It's hard to convey just how much the 1995 arrival of the spread option in Annapolis changed the Navy football program. It was a complete shock to the system. To give you an idea, consider this: Navy's leading rusher in 1994 was Monty Williams, who ran for 215 yards on the season. Chris McCoy shattered that number in the first game of 1995. Every other week it seemed like some unfortunate streak was being snapped, or some milestone was reached that the Mids hadn't achieved in years, and sometimes decades.
The matchup against Duke that year was one of those games. Navy traveled to Durham and came away with a 30-9 win, their first over an ACC team since beating North Carolina in 1989 (9 games). The game was also a milestone for Duke as it snapped a 20-game home winning streak against non-conference opponents.
Duke football has had their own share of problems over the years, so it might come as a surprise that they had amassed such a winning streak in the first place. There were moments, though, when the program appeared to be moving in the right direction. The 1994 Blue Devils squad finished 8-4, spent half of the season ranked in the top 25, and even played in a New Year's Day bowl game.
Duke fans were optimistic for a repeat performance in 1995. The team entered the game against Navy at 2-2, but those two losses came against ranked teams, including #1 Florida State. Navy was a game they were supposed to win that year, especially considering the 47-14 thrashing they delivered to the Mids in 1994. Duke was a 14-point favorite against Navy in 1995, and after they were beaten so thoroughly, their coaches felt that it sent the entire season off the rails. To them, the rematch in Annapolis the following year was a chance to get things back on track.
That didn't happen, to put it mildly. The Mids had a game for the ages, rolling to a 64-27 win. In yet another milestone performance, it was the most points that Navy had scored since 1953, when they beat Princeton, 65-7.
Surprisingly, the game was tied at halftime; Duke stormed back late in the second quarter after Navy took a 21-7 lead. The wheels fell off the wagon in the second half, though. By the end of the game, the Blue Devils had seven turnovers, including two that were returned for touchdowns. Navy's special teams had a field day as well, with Enrico Hunter taking the opening kickoff to midfield, Ross Scott adding a punt return for a touchdown, and Gervy Alota running for 30 yards on a fake punt.
Navy’s offense was inconsistent at first, but eventually figured things out. After Chris McCoy ran for 144 yards in the 1995 contest, Duke was determined not to let him beat them again. With the defense keying on McCoy’s running, it created opportunities for passing the ball. The fullbacks had a great day too; Omar Nelson ran for 118 yards and a touchdown, and Tim Cannada added another two scores.
This game was a convergence between different eras of Navy football, which makes it interesting to watch today. Red Romo, the legendary trainer who had looked after Navy athletes since 1956, was honored at halftime after previously announcing that the 1996 season would be his last on the job. Four members of the current football staff figured prominently in the game: Nelson had his third consecutive 100-yard rushing performance of the season, R.B. Green grabbed an interception, and Ivin Jasper and Ken Niumatalolo were both patrolling the sideline. It adds extra significance to what was already a great Navy win.
