EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The emphasis on football took a back seat to family for Navy's coaching staff and players when the team learned Friday that Bernadette Jones, the wife of assistant coach Keith Jones, died after a long battle with a respiratory illness.

Keith Jones, a first-year cornerbacks coach, returned to Maryland to be with his family (including his two teenage daughters, Kristen, 18, and Kourtney, 14) and watched Navy's 58-12 victory over Army yesterday on television.

"It was tough on all of us," Navy coach Paul Johnson said. "Keith had told me that one of the hardest things for him was that his wife really wanted to see this game. I asked him if there was anything we could do for him, and he said, 'Just tell the guys to play hard.' "

The death hit cornerback Vaughn Kelley particularly hard because he had been praying for her all season during Navy's Thursday night bible study, and just Monday, Keith Jones told his players it appeared his wife was doing better.

"Coach Johnson told us about it at practice Friday, and everybody was just completely silent," Kelley said. "I think we were all in shock."

Kelley and several other players wrote messages on their athletic tape before yesterday's game to let the Jones family know they were thinking of them.

"I was talking with [cornerback] Shalimar [Brazier] and we said as soon as the game is over, let's call Coach Jones," Kelley said. "So we ran in and called him to let him know how much we care about him. He was still trying to coach. He said, 'If you'd stop turning your shoulders you wouldn't get blocked.'

"I know he's hurting right now, but we just wanted him to know whatever he needs we're there for him."

Nevels' rough day

Army quarterback Reggie Nevels had a frustrating day, getting sacked four times (once for a safety) while going 15-for-27 for 171 yards, but he didn't get much help from his receivers. Several times Nevels found a receiver open but could only watch as his teammate juggled the ball or dropped it in a key situation.

"Sometimes you have your days, and other times you don't," Nevels said. "Today wasn't our day. ... It hurts pretty bad. It's embarrassing to lose a football game like that. This loss made a big impact on my pride. I'll be thinking about it for a long time."

Nevels was never the same this season after he tore his hamstring against Holy Cross on Sept. 7 and missed five games as a result. Though he returned and played well at times, the injury hampered him.

Nevels spent the second half yesterday running for his life on most plays, but he managed to hook up with Aaron Alexander on a 36-yard scoring play with 12:11 left in the fourth quarter. If was the final score of the game for either team.

"Once we got down, they were blitzing every down, and it's hard to execute when they're rushing everybody," Nevels said. "On some of those plays, everyone was still covered."

Tough timing

Navy offensive lineman Grant Moody, a senior starter and a quantitative economics major who spent several days this week interviewing for a Rhodes scholarship, looked like he might have a tough choice to make at the beginning of the week. The scholarship committee could only interview finalists on Saturday, the same time as the Army-Navy game.

"I didn't make the final cut, but even if I had, I don't think I would have missed the game," Moody said. "That wouldn't have really been fair to my teammates. It was a fun process. I'm glad I did it. Luckily I had the full support of the coaching staff the entire time."

End zone

Despite Navy's win, Army still leads the overall series 49-47-7. ... Michael Brimage, Navy's 5-foot-7 sophomore fullback, continued to look impressive, rushing for 84 yards on just 10 carries in his second career varsity start. Brimage, who rushed for 171 yards in Navy's 30-27 loss to Wake Forest on Nov. 23, set up Craig Candeto's fifth rushing touchdown of the game with a 39-yard run in the third quarter. It was the longest run from scrimmage by a fullback this season.