The first full weekend of September simply wouldn’t feel good without a school football game on Labor Day night to finish. Fortunately, we have one, and it may turn out to be the game on the shortlist for Opening Week when the Navy receives BYU (8 p. m. ET, ESPN).
The military originally programmed to begin the crusade with their annual confrontation opposed to Notre Dame; the two have faced each other year since 1927. But Fighting Irish’s temporary partnership with the ACC meant that due to the league’s programming policy this season, the series with the Midshipers had to be discontinued.
BYU, also independent of FBS that needed to reorganize its program, an herbal addition to the Navy. Although systems have only met twice before, most recently in 1989, there are still many links. In particular, psychic coach Ken Niumatalolo and Cougars. Coach Kalani Sitake grew up in the same hometown of Lai’e, Hawaii, and are the only two main FBS coaches of Polynesian descent.
As you settle in after your Christmas barbecue, here are 3 things to keep in mind.
The beginning of dynamic Malcolm Perry leaves Navy without initial joy as a quarterback. The smart news for Dalen Morris in his early days is that he can count on Jamale duo Carothers and Nelson Smith to take the ball in the middle. But they will oppose a strong team of supporters who will be the defense force of the Cougars, along with Kavika Fonua and Isaiah Kaufusi, will have to minimize those interior spaces to stop the Navy’s floor attack.
ByU’s aerial game is rarely what it was when Ty Detmer and Steve Young did, but it will be the Cougars’ main means of transport. Unfortunately, the unit already suffered a massive injury when closed wing Matt Bushman fell into contact-free training in the preseason. Quarterback Zach Wilson is a veteran, however, he does not have many other experienced receivers in his arsenal, so at least one of the children wants to emerge quickly.
Possession time is not a significant statistic, especially if your offense is designed for rapid movements (think Oklahoma, for example), but for optional groups like Navy, this is certainly essential. a clinic in that domain on Saturday, bleaching Middle Tennessee 42-0 while maintaining an 11-minute merit in ownership time. Of course, this goes hand in hand with third-class efficiency. Third attempt, it deserves to prevail. For the Navy, this will mean that your young high-level student will have to answer the bell. For Cougars, this will mean forcing long-distance conditions by allowing minimum gains on the first attempt and at the moment.