When the Navy football team hosted Temple on Saturday, the game was advertised as Senior Day ? the contest being the Midshipmen?s home finale at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. And while Navy coach Paul Johnson made sure to get as many of his 35 seniors into the game, many of the players that really stood out in the team?s 42-6 win were underclassmen.
From sophomore quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada rushing for 140 yards and two touchdowns to freshman cornerback Jeromy Miles picking off Temple quarterback Adam DiMichele late in the first half, Navy showed the 33,927 fans that they can expect more winning seasons, Commander-in-Chief?s trophies and bowl game appearances for years to come.
“I think we?ve got some good athletes in the program,” Johnson said. “Hopefully, we can keep recruiting well and meet guys that keep working to get better and keep the thing going. That?s the idea behind it. You just keep trying to recruit better players and keep trying to get better.”
With 35 seniors graduating this year, continuing the pipeline of productive players will be crucial to Navy?s long-term success. The team hopes to ensure that players like sophomore defensive back Ketric Buffin and sophomore slot back Shun White continue developing while a new group of plebes arrive in Annapolis next year.
Buffin intercepted his first pass of the season and the second in his career following a fourth-and-one play with 3:23 remaining against Temple. White racked up 114 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries to finish with his first collegiate 100-yard rushing game.
White was pleased with his performance, but said his motivation for playing well against the Owls was as a way of showing deference to Navy?s senior to make sure they left their home field for the final time as winners.
“Coming out [Saturday] before in the locker room, I went around and shook all of the seniors? hands and told them I was going to do this for you,” White said. “That?s all I had in my mind the whole time. It?s for the seniors. I had that mind-set going out onto the field, that every time I make a block or touch the ball, I?m helping my team and I?m helping the seniors come close to that victory.”
NAVY NOTES
» Quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada has 10 rushing touchdowns this year, tying him with injured quarterback Brian Hampton for the team lead.
» Shun White?s performance, which included a 50-yard touchdown run, allowed him to become the fifth Navy player to rush for 100 yards this year.
