The Naval Academy Midshipman and the Temple Owls are on a collision course this weekend in Annapolis // MC1 Chad McNeeley
Here’s a question you probably had to answer back in your school days: When two white-hot freight trains are hurtling toward each other at top speed on the same stretch of track, what determines which one survives and which one is destroyed? That’s right — the rushing offense.
The Naval Academy Midshipmen (6-2) are taking on the Temple University Owls (5-2) on Saturday in Annapolis. Each team has notched five straight wins this season and is gunning for a “W” this weekend to become eligible for a bowl game — although Navy will need seven victories this year because it’s playing 13 games.
Navy’s sophomore quarterback Kriss Proctor didn’t even attempt a pass in last week’s game against Wake Forest — then again, it did take place during a typhoon — but his feet carried him 40 yards for a touchdown and it’s likely the Navy ground game will be another big factor against the Owls. The Mids want to capture a fifth-straight NCAA rushing title this year; they’re currently third in the country, with 286.4 yards per game.
But the Owls may not be pigeons. They’ve got one of the best teams in school history, according to this read-ahead, and they’re trying to continue their own winning streak. And the night birds have the calendar on their side: Navy is 1-12-1 all time on Halloween, which suggests the Mids should keep their guard up for ghoulish blocking and a ghostly defensive line.
