for the Hurricane, while Cannon Montgomery handles the holding duties for the fourth year.

The game will be aired on ESPN2 beginning at 6:30 p.m. (CT).