Week 15: Diego Fagot, Navy

U.S. Naval Academy linebacker Diego Fagot, a senior playing in his final game for the Midshipmen, made a team-leading nine tackles and converted a surprise fake punt for a key first down in the fourth quarter, as Navy beat rival Army, 17-13, in its season finale.

Fagot, who is from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, also had two quarterback hurries, part of a strong defensive effort that saw the Midshipmen hold Army to a season-low 232 yards, just 57 after halftime.

“We faced a lot of adversity this year,” Fagot said. “Especially in the second half, regardless of the score we are going to keep playing as hard as we can. We pride ourselves on that. I can’t say enough about how they [Army] think they are the last of the hard. That’s just not the case. They are our little brothers.” 

Fagot also delivered what could have been the game’s key play. With Navy set to punt on fourth and 1 from its own 34-yard line, Fagot was lined up as the safety and called out a change in the protection to account for Army lining up in an unbalanced formation. However, the long snapper thought Fagot was calling for a fake and snapped the ball directly to Fagot, who apparently was caught by surprise as well.

Fagot, a three-year starter and team captain who was named first-team All-American Conference at linebacker recovered quickly to avert disaster. His first career rushing attempt gained four yards and a first down as Navy maintained possession.

"They showed six people on the right and two to the left and we checked to an overload," Fagot said. "I was supposed to block the closest guy to the snapper so I was looking that direction. When I checked it I guess the snapper didn't hear me. We had a fake in the game plan already, so I think he assumed that is what we checked to. He snapped it to me and at that point it turned into a reaction play, I really don't know how else to describe it."

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week Honor Roll is:

• James Madison S Sam Kidd (Madison HS) made 11 tackles and broke up three passes as the Dukes beat Montana, 28-6, in a Football Championship Subdivision quarterfinal game.

• Villanova QB Daniel Smith (Tuscarora HS, Va.) completed 17 of 26 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 44 yards and another score, but the Wildcats were unable to hold a halftime lead and lost to South Dakota State, 35-21, in an FCS quarterfinal game.