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ANNAPOLIS, Md. - SMU safety Chris Banjo calls Navy's triple-option "very chaotic." Linebacker Taylor Reed cringes when he remembers a certain mistake last season against the Midshipmen.
"I was in the wrong gap, and they broke it for like a 40-yard gain," the sophomore said. "You have to take care of your responsibilities."
If SMU does that today the Mustangs (4-2) could post their third straight win before returning next week to Conference USA, in which they're 3-0. SMU is trying to break a 19-game nonconference road losing streak.
"We can't get complacent," Banjo said. "A lot of people are trying to congratulate us {ellipsis} but this is another big test for us."
Also at stake is the Gansz Trophy, created last year to honor the late Frank Gansz, an SMU assistant coach and former Navy player and coach and NFL coach. Navy won it last season, 38-35, in overtime.
Former NFL coach Dick Vermeil will present the trophy today and was expected to address the Mustangs on Friday night. Former President George W. Bush unveiled the trophy in University Park last season.
In this pageantry-filled matchup at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, stopping Navy's rushing attack is always a pill. And SMU will have to do it without one of its top defensive players.
Senior cornerback Sterling Moore, an unquestioned playmaker, reinjured his knee during practice Wednesday. Coach June Jones said Moore could miss the rest of the season. Moore injured the knee last year, and then hurt it again this September, though he returned within weeks. Bennie Thomas will replace him today.
SMU lost to Navy (3-2) last season despite forcing seven punts - a high number for a Navy team that specializes in owning time of possession. Of course, Navy still scored almost 40 points. The Midshipmen are averaging less than 20 points this season.
Navy's rushing attack hasn't been quite as prolific either - though it ranks 10th in the Football Bowl Subdivision (260.2 ypg). Quarterback Ricky Dobbs has struggled with injuries, but Dobbs looked more like his old, powerful self in rushing for 100 yards and two touchdowns in last week's 28-27 win in the final minute at Wake Forest.
Starting fullback Vince Murray (knee), who rushed for 141 of Navy's 331 rushing yards against SMU last season, is reportedly out today. Alexander Teich, who suffered a concussion last week, has been a strong backup. Navy averages 14 passes per game, though the Mustangs remember the Midshipmen didn't attempt a single pass in 2008, when SMU suffered a miserable 34-7 loss in a driving rainstorm.
Holding SMU to one touchdown these days, though, would be hard to figure.
The Mustangs' offense is cranking up, thanks to the improved big-play connections between quarterback Kyle Padron and his receivers and the steady running of Zach Line. Navy ranks third in the FBS against the pass, but it looked vulnerable in allowing 326 yards in the air last week at Wake.
Last season's overtime game came down to field goals. SMU kicker Matt Szymanski missed his attempt in overtime. The Midshipmen connected on theirs. If it comes down to kicks again, SMU has continued to hone its reputation for blocking them.
The Mustangs have blocked five kicks this season, including two in last week's win over Tulsa, one each by defensive ends Kevin Grenier and Margus Hunt, who has nine career blocks.
"As a kicker, now they have to worry about that and not just putting it through the uprights," Szymanski said. "I'm glad Margus is on my team ... It's not some kind of fluke. We have them pretty much in every game. It's pretty unbelievable."
2:30 p.m. today (CBSCS)
