MANSFIELD – Mansfield trailed by just three points heading into the fourth quarter, but Navy scored 24 unanswered to run away with a 41-14 CSFL victory on Saturday in the home opener at Karl Van Norman Field.
 
Senior Kyle Post recorded nine solo tackles to move atop the Mansfield (0-2, 0-2 CSFL) career leaders list with 101.
 
In the first quarter, the Mountaineer defense came up with a huge stop on fourth-and-one in the redzone to keep Navy (2-0, 2-0 CSFL) off the board. However, on their next possession, the Midshipmen capitalized on a blocked punt to score the game's first points on Miles Whitlow's 36-yard rushing touchdown.
 
On the ensuing possession, Mansfield marched down the field with Nick Cherasaro's three-yard quarterback keeper capping a six play, 50-yard drive to cut the Navy lead to 7-6. The extra point attempt was blocked by Bryant Schlade.
 
The Midshipmen extended their lead to 14-6 in the second quarter when Stefano Saragusa found the endzone with a seven-yard touchdown run. A 41-yard rush by Brandon Coleman earlier in the drive got Navy into Mansfield territory to set up the score.
 
A 27-yard field goal as time expired in the first half gave Navy a 17-6 lead heading into the locker rooms.
 
In the second half, Josh Friebis gave the Mountie offense another chance when he fell on a fumbled punt return at midfield. Cherasaro would find D.J. McLean for a 19-yard reception down to the 1-yard line where David Butler punched it in for his third touchdown of the season. McLean hauled in the 2-point conversion pass in the corner of the endzone to bring Mansfield within a field goal at 17-14.
 
Trailing by three, Tae Miller came up with an incredible interception catch to get the Mountaineer offense back on the field. The Mansfield drive stalled, but punter Adam Hutchinson pinned the Midshipmen deep in their own territory with a well-placed 60-yard punt. It was the third longest punt in sprint football program history.
 
Any hopes of the Mounties pulling off the upset were dashed when, in the fourth quarter, Sheppard Wilson picked off a pass and returned it all the way for a Navy touchdown. Following another interception, Navy kicked a 35-yard field goal to extend the lead to 27-14.
 
The Midshipmen went on to score two more times to complete a 24-point swing and put the game out of reach.
 
Navy recorded 455 yards of total offense with 299 of it coming in the ground game. Coleman led all rushers with 103 yards on 14 carries with an elusive Chmiel going for 74 yards on 10 carries at quarterback.
 
Chmiel completed six passes for 88 yards and a touchdown. His favorite target Matt Vogel grabbed four passes for 69 yards.
 
Cherasaro passed for 189 yards through the air on 17 completions, but was on the run most of the day being sacked five times. The freshman was picked off three times.
 
Mclean led the Mounties in receiving for the second week in a row with four catches for 51 yards.
 
Frebis was all over the field for Mansfield, recoding a game-high 14 tackles including 11 solo efforts. He and Nic Anastasi each recovered fumbles in the game. Post collected 10 total tackles with Dylan Flexer putting the heat on the Mids' signal caller, recording a pair of sacks. Flexer is one of just 10 players in sprint football history with a multi-sack game and moves into a tie at fifth with Jake Myers in career sacks at 6.0.
 
The Mountaineers continue a three-game home stand when Cornell comes to town for Light Up Mansfield Again at Homecoming 2017 on Saturday, Sept. 30. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m.