Navy taught Pittsburgh a lesson on its first offensive play: The Midshipmen are not an easy team to defend. As the Panthers stacked the line of scrimmage to stop the run, Navy junior quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada executed a perfect, play-action play and connected with O.J. Washington for a 49-yard gain in a game the Midshipmen went on to win 48-45 in double overtime. In the victory, Kaheaku-Enhada rushed for 122 yards and passed for 166, marking the first time in his career he had at least 100 yards in the air and on the ground in the same game.
“It always looks better when you complete the first pass on the first play of the game,” Kaheaku-Enhada said. “That play set the tone for us.”
Since throwing three interceptions in a loss at Rutgers on Sept. 7, Kaheaku-Enhada has just thrown one pas that?s been caught by defender. He has also completed 24 of his past 36 attempts for 462 yards and three 3 touchdowns.
For the season, Kaheaku-Enhada has 536 yards and 8 touchdowns rushing and 626 yards and 4 touchdowns passing. He is on pace to become just the third Navy quarterback in history to run and throw for at least 1,000 yards in the same season.
“He’s done a nice job, there’s no question about that,” Navy coach Paul Johnson said. “He’s understanding what it takes to be a great player. He is never satisfied and I’m encouraged he’s been hard on himself because he wants to get better.”
Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe said his team is going to have a difficult time defending Navy, which averages 35 points and a national-leading 345.5 rushing yards per game.
The Demon Deacons (4-2) also know Kaheaku-Enhada?s play in recent weeks will make it even harder to stop the Midshipmen’s vaunted triple-option offense.
“This is a real bring-me-down-to-earth gamefor us because we’ve played some very conventional offenses here at the start of the season, and this preparation is the toughest we’ve ever had, so this is a tough week for us,” Grobe said. “We better not be thinking too much about what we just did with [beating] Florida State or what we might be able to do later on because this is one of the best team’s we’ll play all year.”
At the same time, Kaheaku-Enhada understands if Navy (4-2) wants to have a chance at upsetting the defending Atlantic Coast Conference champions, it can’t make any mistakes, especially in the passing game. Just ask Maryland, which lost to Wake Forest 31-24 in overtime Sept. 22 thanks in part to a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown by cornerback Alphonso Smith. Smith has four interceptions, including three returned for touchdowns.
“This defense we are going to see this weekend is the best defense we have played against all year,” Kaheaku-Enhada said. “I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. They are very fast and coming off a win over Florida State they will be on the juice and will be flying around.”
NAVY (4-2) vs. WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS (4-2)
KICKOFF: Today, 1 p.m.
WHERE: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis
TV/RADIO: CSTV, 1090 AM, 1430 AM
TICKETS: Standing room only
