Their destiny is now in their hands. That?s the mindset Navy has following its 31-20 over Air Force Saturday.
Now, the Midshipmen (3-2) are in the driver?s seat in the chase for the Commander-in-Chief?s Trophy, given annually to the winner of the football competition between Navy, Army and Air Force.
Navy has won 10 straight games over service academy teams and will win the trophy for a fifth straight year with a victory over Army Dec. 1 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
“I am excited for our players,” Navy head coach Paul Johnson said. “They did a tremendous job. They really hustled out there. And now we have a chance to play for the Commander-in-Chief?s Trophy. That?s all this win does; it gives us a chance to play for it.”
Navy quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries while slot back Zerbin Singleton rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown on seven carries in the win, played in front of a Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium-record 37,615 fans in Annapolis.
Much like the previous four games in the series, neither Navy nor Air Force could take command as the lead changed six times. However, Kaheaku-Enhada came up with touchdown runs of 2 and 78 yards in the fourth quarter as Navy scored the game?s final 14 points. Also, Saturday marked the first time since 1981 that Navy defeated Air Force by more than a touchdown. That year, the Midshipmen won, 30-13.
“Air Force messed up with their defense on the play,” said Kaheaku-Enhada on his 78-yard touchdown run, which gave Navy a 31-20 lead with 9:18 remaining. “They had been playing really disciplined all game, but on that play I just came through and it was wide open.”
Air Force had a number of opportunities to retake the lead, especially in the fourth quarter. Trailing 24-20, the Falcons drove down to the Midshipman 9-yard line. But, the Falcons got called for three penalties over the next three plays, pushing them back 30 yards and out of field goal range. The Falcons (3-2) eventually had to punt the ball away.
Navy?s defense then took over. Their biggest stop came late in the fourth quarter when sophomore linebacker Tony Haberer sacked Air Force quarterback Shaun Carney for an 8-yard loss as the Falcons drove to the Navy 12. Then three play later, sophomore defensive back Jesse Iwuji blocked a 32-yard field goal attempt by Air Force kicker Ryan Harrison.
Carney completed 18 of 23 passes for 237 yards and receiver Chad Hall had 137 all-purpose yards (108 receiving, 29 rushing) and two touchdowns for Air Force. The Falcons scored no points over the final 20:26 of the game.
“It was silly,” said Carney on Air Force?s mistakes. “That?s not Air Force football to go out there and make mistakes like that and get penalties, especially three in a row. That?s just not something this program does.”
Navy?s defensive performance was a stark contrast to its previous three games, when it allowed a combined 118 points (39.3 per game) against Rutgers, Ball State and Duke. Against Air Force, senior linebacker Matt Wimsatt had 14 tackles, junior defensive end Michael Walsh had 10 tackles ? both career highs ? and sophomore defensive back Balke Carter came up with a key fumble recovery with 8:03 remaining to lead Navy?s defense.
“We cut down on mistakes today,” Wimsatt said. “This was our best game of the year on defense.”
Navy goes for its third straight win Oct. 10 when it plays at Pittsburgh. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
NAVY NOTES
>> Navy is now 10-1 against Army and Air Force since Paul Johnson became the team?s head coach in 2002.
>>Navy receiver O.J. Washington had a career-high four catches for 79 yards in the win.
>>Navy fullback Adam Ballard rushed for 38 yards on 11 carries and is 11th on the Midshipmen?s career rushing yards list with 1,728 yards.
