FIELD Preview: Navy vs. Delaware

Alexander Teich returns to the Navy backfield in 2011 ( Photo / USN)

Annapolis, Maryland will be abuzz this weekend as the 2011 college football campaign opens. The Navy Midshipmen will host the Delaware Blue Hens, a squad which finished 12-3 in 2010, and was the Division I-AA (FCS) Championship runners-up.

This season’s opener will be a stiff challenge for head coach Ken Niumatalolo as he looks to replace a senior class that went 9-4 last autumn and finished their football careers with the second-most wins in Naval Academy history.

Leading the charge in early  2011 for Navy are eight returning offensive starters including offensive linemen Josh Cabral (guard), Brady DeMell (center), John Dowd (guard), and Ryan Basford (tackle). Others experienced Mids returning to the offense include wide receiver Brandon Turner, slot backs Aaron Santiago and Gee Gee Greene, and fullback Alexander Teich.

Defensively, the Midshipmen welcome back three starters from a season ago, including defensive end Jabaree Tuani, linebacker Max Blue, and cornerback Kwesi Mitchell. This year’s battle will mark the 16th meeting between the Midshipmen and the Blue Hens, a series which the Naval Academy holds an 8-7 edge, including their 35-18 victory two seasons ago. – Robb Hemmelgarn