The US Naval Academy and Davenport opened up the Mid-South Conference season with Davenport traveling to Annapolis this weekend.

The Mid-South plays most of its season in the spring, but with the snows slow to melt in Michigan, Davenport likes to log a couple of league games in the fall, and this was one of them.

Navy applied pressure from the start. After playing in Davenport’s half for the first 6 minutes, Gordon Livermore was able to drive over the try line for Navy’s first points. Matthew Mischler made the conversion making it 7-0. 

In the 16th minute Navy scored again. With a line break by Jermaine Oliver to set Navy up deep inside Davenport’s half, Bo Kendrick-Holmes muscled his way in for another Navy try. Mischler made the conversion making it 14-0. 

Davenport retaliated by turning Navy over deep in Navy territory. After a set of penalties, Davenport’s David Afa’ese touched it down after an effective maul from a lineout. Matthew DeVilliers made the conversion from the sideline making it 14-7 in the 22nd minute. 

The rest of the first half consisted of Navy applying pressure in Davenport’s end. This pressure allowed for two more tries for the Midshipmen before the half. The first was punched in by Jermaine Oliver after being set up by an impressive run from Adam Tounkara. The second came from a dominant Navy maul where Peyton Long tucked it from the back to score. Only one of the two tries were converted by Matthew Mischler making it 26-7 in favor of Navy at halftime. 

The second half started off intense with possession switching back and forth between Navy and Davenport. Navy struck first in the second half with a penalty kick in the 45th minute from Mischler splitting the uprights. 

Davenport wouldn’t go down without a fight though and continued to press hard until wing Enrique Carmona dove into the corner in the 58th minute. DeVilliers converted. making it 29-14.

Navy replied with a penalty from Mischler, and Davenport's DeVilliers answered with one of his own.

The last points came from Davenport in the 74th minute with a spectacular run from Chipo Mupeso to set up Ralph Trivanhu’s try. 

Navy held on 32-22.

"We are showing some very positive signs but have yet to string 80 minutes together," said Navy Director of Rugby Gavin Hickie. "We were pretty clinical in the first half today but we were a step or two off in the second half. We will address this and other areas in training this week before our Shea Cup clash with Air Force next Saturday.”

Navy's 2nd XV and 3rd XV played Scranton University’s 1st and 2nd XV. Navy won 85-5 and 98-0, respectively.