Navy senior fullback Eric Kettani remembers the difficulty he had two years ago when he took the field for the first time at Air Force’s Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo.
“It was my sophomore year and we were having a walkthrough before the game,” he said. “By the time we were done with the elevation and the thin air, I was dying, trying to sit down and looking for the water.”
But the Midshipmen still came out victorious, a trend for Navy the past several seasons against Air Force. Navy has won the past five meetings against their fellow service academy en route to five consecutive Commander-in-Chief trophies, which is awarded annually to the winner of the round-robin football games among Navy, Air Force and Army.
Navy (3-2) begins its defense of the trophy on Saturday afternoon at 4 against Air Force (3-1) at Falcon Stadium in front of a national television audience on the Versus Network.
“Winning the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy is our number one goal every year,” Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “It is going to be a hostile environment. We know we are stepping into a hornet’s nest; we just have to be ready.”
The best way for Navy to beat Air Force is to get continued production from Kettani. The team’s returning leading rusher from last season with 880 yards has put together consecutive career-best performances — and it’s no surprise both led to victories.
In a 23-21 win over Rutgers on Sept. 20 in Annapolis, he ran for 133 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, including a long run late in regulation that set up Matt Harmon’s 21-yard game-winning field goal with just more than two minutes remaining. In last week’s 24-17 upset of then-16th-ranked Wake Forest, Kettani gained 175 yards on just 19 carries.
“Kettani was a horse in the middle,” Niumatalolo said. “He played with great determination. He’s been big for us.”
Kettani is second on the team in rushing with 435 yards and a touchdown on 60 caries, but more importantly, he has lost just two yards this season. He will be counted on to provide leadership Saturday, as the game is expected to be very close.
Each of the past five meetings between the academies have been decided by an average of 5.4 points, with only last year’s 31-20 win coming by more than a touchdown.
“There is always room for improvement and a few of my longer runs I am breaking tackles,” Kettani said. “Coach has been riding me a little bit, saying I haven’t done anything yet and I haven’t. I’ve been working.”
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UP NEXT
Navy (3-2) at Air Force (3-1)
When » Saturday, 4 p.m.
Where » Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, Colo.
TV/Radio » Versus Network; 1090 AM
Tickets » Available
