RINDGE, N.H. (September 24, 2016) – Senior running back Brendon Clements rushed for 139 yards and three scores, while freshman quarterback Jon Saadey threw for 186 yards and three more touchdowns on Saturday afternoon, as Navy picked apart the Franklin Pierce University sprint football team at Sodexo Field, 54-13. Junior quarterback Jose Melo (Greenwich, Mass.) threw for 174 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw three interceptions, in defeat for the Ravens in the Collegiate Sprint Football League contest.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 1-1, while Navy improves to 2-0.

The Ravens would strike early, though they would not strike often, on Saturday afternoon. After Navy went three-and-out on the game's initial possession, Franklin Pierce took over at midfield. Sophomore running back Tyler Zech (Pepperell, Mass.) picked up 13 yards on four rushes on the drive, which stalled at the Navy 26-yard line, leading to a fourth-and-7. Too far for a field goal and too close to punt, the Ravens kept the offense on the field. Melo aired the ball out on the left side, and freshman wideout Alex Revere (Boston, Mass.) went up to get it, hauling in a 26-yard touchdown catch to open the scoring.

Navy would rattle of the game's next 35 points, building to a 35-7 lead early in the second half. Two of the Midshipmen touchdown plays went for more than 20 yards during the 35-0 run. Navy initially tied the game at 7-7 after a 29-yard touchdown rush by Clements got the Midshipmen on the board. Later, facing third-and-11 from his own 48, Saadey hit freshman wide receiver JT Thompson over the top of the secondary for a 52-yard score to balloon the lead to 21-7.

Franklin Pierce would cut into the lead with another fourth-down score, late in the third quarter. Melo hit Revere again, this time deep down the right side on fourth-and-18 for a 42-yard touchdown strike. Freshman kicker Max Ayotte (Milford, N.H.) pulled the point-after to the left, leaving the score at 35-13, in favor of Navy.

It looked like the Ravens might be able to shift the trend of the game, as senior defensive lineman Jacques Elias (Amherst, N.H.) fell on a fumbled snap at the Navy 34, two plays into the ensuing Navy drive. However, five plays later, on fourth-and-7 from the Navy 24, Melo was picked off on a throw over the middle. Navy senior defensive back Kendall Mackey found a seam on the return and took the ball all the way back the other way for a 92-yard interception return for a touchdown which made it 41-13 -- after a blocked point-after -- and all but put the game away.

Later, another interception returned for a touchdown, this one for 37 yards by sophomore linebacker Sheppard Wilson would provide the final score, as Navy chalked up the 54-13 win.

Zech led the Ravens on the ground, with just 38 yards on 13 carries (2.9 yards per carry). Freshman running back Ahzir Turner (Schenectady, N.Y.) added 27 yards on six carries (4.5 yards per carry). Revere finished as the team's leading receiver with five catches for 121 yards and two scores. Melo finished his day 10-for-31 for 174 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Clements led the way for the Navy ground attack, piling up 139 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries (6.3 yards per carry). Saadey -- who took over for injured senior Nick Deterding after the first series -- went 11-for-17 through the air for 186 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception, and also added 61 rushing yards on 14 carries (4.4 yards per carry). Three different Midshipmen caught touchdown passes, led by Thompson, who hauled in four receptions for 69 yards.

Defensively, senior defensive back Brandon Knight (Bronx, N.Y.) led the Ravens with 11 tackles (seven solo), and broke up a pass along the way. Junior defensive lineman Demitri Moreno (Alhambra, Calif.) added nine tackles (three solo), including half a sack. For Navy, Wilson led the way with nine tackles (seven solo), and added the 37-yard interception return for touchdown.

The Ravens return to action on Saturday, Oct. 1, when they remain home to host Penn on homecoming. Opening kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Sodexo Field.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce sprint football apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).