Arquon Bush didn't play much against Navy last season. Bush, who lined up at nickelback for much of his career at the University of Cincinnati, was relegated to the sideline as the Bearcats played with just two cornerbacks for most of the day.
That changed late in the game.
The Midshipmen scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull within 27-20 with 50 seconds to play. Navy then recovered an onside kick.
Cincinnati switched up its defensive look and called on Bush. The 6-foot, 198-pound Cleveland native ran onto the field and delivered a game-sealing interception against Navy quarterback Tai Lavatai to halt the home rally and preserve the Bearcats' first-ever win over the Midshipmen at their place.
This season, Bush has a much larger role. Now the senior starting cornerback, Bush is not only a leader of the defensive backfield but a prominent voice on the entire team. Bush's responsibility this week is to make sure Cincinnati's loss last week at UCF stays in Central Florida and doesn't carry over to the team's final four regular-season games.
"(I'm) just trying to keep everybody up," Bush said. "Just keep everybody in good spirits so we can just continue moving forward, because one game doesn't define us."
Bush said "nobody likes going against triple-option teams." Well, that's exactly what awaits the Bearcats (6-2, 3-1 American Athletic Conference) Saturday at Nippert Stadium (4 p.m. on ESPNU). After allowing a season-high 258 yards on the ground last week against the Knights, Cincinnati will face a Navy triple-option attack that leads the AAC in rushing yards per game (250.8).
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Bush said even though this week's focus will be stopping the run, he knows he can't fall asleep in the defensive backfield against the Midshipmen.
"You definitely have to keep the focus on keeping your eyes on your man because if you don't, the ball will go over your head, and then that's a touchdown," he said. "Navy, when they score, they want to limit the offensive possessions, so you've got to stop them from scoring so your offense can put up points. Losing your eye control will make them put up 50 points."
Our first look at the Navy Midshipmen
RECORD: The Midshipmen are 3-5 (3-3 AAC) following last week's 27-20 overtime win against Temple (2-6, 0-4). Navy's other two wins this season came Sept. 24 at East Carolina (6-3, 3-2) in double overtime and Oct. 8 at home against Tulsa (3-5, 1-3). Navy's losses are at home against FCS Delaware (6-2), Memphis (4-4, 2-3) and Houston (5-3, 3-1) and on the road at Air Force (5-3) and SMU (4-4, 2-2).
Five of the Midshipmen's games this season have come down to one possession. Navy is 2-3 in those contests.
HEAD COACH: Ken Niumatalolo is in his 25th season at Navy, 15th as head coach. Niumatalolo is 108-80 at the helm of the Midshipmen program, including a 6-5 mark in bowl games. He is a three-time AAC Coach of the Year (2015-16, '19).
The 57-year-old Laie, Hawaii, native is the winningest coach in program history, but is looking to avoid his third straight losing campaign.
KEY PLAYERS: Bush will not have an opportunity to intercept a pass from Lavatai again. The 6-foot-2, 221-pound junior suffered a season-ending left knee injury last week against Temple. Lavatai started each of the 18 games he's played in his career, including last season's loss to Cincinnati. Lavatai had two rushing touchdowns and a season-high in completions (11), attempts (15) and passing yards (116) against the Bearcats.
Lavatai's backup, Xavier Arline, finished last week's game against the Owls and scored the game-winning touchdown on a 23-yard run in overtime. The 5-foot-9, 176-pound junior is expected to get the start Saturday at Cincinnati. Arline, who originally committed to North Carolina in high school, is a two-sport athlete at Navy, serving as a starting attackman on the Midshipmen lacrosse team.
Other key players in Navy's triple-option offensive attack include 5-foot-8, 205-pound sophomore Daba Fofana (132 carries for 488 yards and five touchdowns this season), 5-foot-8, 189-pound sophomore Maquel Haywood (61 carries for 394 yards) and 5-foot-8, 198-pound sophomore Anton Hall Jr. (51 carries for 164 yards and two touchdowns). Hall also has a 62-yard touchdown reception earlier in the year against Memphis.
Junior wide receiver Jayden Umbarger leads the Midshipmen with 15 catches for 262 yards and two scores.
Defensively, striker John Marshall leads Navy in tackles (62), tackles for loss (10) and sacks (four). He also has a forced fumble this season. The 6-foot-2, 209-pound senior earned a spot on the AAC honor roll after compiling 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, three quarterback hurries and five pass breakups against Temple. Marshall had three tackles and a pass breakup on the Owls' six overtime plays.
SERIES HISTORY: Cincinnati is 2-3 all-time against Navy, including a 1-0 mark at home. The Bearcats defeated the Midshipmen 42-0 at Nippert Stadium during the 2018 season.
FUN FACT: Bearcats graduate assistant Parrish Gaines is a graduate of the Naval Academy. Gaines was a four-year starter at defensive back for Navy from 2011-14. Gaines started 44 straight games for the Midshipmen, the first 24 at cornerback and the last 20 at safety.
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