The Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy isn’t at stake.
Still. Saturday’s football game between the Merchant Marine Academy and the Coast Guard Academy — two of five federal service academies that include Air Force, the Naval Academy and West Point — is a big deal.
“This is a big-time game,” Merchant Marine Academy football coach Jameson Croall, who is in his second year as head coach and 12th in the program. “There will be a big crowd, we’re on ESPN3, so alums from both sides will be following.”
Both quarterbacks in Saturday’s game are San Diegans.
Sophomore Gervy Alota, a Francis Parker graduate, starts for the Merchant Marine Academy (6-2). Junior Joey Armentrout, who attended Mission Hills and El Camino high schools, starts for the Coast Guard Academy (5-4).
Armentrout originally enrolled at the Naval Academy Prep School (NAPS) in hopes of attending the Naval Academy.
Joey Armentrout, left, of the Coast Guard Academy and Gervy Alota of the Merchant Marine Academy.
(United States Coast Guard Academy and United States Merchant Marine Academy)
“But I realized I’d never play football at Navy,” Armentrout said. “My father was in the Navy, my grandfather was in the Marines.
“I grew up in Oceanside, a military town. I like helping people and was drawn to service. The Coast Guard is the best at helping people and by playing at the Division III level, football opened up for me.”
In nine games, Armentrout has completed 168 of 291 passes for 2,191 yards and 13 touchdowns. He threw for 2,257 passing yards and 12 TDs last season. His favorite target is sophomore Broock Desta, a Canyon Hills High School graduate. Desta has 56 catches for 926 yards and six TDs.
The airborne attack is rare for a service academy. The other four schools run ground attacks.
Alota and the Merchant Marines operate a version of the Wing T. Through eight games, he has run the ball 77 times while completing just 48 of 97 passes.
“If I’m not doing my job, the offense can’t function,” Alota said. “I have to do my job and do it right … handle the ball, distribute it, get it to the right person. We’re tight on and off the field, so I know what my guys can do. And they know me.”
Alota throws some, having put up 743 passing yards and eight touchdowns. He threw for 355 yards, nearly half his season total, in a 40-28 win over Worcester Poly on Oct. 21.
Alota played in three games as a freshman. He didn’t throw a pass and rushed three times.
“I’ve been running the triple option since I was 7,” Alota said. “We ran it in high school. It’s what I know.”
Should Alota lead his team to victory Saturday and into a bowl game, he would have to “hold over” to play. He is an “A-Splitter” sophomore who will be heading out to his Sea Year internship once the season is over.
Alota’s father, mother and sister graduated from the Naval Academy.
His father, Capt. Gervy J. Alota, is Director of the Missile Warning Center Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Cheyenne Mountain Complex serves as NORAD and USNORTHCOM’s Alternate Command Center.
The elder Alota rarely misses his son’s games.
Gervy Alota is majoring in Marine Engineering and Shipyard Management, taking 20 credits a trimester while learning to build ships and manage shipyards.
“My family has been a huge influence,” Alota said. “Francis Parker had a very rigorous academic program and prepared me for this. The academies are so special because we’re smaller and we go through so many things together. I had no idea how close I’d be with this senior class.
“This is a big game on Saturday. You try to focus and treat it like any other game, but emotions will be running high. Really, it’s a blessing for both sides to play in this game. And to think two San Diego kids are the quarterbacks is pretty special.”
