.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
Navy and Troy are successful programs that have suddenly hit the skids.
The Midshipmen had eight straight winning seasons, capped by bowl berths from 2003-10. The Trojans were a perennial playoff contender in Division I-AA before moving up a level and capturing five consecutive Sun Belt Conference championships from 2006-10.
Both proud programs are suffering through abnormally difficult campaigns. Navy (2-6) has lost six straight games for the first time since finishing 2-10 in 2002. Troy (2-5) is off to its worst start since way back in 1997 and is trying to avoid its first four-game losing streak since 2006.
Needless to say, each school is hoping to turn things around Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
Navy needs to win its remaining four regular season games in order to earn a berth in the Military Bowl, for which it has a contract to appear. The Midshipmen are trying to forget a brutal October that saw them go 0-5 and fashion a November to remember by winning all three of their games this month. That would set up a season-ending showdown with archrival Army to finish .500 and earn a ninth straight bowl berth.
''It's been hard for everybody. Nobody likes to lose. These guys have been accustomed to having great success. Nobody wants to experience what we've experienced,'' Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo said. ''But we still have more games left, still have a chance to accomplish some goals. October was definitely a bad Halloween month for us. We're looking forward to November. Hopefully, it will be a good Thanksgiving month for us.''
Four of Navy's losses this season have come by a total of eight points, and several have been due to placekicking problems. Jon Teague has failed to convert nine kicks (five field goals, four extra points) in eight games this season - missing four, getting four blocked and not even attempting one due to a poor snap.
Another problem has been an inability to finish in the red zone. Over the last five games, the Midshipmen have scored on just 15 of 23 trips inside the opponent's 20-yard line with only 11 touchdowns. Navy now ranks 109th out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision schools in red zone offense.
''Our approach this week is that it's a one-game season. We're going to try our best to get better this week,'' Niumatalolo said. ''We can't do anything about the past. We have to forget about what's happened to date. We're trying to have amnesia about what has happened in the past and focus everything toward improving for this game.''
Troy has a similar mindset with head coach Larry Blakeney and players talking about closing the campaign on a five-game winning streak to wind up with a winning record for the sixth straight season.
''The goal is to finish strong. We're just trying to get some confidence and get a win,'' Troy defensive tackle Tony Davis said. ''We can finish 7-5 instead of 2-10 so there's a lot to play for.''
Troy's normally high-powered spread offense has struggled this season, producing just 22.3 points per game. The Trojans averaged 31 points the previous five seasons. Corey Robinson has not thrown a touchdown pass in three of the last four games while the offense has failed to gain 300 total yards the past two contests.
''Our biggest problem is that we have not been able to make explosive plays,'' said Blakeney, who believes a young, inexperienced receiving corps is the root of his team's offensive woes.
Troy might get healthy against a Navy defense that has been shredded through the air. The Midshipmen have allowed quarterbacks to throw for 1,204 yards and nine touchdowns over the last four games and now rank 111th in pass efficiency defense.
''Our problem has been making plays in the passing game. Their problem has been making plays to stop the pass. We'll see what gives on Saturday,'' Blakeney said.
Navy is hoping to have quarterback Kriss Proctor direct its patented triple-option offense Saturday. Proctor did not play last Saturday in a 56-14 loss to Notre Dame because of a dislocated left elbow. Proctor, a left-handed thrower, did not attempt any passes in practice on Tuesday or Wednesday as the coaching staff sought to rest the arm.
If Proctor cannot go, sophomore Trey Miller will make his second straight start. Miller performed fairly well in relief of Proctor against East Carolina, throwing two touchdown passes, but looked shaky against Notre Dame.
''We're being very careful and not trying to make him throw too much,'' Niumatalolo said. ''We'll go all the way to the end. We'll go to a game-time decision. We'll see how he does in warm-ups. If he can go, we'll play him. If he can't, we'll go with Trey.''
