Wake Forest University
Navy
Navy Runs Past Wake Forest 13-10
10/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 24, 2009
Final Stats | AP Photo Gallery 
ANNAPOLIS, MD - Navy's Vince Murray ran for a career-high 175 yards and the Midshipmen held on for a 13-10 victory over Wake Forest on a very wet afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
Murray and backup quarterback Kriss Proctor were all the offense Navy needed as the duo accounted for 264 of the team's 338 total yards on the day, all on the ground. The Midshipmen did not complete a pass the entire game.
The interior of the Wake Forest defense knew that it would be tested against the nation's fifth-best rushing attack and linebacker Dominique Midgett stepped-up with a career-high 15 stops. Junior Matt Woodlief joined him with a career-best 12 stops while Tristan Dorty recorded 12 tackles and Lee Malchow finished with 10, both career-highs.
Riley Skinner had a tough day through the air in the rain as he was just 13-of-25 for 173 yards and one touchdown. He completed passes to seven different receivers, led by Devon Brown's three grabs for 47 yards and the team's lone touchdown.
Junior Josh Adams carried the ball a season-high 18 times for 89 nine yards while Brandon Pendergrass picked up 27 yards on five carries.
The Deacons gained 308 yards on the afternoon compared to 338 yards for Navy. The Midshipmen also led in the time of possession 34:01 to 25:59.
The first half was a defensive struggle with neither team able to mount much of an offensive attack. With a steady rain alternating between a drizzle and a downpour, Wake Forest's passing attack was kept in check. Skinner completed 4-of-8 passes in the first half for 67 yards while Navy's only two pass attempts resulted in sacks. The Deacons punted four times in the first half and managed 135 total offense yards. Navy punted twice and gained 114 yards, all on the ground.
Navy took a 3-0 lead with 2:52 to play in the first quarter when Joe Buckley booted a 50-yard field goal. That culminated a seven play, 29-yard drive by the Midshipmen.
Wake Forest tied the game at 3 when Jimmy Newman booted a 40-yard field goal with 13:52 remaining in the second quarter. It was a career-long field goal by Newman and the longest by Wake Forest this season.
Navy then drove to the Wake 24 before Buckley was called on again and responded with a 41-yard field goal that gave the Middies a 6-3 lead with 7:26 to play in the half.
Navy took the second half kickoff and ran off two first downs before reaching the Wake Forest 40. Quarterback Kriss Proctor then kept the ball off left tackle, cut back to the center of the field and outraced the Wake secondary to the end zone to put the Midshipmen up 13-3 after Buckley's PAT.
Following a 22-yard kickoff return by Lovell Jackson, the Deacons started play at their own 25. Adams ripped off 25 yards on a run down to the Navy 37 after he could not find daylight around the left side and reversed field. The drive reached the Navy 33 where Wake faced a fourth-and-6. Skinner's pass was knocked down at the line of scrimmage.
The Midshipmen then drove all the way to the Wake Forest 2 and were threatening to score again when Matt Woodlief hit Proctor and forced a fumble that Dominique Midgett recovered at the Wake 3.
Following the fumble recovery, Wake reached its own 38 before the drive stalled and the Deacons punted.
Wake's defense forced Navy to punt and the Deacons regained the ball at their own 24 with 9:49 to play in the game. Skinner methodically moved the Deacons down field, completing four of six passes for 50 yards, culminating with a 15-yard touchdown pass to a sliding Devon Brown in the end zone. Newman's PAT brought the Deacs within three at 13-10 with 7:41 remaining.
The touchdown snapped a streak of eight consecutive quarters in which the Deacons had been held without a touchdown.
Wake's defense held again, giving the ball back to the offense with 3:56 to go. Starting at its own 20, Wake got the ball out to the 34-yard line but a holding penalty halted the drive.
Following a punt, Navy was able to run out the clock with a first down, thanks in large part to an offsides penalty by the Deacons.
Wake will look to snap its two-game losing streak next Saturday as it hosts Miami back at BB&T Field. The game is scheduled to kickoff at 3:30 pm.
