Navy?s comeback appeared unlikely for most of the game as Duke (1-3) wracked up 508 yards of total offense and led 36-25 at halftime following a 9-yard touchdown pass from Blue Devil quarterback Thaddeus Lewis to Eron Riley with 1:07 left in the second quarter.

Lewis completed 23 of 36 pass attempts for 428 yards and interception and four touchdowns, all going to Riley. Riley finished with six catches for 235 yards. However, Navy?s defense shut down the combination in the second half, holding Duke to just seven points and none for the final 25:50.

“We had our chances and didn?t close the deal,” Duke coach Ted Roof said. “Whether it was with some more points offensively, whether it was a stop defensively, whether it was a big play on special teams or whatever it was, we didn?t close the deal. That?s very disappointing because that?s a game we had an opportunity to win and you don?t get missed opportunities back.”

Navy?s offense usually keeps the Midshipmen in games through its running game, which entered Saturday?s game averaging a national-best 378.7 yards a game. But, with the Blue Devils largely containing Navy?s ground attack in the first half the Midshipmen (2-2) proved it could go to the air.

Junior quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada completed 11 of 16 passes for 217 yards a touchdown and an interception before being replaced by Jarod Bryant in the fourth quarter.

Kaheaku-Enhada also had 72 yards rushing while fullback Eric Kettani had 71 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries for Navy, which finished with 304 rushing yards and 540 yards of total offense.

“In a game like this when they were tired and we were tired too, you put in a guy who was fresh so he can make some plays,” Navy coach Paul Johnson said. “Kaipo did nothing wrong. He moved the offense. Jarod just gave us a kick.”

Bryant completed just one of three passes, but ran for 79 yards on 14 carries. Also, Bryant?s biggest play of the game actually came as a receiver as he caught a 5-yard touchdown from slot back Bobby Doyle on a halfback option play with 3:49 remaining. That score tied the game at 43-43. Bryant?s performance came a week after he fumbled the first play in overtime of Navy?s 34-31 win against Ball State.

“It?s not often you get a chance to redeem yourself,” Bryant said.

Navy?s defense then responded with its biggest stop of the game, culminating with junior quarterback Ketric Buffin intercepting Lewis at the Navy 18 with 38 seconds remaining.

?The big thing to come out of today was that our kids didn?t quit,” Johnson said. “They fought from start to finish and when you do that you have a chance to win.”

Buffin said the second half against Duke could be a turning point for Navy?s young defense, which is still reeling from the season-ending injuries to starting linebacker Clint Sovie and starting safety Jeff Deliz. Also, Buffin?s interception marked the fourth in four games for him.

“This is big,” Buffin said. “This gives us something to build upon. I looked at everyone?s eyes and saw how hard the linebackers and everyone was fighting. I said, ?Don?t quit and [thesecondary] will make a play for you.”

Navy has little time to catch its breath as the Midshipmen prepare to host Air Force at 1 p.m. this coming Saturday in Annapolis.

NAVY NOTES

>>Navy is now 13-3 since the start of the 2003 season in games following a loss as the Midshipmen snapped a two-game losing streak.

>>Navy improved to 4-19 under coach Paul Johnson when giving up at least 30 points. The Midshipmen haven?t won such a game since their 51-30 win over Colorado State in the 2005 Poinsettia Bowl.

>>Navy junior kicker Matt Harmon connected on a career-long 46-yard field goal with 7:21 left in the first quarter.

>> Navy junior cornerback Ketic Buffin became the first player in school history to have an interception in the first four games of the season.