For years, Jordan Foley fought the notion that he was too small to compete in contact sports.

This year, the Meridian resident and former Shady Side Academy three-sport standout had to get small.

A freshman with the United States Naval Academy, Foley tried out for and earned a spot on Navy's Sprint football team, a squad that carries a weight limit of 172 pounds.

"All my life, I've tried to get bigger to play sports,"Foley said. "I came to camp weighing 200 pounds and found myself having to cut 30 pounds to be able to play.

"It wasn't so bad. I skipped a lunch or breakfast here and there, worked out hard ... Wrestlers have it tougher trying to cut weight."

Navy's Sprint team plays in the College Sprint Football League with Cornell, Princeton, Penn and Army. The squad fills out its schedule by playing NCAADivision IIIjunior varsity opponents.

Navy finished 7-0 this season and won its 33rd CSFLchampionship, outscoring its opponents 202-59.

Making the Division INavy collegiate football team isn't easy. Making the Sprint roster is no picnic, either.

"There were 50 freshmen alone who tried out for the Sprint team,"Foley said. "Myself and the center were the only two freshmen to make the starting lineup.

"The entire coaching staff is comprised of Marine Corps officers, so you can imagine how hard they push us."

Navy's Sprint team maintained a 70-player roster.

Foley was a running back-kick and punt returner for the Midshipmen. He rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries and averaged 13.7 yards per punt return.

Named honorable mention All-CSFL, Foley made his biggest impact during a 52-0 win over Princeton. He returned eight punts for 140 yards that day, setting the team record for punt return yardage in one game.

Navy's CSFLteam has been around since 1946.

"That was a crazy day,"Foley said. "They had to keep punting, so I got a lot of opportunities.

"That day could have been much bigger, but I had a punt return for a touchdown and another 50-yard return called back by penalties."

Navy's Sprint team defeated Army twice this season, winning by scores of 24-0 and 14-7.

"Those games have the same intensity as the Army-Navy game you see on TV, only at a smaller scale,"Foley said. "Army doesn't want to play us twice next year because we've been beating them so much.

"When our Sprint team beats Army, we get the 'N' put on our jackets just like the big team does. Believe me, it means a lot."

Playing a skilled position in the CSFLcan be even more challenging than in a league with no weight limit.

"The speed of the game is incredible," Foley said. "Because nobody can weigh more than 172 pounds, everybody's fast. You can get caught from behind by a defensive lineman way downfield."

Foley hopes to return to the Sprint team next year, though every player has to try out for a spot annually. He said the team is talking about putting in some plays using the Wildcat formation, with Foley as the quarterback.

Foley is carrying a 4.0 grade point average this year and plans to major in chemistry.

"I like this team because it gets my name out there," he said. "Football is a good way to take my mind off all of the military obligations we have.

"It helps get me through the year."