The game of football requires 11 players to each carry out their individual assignments in order to make a play work.
For Navy, their triple-option offense relies on getting tough inside running from the fullback position. And when junior fullback Adam Ballard broke his right fibula on his second carry of the game against Army, it was up to backups Eric Kettani and Matt Hall to step up for the Mids.
Seizing the moment against their rival, the duo split carries for the final 55-plus minutes of the game, leading Navy (9-3) to its fifth straight win over rival Army (3-9), 26-14, at Lincoln Financial Field.
“Anytime you lose a player of Adam?s potential it hurts a little, but we?ve lost guys all year and other guys have stepped up,” said Navy head coach Paul Johnson who is 5-0 in his career against Army. “Matt Hall and Eric Kettani both ran the ball hard. The way their defense was, we really needed to run the ball inside.”
Becoming the focal point of the Mids? triple-option just minutes into the game, Kettani (15 carries for 67 yards) made the most of his chance as he protected the ball and helped grind out the clock. Stepping up from a reserve role is nothing new for Kettani, who rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown for an injured Ballard at Eastern Michigan last month. Ballard is expected to undergo surgery sometime today.
“It was a great opportunity,” Kettani said, “especially on the stage of the Army vs. Navy game.”
Ballard?s injury also opens the door for Hall to re-establish himself in the offense. He was the Mids? starting fullback last year before injuring his knee in the Notre Dame game that season.
Ballardthen became the starter as Hall was slowed by additional injuries in the preseason. That combined with inconsistent play early this season led Kettani to overtake Ballard as the No. 2 fullback. But, biding his time, Hall emerged in the second half of the 107th edition of the annual rivalry game Saturday, becoming a battering ram as he contributed 19 yards on seven carries against Army.
“Coach [Johnson] pulled us aside and said he was going to rotate us in the second half of the game and give us a break,” Kettani said.
The stellar play of Kettani and Hall allowed Navy?s fullback position to continue its domination of Army. Those at that position have amassed 619 yards and five touchdowns on 97 carries in the last five meetings against the Black Knights.
