2007 Poinsettia Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 2007 Poinsettia Bowl
was a post-season American college football
bowl game
between the Navy Midshipmen and the Utah Utes
on December 20, 2007 at Qualcomm Stadium
in San Diego, California
. Utah defeated Navy 35–32 in a game that came down to the final seconds. It was one of 32 games in the 2007–2008 bowl season and was just the third Poinsettia Bowl ever played. The Navy
Midshipmen
won the inaugural game in 2005, and after a season that saw Navy invited to the 2006 Meineke Car Care Bowl, were invited back for 2007. In exchange for their participation in the 2007 game, Navy and Utah each received $750,000.
The Poinsettia Bowl is a post-season NCAA
-sanctioned Division I-A college football
bowl game
that was created in 2005. The game is operated by the organizers of the Holiday Bowl
and is played annually at Qualcomm Stadium
in San Diego, California
. The game is currently sponsored by the San Diego County Credit Union and the current official name of the game San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. The 2006 game matched TCU
from the Mountain West Conference
against Northern Illinois
from the Mid-American Conference
. TCU defeated Northern Illinois by the score of 37–7.
The 2007 game was characterized by Navy dominance in the first half, a Utah recovery in the second half, and a last-second finish that gave Navy a chance to win or tie in the final moments.
Prior to the beginning of the 2007 college football season, the Poinsettia Bowl
and Navy reached a single-season agreement for Navy to play in the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl if the Midshipmen reached six wins. They reached that mark with a win over North Texas
that set a new NCAA record for most points scored in a college football game.
Utah's selection as the other half of the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl matchup came by virtue of its third-place finish in the Mountain West Conference
, with which the Poinsettia Bowl had an exclusive agreement.
Prior to the game, Navy's head coach during the 2007 season, Paul Johnson
, announced he would be leaving Navy to take over the head coaching position at Georgia Tech
. Navy's offensive line coach, Ken Niumatalolo
, was initially named interim head coach, but was confirmed as Navy's permanent head coach before the game. The 2007 Poinsettia Bowl was Niumatalolo's first game as head coach at any school.
on December 20, 2007 in San Diego, California
. The game was televised in the United States on ESPN
except for the first few minutes (see below). The game began in fair weather, but by the second half, it had begun to rain.
, Navy's punter mishandled the snap, which was fumble
d and recovered by Utah inside Navy territory. Utah was able to run only three plays, however, before Navy linebacker
Ross Pospisil intercepted a pass by Utah's quarterback and returned it across the 50-yard line and into Utah territory. A facemask
penalty
against Utah, several effective rushes by Navy running back
Reggie Campbell and a 29-yard reception by Campbell set up Navy with a first-and-goal situation. Utah's defense stiffened, however, and Navy failed to score a touchdown
on its first two attempts inside the Utah 10-yard line. On the third try, Campbell ran up the middle but lost control of the ball, which was fumbled. Utah recovered the fumble and prevented Navy from scoring a touchdown or field goal
.
After recovering the fumble, Utah mounted a 13-play, 49-yard drive that penetrated into Navy territory. As with Navy's attack previously, however, the drive stalled. Utah was forced to punt the ball away, which rolled into the end zone for a touchback
. Taking possession of the ball with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter, Navy running back Reggie Campbell earned the biggest offensive play in the game so far as he ran for 44 yards and a big Navy first down. Two subsequent rushing plays ran out the first quarter clock and set up Navy for a third down to begin the second quarter.
At the end of the first quarter, the score remained scoreless, 0–0. Navy had dominated statistically, but three total turnovers prevented both teams from putting points on the scoreboard.
The second quarter began with Navy facing a third down in Utah territory. A false start penalty and a Utah defensive stand prevented Navy from earning a first down. Instead of punting the ball away, Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo elected to attempt a 50-yard field goal. Kicker Matt Harmon missed the goalposts to the left and the game remained scoreless. Thanks to the missed field goal, Utah began its drive at its own 33-yard line. Several successful rushes were turned into first downs, and Utah running back Darrell Mack managed a 20-yard run to drive the Utes deep into Navy territory for the first time in the game. A 14-yard pass to wide receiver
Braden Godfrey put Utah inside the Navy red zone
for the first time in the game, allowing Utah to score the first touchdown of the game on a five-yard Darrell Mack run three plays later. The extra point
was good, and with 8:42 remaining in the second quarter, Utah led 7–0.
After receiving the kickoff, Navy answered the Utah score with one of their own. Reggie Campbell returned the post-touchdown kickoff for 25 yards to start Navy at their own 30-yard line. Long runs, including a 19-yard effort by Shun White, advanced the ball down the field. A 15-yard pass interference call against Utah only helped Navy's efforts. The Midshipmen, via an eight-play, 70-yard drive, crossed the goal line and equalized the score at 7–7 with 5:14 remaining in the first half.
Receiving Navy's kickoff, Utah was unable to move the ball effectively. A first-down rush was negated by an illegal block by a Utah offensive lineman, and Utah was forced to punt the ball away with 2:51 remaining. The punt, by All-American kicker Louie Sakoda
, was a poor one and only traveled 29 yards, thus setting up the Navy offense in excellent position for a score before halftime. On the subsequent drive, Navy advanced deep into Utah territory, successfully converting a fourth down during the drive. Following the conversion, Navy was stopped for little gain on consecutive plays and committed a false start, which resulted in negative yardage. Unwilling to attempt a second attempt at converting a fourth down, Navy instead sent in kicker Matt Harmon for his second field goal attempt of the game. Harmon, who missed a 50-yard kick early in the second quarter, nailed the 39-yard kick with 28 seconds remaining in the first half to give Navy a 10–7 lead.
With less than half a minute remaining, Utah received the kickoff and ran a single running play to run out the clock. At halftime, Navy led Utah 10–7.
Eric Kettani broke through the Utah defensive line and ran 43 yards for the first points of the second half. The extra point gave Navy a 17–7 lead with 11:52 remaining in the third quarter.
Utah received the post-touchdown kickoff needing a score to stay within striking distance of Navy's top-ranked rushing offense. On the first play of Utah's drive, the Utes' offense completed a 22-yard pass to wide receiver Brian Hernandez, giving Utah a first down in Navy territory. Utah's offense faltered after three plays, however, and was forced to punt. An excellent kick by Louie Sakoda pinned Navy behind their 10-yard line, and Navy's offense was forced into a three plays-and-out possession. Beginning at their own 41-yard line, Utah's offense came out passing. A 13-yard completion drove Utah into Navy territory, and Utah continued to advance the ball and earn first downs through the air. Just outside the Navy red zone, the Midshipmen defense stiffened and forced a fourth down for Utah. Utah elected to attempt to convert the fourth down instead of trying a long field goal. The conversion was successful, and on the first down following the conversion, Utah executed an end-around
that went for 23 yards and a touchdown. The score cut Navy's lead to just three points, and put the score at 17–14 with 4:47 remaining in the third quarter.
After receiving Utah's kickoff, Navy hoped to halt Utah's newfound offensive momentum with a successful drive of its own. Though the midshipmen picked up one first down, they were unable to earn another and punted the ball away with just over two minutes remaining in the quarter. The punt was a good one, and put Utah back at their own 16-yard line. Utah had gained the game's momentum, however, and continued to move the ball through the air effectively. Utah connected on passes of 10, 18, and 11 yards before Utah quarterback Brian Johnson
connected on a 40-yard strike to Derrek Richards for another Utah touchdown. The drive took just five plays and 1:24, but covered 84 yards. With 1:17 remaining in the third quarter, Utah quarterback Brian Johnson was 9 for 9 for 120 yards passing. With the touchdown, Utah regained the lead by a 21–17 score.
Navy had a chance to equalize the score on the kickoff following Utah's touchdown, but running back Reggie Campbell, who was returning the kick, was stopped just before breaking into the open field. Despite failing to return the kick for a touchdown, Campbell gave Navy decent field position at its own 32-yard line. Navy struggled on the next two plays, fumbling the ball each time. Fortunately for the Midshipmen, the ball was recovered by a Navy player each time. The two failed plays allowed time to run out in the third quarter.
At the end of the third quarter, Utah managed to take a 21–17 lead and seize the game's momentum courtesy of two quick touchdown strikes.
, who proved remarkably effective through the air in the second half, scored the touchdown on a 19-yard scramble. The touchdown, which came with 12:47 remaining in the game, gave Utah a 28–17 lead.
Navy began its drive desperately needing a score to reverse Utah's momentum and narrow the 11-point Ute lead. Good special teams coverage by Utah pinned Navy at their own 19-yard line, and it seemed as though Navy's second-half offensive difficulties would continue. Gradually, and with several short rushes, Navy began to build a drive. A 14-yard pass by Navy crossed the 50-yard line and set up the Midshipmen offense on the Utah side of the field. On the next play, fullback Eric Kettani broke free for his second big run of the day, a 35-yard sprint that put Navy inside the Utah red zone. Two plays later, Shun White rushed 10 yards into the end zone for a touchdown. Instead of settling for an extra point after the touchdown, Navy elected to try a two-point conversion
in hopes of narrowing Utah's lead to a field goal. Kaheaku-Enhada kept the ball and rushed forward across the goal line for two points. The touchdown and two-point conversion cut Utah's lead to 28–25 with 8:52 remaining.
Utah began its next possession needing points, but even more importantly, needing to run down the clock. Even a three-point lead would be enough to win if Navy wasn't given enough time to score the tying or go-ahead play. Two quick completions of 11 yards each gained Utah two first downs and drove the ball into Navy territory. Utah Quarterback Brian Johnson continued to be the cornerstone of Utah's second-half offense, picking up yardage and first downs both through the air and on the ground via quarterback scrambles. As Utah penetrated deep into Navy territory, however, the Midshipmen's defense stiffened. Inside the 10-yard line, Utah had three tries to cross the goal line and earn a potentially game-deciding touchdown. With the clock winding down, a touchdown and extra point would give Utah a ten-point lead and probably put the game out of reach.
On the third play inside the ten, Utah wide receiver Jereme Brooks caught a pass from Brian Johnson. As he extended the ball toward the goal line, he was hit by Navy cornerback Ketric Buffin. Brooks lost control of the ball, which came out of his hands, hitting the pylon at the corner of the end zone. According to NCAA rules, the pylon is both out of bounds and in the end zone. Therefore, the fumble should have been considered a touchback, with Navy awarded possession at its own 20-yard line. Instead, officials ruled that Brooks had been out of bounds before fumbling and Utah maintained possession. After the game, officials acknowledged the mistake. During the game, however, Utah had one more chance to score, but turned the ball over on downs after failing to cross the goal line on a run from inside the one-yard line.
Deep in its own territory, with 3:40 remaining int the game, Navy faced a critical possession. Any scoring drive would win or tie the game and likely leave no time left for Utah to answer. Three plays after taking over inside its own one-yard line, however, Navy failed to gain a first down. Facing a fourth-and-two inside its own nine-yard line, head coach Ken Niumatalolo elected to try to convert the fourth down rather than punting the ball and gambling on a defensive stop. Kaheaku-Enhada attempted to rush the ball for the first down, but was stopped by the Utah defense. Navy turned the ball over on downs inside its own 10-yard line, putting Utah in position to put the game away with less than two minutes remaining.
Three rushing plays later, Utah's Darrell Mack ran the ball into the end zone for the Utes' fourth touchdown of the second half, giving Utah a seemingly insurmountable 35–25 lead with just 1:27 remaining in the game. Navy refused to surrender, however, and mounted a quick four-play, 69-yard touchdown drive that left 57 seconds on the clock and moved the score to 35–32. The touchdown closed Navy within a successful onside kick
and field goal of tying the game. Navy successfully converted the onside kick, giving the Midshipmen one final shot to eke out a victory. A short rush gained Navy nine yards, but kept the clock moving. On the next play, Kaheaku-Enhada hurled the ball downfield in hopes of earning a first down, stopping the clock, and moving Navy within field goal range. The ball was intercepted by a Utah defender, however and Utah subsequently ran out the clock to end the game.
Utah, thanks to the interception, denied Navy a chance to kick a potential game-tying field goal and earned the win, 35–32.
for the most consecutive bowl-game wins in NCAA history. Two weeks later, Boston College won the 2007 Champs Sports Bowl
, its eighth consecutive bowl game win.
The 2007 Poinsettia Bowl was the last time the bowl would feature a matchup between an at-large team and the second-place Mountain West Conference
team. Prior to the game, Poinsettia Bowl officials announced that the at-large half of the matchup would be replaced by the Pacific-10 Conference's seventh-place team in 2008. In 2009, the Pac-10's sixth-place team would be granted a bid to the Poinsettia Bowl.
rather than ESPN. This is because the previous program on ESPN, the Aeropostale Classic basketball game between Duke and Pittsburgh, ended in overtime
. The Panthers won the game. From 9:32 to 9:40 p.m. (approximate times), both networks simulcast the Poinsettia Bowl; ESPN then showed the game exclusively as scheduled.
Poinsettia Bowl
The Poinsettia Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A college football bowl game that was created in 2005. The game was created by the organizers of the Holiday Bowl and is played annually at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The game is currently sponsored by the San Diego...
was a post-season American college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
between the Navy Midshipmen and the Utah Utes
2007 Utah Utes football team
The 2007 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah in the college football season of 2007-2008. The team was coached by 3rd year head football coach Kyle Whittingham...
on December 20, 2007 at Qualcomm Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area....
in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. Utah defeated Navy 35–32 in a game that came down to the final seconds. It was one of 32 games in the 2007–2008 bowl season and was just the third Poinsettia Bowl ever played. The Navy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
Midshipmen
Navy Midshipmen football
The Navy Midshipmen football team represents the United States Naval Academy in NCAA Division I-A college football. They are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school and coached by Ken Niumatalolo since December 2007...
won the inaugural game in 2005, and after a season that saw Navy invited to the 2006 Meineke Car Care Bowl, were invited back for 2007. In exchange for their participation in the 2007 game, Navy and Utah each received $750,000.
The Poinsettia Bowl is a post-season NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
-sanctioned Division I-A college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
that was created in 2005. The game is operated by the organizers of the Holiday Bowl
Holiday Bowl
The Holiday Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A college football bowl game that has been played annually at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, since 1978. Beginning with the 2010 playing the bowl will officially be known as the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl after...
and is played annually at Qualcomm Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area....
in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. The game is currently sponsored by the San Diego County Credit Union and the current official name of the game San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. The 2006 game matched TCU
TCU Horned Frogs football
The TCU Horned Frogs football team is the intercollegiate football team of Texas Christian University. TCU competes as a member of the Mountain West Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, but will move to the Big 12 Conference for the 2012 season. TCU began playing football...
from the Mountain West Conference
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
against Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois Huskies football
The Northern Illinois Huskies football team represents Northern Illinois University in the Mid-American Conference of the NCAA's Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision.-History:...
from the Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
. TCU defeated Northern Illinois by the score of 37–7.
The 2007 game was characterized by Navy dominance in the first half, a Utah recovery in the second half, and a last-second finish that gave Navy a chance to win or tie in the final moments.
Team Selection
Poinsettia Bowl
The Poinsettia Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A college football bowl game that was created in 2005. The game was created by the organizers of the Holiday Bowl and is played annually at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The game is currently sponsored by the San Diego...
and Navy reached a single-season agreement for Navy to play in the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl if the Midshipmen reached six wins. They reached that mark with a win over North Texas
2007 Navy vs. North Texas football game
The 2007 Navy vs. North Texas football game featured the most points scored in a college football game involving D-IA/FBS opponents during the regulation four quarters of play since the NCAA began keeping records in 1937. On November 10, 2007, the Navy Midshipmen defeated the North Texas Mean Green...
that set a new NCAA record for most points scored in a college football game.
Utah's selection as the other half of the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl matchup came by virtue of its third-place finish in the Mountain West Conference
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
, with which the Poinsettia Bowl had an exclusive agreement.
Pre-game buildup
The 2007 Poinsettia Bowl was the first of 32 bowl games scheduled for 2007 college football bowl season, and because of that unique status, received greater attention from national media than other games of similar stature.Prior to the game, Navy's head coach during the 2007 season, Paul Johnson
Paul Johnson (American football coach)
Paul Johnson is an American football coach. He is currently the head coach at the Georgia Institute of Technology, a position he has held since the 2008 season. Previously, Johnson served as the head coach at Georgia Southern University from 1997 to 2001 and at the United States Naval Academy...
, announced he would be leaving Navy to take over the head coaching position at Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in collegiate level football. While the team is officially designated as the Yellow Jackets, it is also referred to as the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
. Navy's offensive line coach, Ken Niumatalolo
Ken Niumatalolo
Ken Niumatalolo is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the United States Naval Academy, a position he has held since the 2007 season. Niumatalolo played college football at the University of Hawaii. As a quarterback he led the then-Rainbows...
, was initially named interim head coach, but was confirmed as Navy's permanent head coach before the game. The 2007 Poinsettia Bowl was Niumatalolo's first game as head coach at any school.
Game summary
The 2007 Poinsettia Bowl kicked off on 9:12 p.m. ESTEastern Standard Time
Eastern Standard Time may refer to:*North American Eastern Time Zone, UTC-5*Australian Eastern Standard Time, UTC+10*An album by Hip Hop group Kooley High...
on December 20, 2007 in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. The game was televised in the United States on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
except for the first few minutes (see below). The game began in fair weather, but by the second half, it had begun to rain.
First Quarter
Navy received the ball to begin the game. After earning good field position on the opening kickoff, Navy earned the first first down of the game and advanced the ball into Utah territory, but were prevented from gaining another first down by the Utah defense. On the ensuing puntPunt (football)
In some codes of football, a punt is a play in which a player drops the ball and kicks it before it touches the ground. A punt is in contrast to a drop kick, in which the ball touches the ground before being kicked....
, Navy's punter mishandled the snap, which was fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
d and recovered by Utah inside Navy territory. Utah was able to run only three plays, however, before Navy linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Ross Pospisil intercepted a pass by Utah's quarterback and returned it across the 50-yard line and into Utah territory. A facemask
Football helmet
A football helmet is a protective device used primarily in American football and Canadian football. It consists of a hard plastic top with thick padding on the inside, a face mask made of one or more plastic bars, and a chinstrap. Some players add polycarbonate visors to their helmets, which are...
penalty
Penalty (American football)
In American football and Canadian football, a penalty is a sanction called against a team for a violation of the rules, called a foul. Officials initially signal penalties by tossing a bright yellow or orange colored "penalty flag" onto the field toward or at the spot of a foul...
against Utah, several effective rushes by Navy running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Reggie Campbell and a 29-yard reception by Campbell set up Navy with a first-and-goal situation. Utah's defense stiffened, however, and Navy failed to score a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
on its first two attempts inside the Utah 10-yard line. On the third try, Campbell ran up the middle but lost control of the ball, which was fumbled. Utah recovered the fumble and prevented Navy from scoring a touchdown or field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
.
After recovering the fumble, Utah mounted a 13-play, 49-yard drive that penetrated into Navy territory. As with Navy's attack previously, however, the drive stalled. Utah was forced to punt the ball away, which rolled into the end zone for a touchback
Touchback
In American football, a touchback is a ruling which is made and signaled by an official when the ball becomes dead behind or above a goal line and the team who is attacking that goal line is responsible for the ball being there. Responsibility is determined by which team gave the ball the impetus...
. Taking possession of the ball with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter, Navy running back Reggie Campbell earned the biggest offensive play in the game so far as he ran for 44 yards and a big Navy first down. Two subsequent rushing plays ran out the first quarter clock and set up Navy for a third down to begin the second quarter.
At the end of the first quarter, the score remained scoreless, 0–0. Navy had dominated statistically, but three total turnovers prevented both teams from putting points on the scoreboard.
Second Quarter
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Braden Godfrey put Utah inside the Navy red zone
Red Zone
Red Zone may refer to:*Red Zone , a region of France decimated during World War I*Red Zone , a term designating unsafe areas in Iraq after the 2003 invasion by the United States, Britain, and other allies...
for the first time in the game, allowing Utah to score the first touchdown of the game on a five-yard Darrell Mack run three plays later. The extra point
Extra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
was good, and with 8:42 remaining in the second quarter, Utah led 7–0.
After receiving the kickoff, Navy answered the Utah score with one of their own. Reggie Campbell returned the post-touchdown kickoff for 25 yards to start Navy at their own 30-yard line. Long runs, including a 19-yard effort by Shun White, advanced the ball down the field. A 15-yard pass interference call against Utah only helped Navy's efforts. The Midshipmen, via an eight-play, 70-yard drive, crossed the goal line and equalized the score at 7–7 with 5:14 remaining in the first half.
Receiving Navy's kickoff, Utah was unable to move the ball effectively. A first-down rush was negated by an illegal block by a Utah offensive lineman, and Utah was forced to punt the ball away with 2:51 remaining. The punt, by All-American kicker Louie Sakoda
Louie Sakoda
Louie Sakoda is a kicker and punter for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. In college, he played for the Utah Utes...
, was a poor one and only traveled 29 yards, thus setting up the Navy offense in excellent position for a score before halftime. On the subsequent drive, Navy advanced deep into Utah territory, successfully converting a fourth down during the drive. Following the conversion, Navy was stopped for little gain on consecutive plays and committed a false start, which resulted in negative yardage. Unwilling to attempt a second attempt at converting a fourth down, Navy instead sent in kicker Matt Harmon for his second field goal attempt of the game. Harmon, who missed a 50-yard kick early in the second quarter, nailed the 39-yard kick with 28 seconds remaining in the first half to give Navy a 10–7 lead.
With less than half a minute remaining, Utah received the kickoff and ran a single running play to run out the clock. At halftime, Navy led Utah 10–7.
Third Quarter
Because Navy received the opening kickoff, Utah began the second half on offense. After a six-yard pass on the first play, Utah failed to gain the additional four yards needed for a first down and were forced to punt the ball away. Beginning at their own 31-yard line thanks to the punt, Navy moved the ball quickly. Two consecutive rushing plays earned Navy a first down, and a 15-yard Shun White run on the third play of the drive earned a second first down and drove Navy into Utah territory. On Navy's fourth play of the second half, fullbackFullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
Eric Kettani broke through the Utah defensive line and ran 43 yards for the first points of the second half. The extra point gave Navy a 17–7 lead with 11:52 remaining in the third quarter.
Utah received the post-touchdown kickoff needing a score to stay within striking distance of Navy's top-ranked rushing offense. On the first play of Utah's drive, the Utes' offense completed a 22-yard pass to wide receiver Brian Hernandez, giving Utah a first down in Navy territory. Utah's offense faltered after three plays, however, and was forced to punt. An excellent kick by Louie Sakoda pinned Navy behind their 10-yard line, and Navy's offense was forced into a three plays-and-out possession. Beginning at their own 41-yard line, Utah's offense came out passing. A 13-yard completion drove Utah into Navy territory, and Utah continued to advance the ball and earn first downs through the air. Just outside the Navy red zone, the Midshipmen defense stiffened and forced a fourth down for Utah. Utah elected to attempt to convert the fourth down instead of trying a long field goal. The conversion was successful, and on the first down following the conversion, Utah executed an end-around
End-around
The end-around is a play in American football in which a wide receiver crosses the backfield towards the opposite end of the line and receives a handoff directly from the quarterback. The receiver then may proceed to do one of two things: he either runs the ball towards the line of scrimmage in...
that went for 23 yards and a touchdown. The score cut Navy's lead to just three points, and put the score at 17–14 with 4:47 remaining in the third quarter.
After receiving Utah's kickoff, Navy hoped to halt Utah's newfound offensive momentum with a successful drive of its own. Though the midshipmen picked up one first down, they were unable to earn another and punted the ball away with just over two minutes remaining in the quarter. The punt was a good one, and put Utah back at their own 16-yard line. Utah had gained the game's momentum, however, and continued to move the ball through the air effectively. Utah connected on passes of 10, 18, and 11 yards before Utah quarterback Brian Johnson
Brian Johnson (quarterback)
Brian Delance Johnson is an American football quarterbacks coach for the University of Utah. He played college football at Utah and was drafted by the New York Sentinels in the UFL Premiere Season Draft in 2009....
connected on a 40-yard strike to Derrek Richards for another Utah touchdown. The drive took just five plays and 1:24, but covered 84 yards. With 1:17 remaining in the third quarter, Utah quarterback Brian Johnson was 9 for 9 for 120 yards passing. With the touchdown, Utah regained the lead by a 21–17 score.
Navy had a chance to equalize the score on the kickoff following Utah's touchdown, but running back Reggie Campbell, who was returning the kick, was stopped just before breaking into the open field. Despite failing to return the kick for a touchdown, Campbell gave Navy decent field position at its own 32-yard line. Navy struggled on the next two plays, fumbling the ball each time. Fortunately for the Midshipmen, the ball was recovered by a Navy player each time. The two failed plays allowed time to run out in the third quarter.
At the end of the third quarter, Utah managed to take a 21–17 lead and seize the game's momentum courtesy of two quick touchdown strikes.
Fourth quarter
Navy faced a long third down play to begin the fourth quarter, and Navy quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada was sacked to force a punt. The punt marked the third straight three-and-out possession for Navy, which had scored the first 17 points of the game. Utah took advantage of the opportunity and continued its second-half offensive domination. In just five plays and 1:16, Utah drove 61 yards for its first touchdown of the fourth quarter and its third of the second half. Brian JohnsonBrian Johnson (quarterback)
Brian Delance Johnson is an American football quarterbacks coach for the University of Utah. He played college football at Utah and was drafted by the New York Sentinels in the UFL Premiere Season Draft in 2009....
, who proved remarkably effective through the air in the second half, scored the touchdown on a 19-yard scramble. The touchdown, which came with 12:47 remaining in the game, gave Utah a 28–17 lead.
Two-point conversion
In American and Canadian football, a two-point conversion is a play a team attempts instead of kicking a one-point convert immediately after it scores a touchdown...
in hopes of narrowing Utah's lead to a field goal. Kaheaku-Enhada kept the ball and rushed forward across the goal line for two points. The touchdown and two-point conversion cut Utah's lead to 28–25 with 8:52 remaining.
Utah began its next possession needing points, but even more importantly, needing to run down the clock. Even a three-point lead would be enough to win if Navy wasn't given enough time to score the tying or go-ahead play. Two quick completions of 11 yards each gained Utah two first downs and drove the ball into Navy territory. Utah Quarterback Brian Johnson continued to be the cornerstone of Utah's second-half offense, picking up yardage and first downs both through the air and on the ground via quarterback scrambles. As Utah penetrated deep into Navy territory, however, the Midshipmen's defense stiffened. Inside the 10-yard line, Utah had three tries to cross the goal line and earn a potentially game-deciding touchdown. With the clock winding down, a touchdown and extra point would give Utah a ten-point lead and probably put the game out of reach.
On the third play inside the ten, Utah wide receiver Jereme Brooks caught a pass from Brian Johnson. As he extended the ball toward the goal line, he was hit by Navy cornerback Ketric Buffin. Brooks lost control of the ball, which came out of his hands, hitting the pylon at the corner of the end zone. According to NCAA rules, the pylon is both out of bounds and in the end zone. Therefore, the fumble should have been considered a touchback, with Navy awarded possession at its own 20-yard line. Instead, officials ruled that Brooks had been out of bounds before fumbling and Utah maintained possession. After the game, officials acknowledged the mistake. During the game, however, Utah had one more chance to score, but turned the ball over on downs after failing to cross the goal line on a run from inside the one-yard line.
Deep in its own territory, with 3:40 remaining int the game, Navy faced a critical possession. Any scoring drive would win or tie the game and likely leave no time left for Utah to answer. Three plays after taking over inside its own one-yard line, however, Navy failed to gain a first down. Facing a fourth-and-two inside its own nine-yard line, head coach Ken Niumatalolo elected to try to convert the fourth down rather than punting the ball and gambling on a defensive stop. Kaheaku-Enhada attempted to rush the ball for the first down, but was stopped by the Utah defense. Navy turned the ball over on downs inside its own 10-yard line, putting Utah in position to put the game away with less than two minutes remaining.
Three rushing plays later, Utah's Darrell Mack ran the ball into the end zone for the Utes' fourth touchdown of the second half, giving Utah a seemingly insurmountable 35–25 lead with just 1:27 remaining in the game. Navy refused to surrender, however, and mounted a quick four-play, 69-yard touchdown drive that left 57 seconds on the clock and moved the score to 35–32. The touchdown closed Navy within a successful onside kick
Onside kick
In American and Canadian football, an onside kick is a type of kick used at a kickoff or other free kick, or scrimmage kick or other kick during play, in which the ball is kicked favorably for the kicking team to avoid giving away the ball...
and field goal of tying the game. Navy successfully converted the onside kick, giving the Midshipmen one final shot to eke out a victory. A short rush gained Navy nine yards, but kept the clock moving. On the next play, Kaheaku-Enhada hurled the ball downfield in hopes of earning a first down, stopping the clock, and moving Navy within field goal range. The ball was intercepted by a Utah defender, however and Utah subsequently ran out the clock to end the game.
Utah, thanks to the interception, denied Navy a chance to kick a potential game-tying field goal and earned the win, 35–32.
Final statistics
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*Completions/Attempts aCarries bLong play cReceptions |
*Completions/Attempts aCarries bLong play cReceptions |
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Post-game effects
Utah's win was the seventh-straight bowl win for the Utes, a record that tied it with Boston CollegeBoston College Eagles football
The Boston College Eagles football team is the collegiate football program of Boston College. The team is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a Division I Bowl Subdivision league governed by the NCAA. Within the ACC, the Eagles are one of six teams in the Atlantic Division...
for the most consecutive bowl-game wins in NCAA history. Two weeks later, Boston College won the 2007 Champs Sports Bowl
2007 Champs Sports Bowl
The 2007 Champs Sports Bowl was the 18th edition of the college football bowl game. It was part of the 2007-08 NCAA football bowl games season, and was played on December 28, 2007 at the Citrus Bowl stadium in Orlando, Florida....
, its eighth consecutive bowl game win.
The 2007 Poinsettia Bowl was the last time the bowl would feature a matchup between an at-large team and the second-place Mountain West Conference
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
team. Prior to the game, Poinsettia Bowl officials announced that the at-large half of the matchup would be replaced by the Pacific-10 Conference's seventh-place team in 2008. In 2009, the Pac-10's sixth-place team would be granted a bid to the Poinsettia Bowl.
Additional note
The first six minutes of game time was seen on ESPN ClassicESPN Classic
ESPN Classic is a sports channel that features reruns of famous sporting events, sports documentaries, and sports themed movies. Such programs includes biographies of famous sports figures or a rerun of a famous World Series or Super Bowl, often with added commentary on the event...
rather than ESPN. This is because the previous program on ESPN, the Aeropostale Classic basketball game between Duke and Pittsburgh, ended in overtime
Overtime (sports)
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
. The Panthers won the game. From 9:32 to 9:40 p.m. (approximate times), both networks simulcast the Poinsettia Bowl; ESPN then showed the game exclusively as scheduled.