With a mostly pro-Navy crowd on hand, the Midshipmen came out onto the field to a roaring ovation. As for the Utah Utes, well, they took a bit longer to come out than was expected, probably due to an inspirational speech being given to them by Rick Majerus or Alex Smith. The Utes eventually made it out onto the field, just in time for opening kick off. The Midshipmen won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kick off as the two teams set to go head to head for the first time ever.

Midshipmen returner Reggie Campbell electrified the crowd with an outstanding 49 yard return and the Midshipmen settled into their wishbone offense at midfield. Campbell continued his good start by picking up a key third down on the opening drive. Navy proceeded to stall the drive as quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada’s pass was batted down at the line of scrimmage. Due to the impossibility of spelling his name out every single time, I’m going to cut my first corner of the night and call him Kaipo Kaheaku.

On the fourth down play, Navy fumbled the punt snap and turned it over to Utah at the Midshipmen 44. Butterfingers!

On the following Utah drive, quarterback Alex Smith Brian Johnson threw an interception to Navy linebacker Ross Pospisil. It was Pospisil’s first career interception that wasn’t enemy communication.

On the ensuing drive, the Midshipmen got some help from the Utes with a key third down face mask call. On the next play, Reggie Campbell let a sure touchdown go through his hands on a hail mary from quarterback Kaipo Kaheaku. This was the first time that Kaipo’s name was called by the stadium announcer and, I have to be honest, it was a seamless announcement. Campbell made up for his drop with a great third down catch of 29 yards that brought the Midshipmen down to the 9 yard line. Campbell’s Tiki Barber syndrome continued as he coughed up a fumble at the 2 yard line and Utah fell on it. In case anyone is keeping score at home, that’s a dropped pass, a fumble, and a near drop that Campbell bobbled but eventually brought in. Magget!

Apparently Utah is set on using a two-quarterback system, pissing me off in the process. Darrell Mack saw most of the load early in the drive for Utah, rushing six times in the Utes first eight plays of the drive. Utah isn’t fooling anyone by pulling their passing quarterback Brian Johnson in favor of their running quarterback Corbin Louks on QB keepers. On a first down from the Navy 48, Johnson took a shot deep for wide receiver Freddie Brown, though the pass flew over Brown’s outstretched arms. Johnson again overthrew wide receiver Brandon Godfrey on third down, stalling the Utes drive at midfield. Punter Louie Sakoda proceeded to launch a punt into the endzone. Quick summary of the drive: Darrell Mack running for about three yards a carry, Brian Johnson overthrowing receivers, and Corbin Louks going Eric Crouch and not fooling anyone with his running antics.

After Navy took over from the 20 yard line, running back and feature of the first quarter Reggie Campbell went poopdeck on the Utes defense, breaking loose to the left for a 44 yard run. The best part? He didn’t fumble! That brought us to the end of the first quarter.

A quick recap: Navy rushed for 60 yards and had 29 yards through the air while Utah churned out 40 yards on the ground and 16 yards passing. Clearly neither of these teams is interested in passing the ball, though it appears as if Reggie Campbell rubbed his hands and arms with vasoline. He needs some tar instead.