Although no one on Navy?s football team was happy about losing starting quarterback Brian Hampton to a season-ending knee injury, its timing did come at the best time possible for the Midshipmen to regroup and rally around new signal-caller Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada.
With a week off following the 34-0 loss to Rutgers on Oct. 14, Navy had extra time to get its first-team offense familiar with Kaheaku-Enhada running the triple-option offense. That is especially important when it comes to getting the timing down on pitches to the slot back.
If that chemistry isn?t there, turnovers are bound to happen. And while Navy?s offense stalled in the second half of last week?s 38-14 loss to Notre Dame, the Midshipmen did not turn the ball over and had no fumbles, something they look to build upon as they play at winless Duke Saturday.
Navy coach Paul Johnson said his team has a lot to work to do offensively after getting outscored, 72-14, its last two games.
“He did some OK things, but the bottom line is, we scored 14 points,” Johnson said of Kaheaku-Enhada?s first start. “I?m sure we?ll make some progress this week.”
Kaheaku-Enhada appeared to be on the same page with slot backs Reggie Campbell and Shun White for most of the Notre Dame game. Campbell finished the game with 81 yards on 14 carries, while White had 44 yards on four carries.
Campbell said much of the success Kaheaku-Enhada had during his first start can be traced to the extra week of practice he had during the bye week. He expects the chemistry toimprove over the Midshipmen?s final four games.
“It helped a lot,” Campbell said of the extra week of practice. “It allowed us all to get on the same page and get used to playing with one another. Kaipo played well [against Notre Dame]. He made all his reads, pitched out when he had to and it worked out well.”
Kaheaku-Enhada said he had fun in his first start, but saw some areas for improvement.
“I have to fix my passing game,” said Kaheaku-Enhada, who was 2 of 5 for 25 yards against Notre Dame. “In order to beat any team, you have to move the ball offensively, and throwing the ball is part of that.”
Anchors away
» Junior right tackle Josh Meek, who started all eight games, is lost for the year after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the second half against Notre Dame. Sophomore Andre McGinn will likely start in his place.
» Quarterback Brian Hampton had surgery on his knee Thursday, and it was deemed a success. He will begin rehab in the near future.
» Senior safety DuJuan Price (right quadriceps) and junior kicker Joey Bullen (groin) are questionable for the Duke game.
