Unbeaten Navy's quick start spoils sprint football's home finale

When it rains it pours. This old adage not only applies to life, but to the world of sprint football.

Over the break, Navy (5-0, 2-0 Collegiate Sprint Football League) defeated Princeton (0-5, 0-3) by a score of 59-8, handing the Tigers their worst loss of the season.

The Midshipmen entered the contest riding an eight-game winning streak, which included five consecutive league victories. On the other hand, Princeton was looking to get its first win of the season in its final home game.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, Navy more than lived up to its reputation as being one of the premier teams in the collegiate sprint football league. The Midshipmen never even allowed the Tigers to have a glimmer of victory, as they jumped on Princeton early and often.

In the first play from scrimmage, Navy sent the message that it was going to be a very long night for Princeton. Midshipmen quarterback Chris Ashinhurst hit Maurice Chapman for a 35-yard touchdown at 13 minutes, 51 seconds.

Things would only proceed to get worse for the Tigers as Chapman would find the end zone again at 12:27, rumbling in for a score from 18 yards out. For the first two and a half minutes of play, Navy's offense was simply unstoppable.

And as if matters were not bad enough already for Princeton in the opening quarter, a botched punt by the Tigers resulted in a Midshipmen safety.

Just when it appeared that the Tigers might escape the first quarter down 16-0, Navy drove 40 yards on two plays to score its third touchdown of the quarter. Randall Leslie took a handoff from Ashinhurst and scampered 35 yards for a touchdown with 3:29 remaining.

As time expired in the first quarter, the Tigers were down 23-0. The second quarter was equally as disastrous as the first, as the Midshipmen were able to pick up right from where they left off in the first quarter.

One minute into the second quarter Navy added a field goal, extending its lead to 26. Regrettably for Princeton, the Midshipmen were merely getting warmed up at this point. Ashinhurst went on to throw two touchdown passes in the second quarter, giving Navy a surreal 40-0 lead at the half.

The third quarter brought even more heartbreak for the Tiger faithful. Three different Midshipmen running backs managed to find the end zone, essentially putting the game out of reach.

With a 59-0 score heading into the fourth quarter, Princeton was playing for pride. The Tigers were desperate not to get shut out for a third straight game.

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At the 8:32 mark, Princeton was able to breathe a small sigh of relief when sophomore running back Matt Worley rushed for a four-yard touchdown. After Princeton's successful two-point conversion, the score was 59-8.

On the next play, the Tigers recovered an onside kick, but were unable to put together another solid drive.

"All I have to say is that Navy was ridiculously good," senior running back Rikki Racela said. "They were very talented on both sides of the ball. We just couldn't keep up."

On offense, the Tigers were led by sophomore wide receiver Adam Farren's five catches for 34 yards. Racela added 50 yards on 16 carries, while Worley rushed for 31-yards on 10 attempts.

Princeton's final game of the season is Nov. 8 at Penn. The Tigers will aim to avenge a 34-15 loss to the Quakers from earlier in the season.