Defense, field goals lift Midshipmen in home opener past Georgia Southern 13-7

Navy hangs on to down Georgia Southern 13-7

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Quarterback Ricky Dobbs had a 1-yard touchdown run and Joe Buckley added two field goals to lift Navy to a 13-7 win over Georgia Southern on Saturday.

Buckley kicked first-half field goals of 18 and 42 yards for Navy (1-1).

Dobbs’ score was also in the first half. The score extended Dobbs’ streak of scoring in all 15 games he’s started, but the only other big play the senior made was a 44-yard pass on the final drive of the game, which allowed Navy to run out the clock.

Navy’s triple option gained just 193 yards, 109 rushing, after totaling 485 yards in a loss to Maryland on Monday.

Dobbs was held to 44 yards on 25 carries by Georgia Southern’s defense.

The Midshipmen’s rushing total was the lowest since a 35-yard effort in 2002 against Connecticut.

Dobbs completed 5 of 8 passes, the final two coming on Navy’s final possession.

That series came after Navy took over at its own 27 with 6:08 to play following a punt. On third-and-18 at the 19, Dobbs threw deep for Greg Jones, who grabbed the ball away from A.J. McCray for the big reception.

The catch and another first-down pass from Dobbs to Alexander Teich, plus a personal foul penalty on the Eagles, enabled the Midshipmen to run out the clock.

Georgia Southern, coached by former Navy assistant Jeff Monken, finished with just 109 yards offense, 73 rushing and 36 passing, running its version of the triple option. Navy’s defense was led by Shane Bothel, Jabaree Tuani and Tyler Simmons.

Buckley put Navy ahead 6-0 in the first quarter with the two field goals. The first followed a 55-yard kickoff return by Teich to open the game and the second came after Billy Yarborough recovered a fumble on the Eagles 25-yard line.

Dobbs sent Navy into the half with a 13-0 lead with a 1-yard dive which capped a 40-yard drive following a failed fake punt by Georgia Southern.

In the first half, the Eagles gained 23 yards on 21 plays and had just two first downs.

The Eagles more than doubled that on their opening drive of the second half as they drove 49 yards and got a 17-yard scoring pass from Jaybo Shaw to J.J. Wilcox, closing to 13-7.