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Navy beats Army for 7th year in a row, 34-0

PHILADELPHIA — Army again failed to have any answers for Navy’s option offense that featured two rushers who eclipsed the 100-yard mark and helped Navy march to is seventh straight victory over Army, 34-0, at Lincoln Financial Field in the 109th meeting between the service rivals. The win marked the sixth straight year Navy captured the Commander-in-Chiefs trophy.

Questions remained if Navy could continue to dominate Army after coach Paul Johnson, who revived the program in 2002, left for Georgia Tech last year. Earning a bowl bid, winning eight games and most importantly beating Army, first year head coach Ken Niumatalolo, a former assistant under Johnson, has resoundingly answered those questions.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our seniors. To play our rivals and shut them out, play the way we did in the most important game of the year and get a convincing win. It’s a great tribute to the seniors,” he said.

Navy’s defense, which is often overshadowed by its option offense, blanked the Black Knights in the most lopsided victory between the two academies since 1973, when Navy beat Army 51-0.

It was Navy’s punter, though, who played a large role in conserving the shutout midway through the first quarter after he watched the snap sail over his head and into Navy’s end zone.

Niumatalolo screamed from the sidelines for sophomore punter Kyle Delahooke to take the safety. Delahooke didn’t listen. He calmly picked up the football and booted it to midfield with two Army players bearing down on him.

“I am yelling at him to take a safety, run out of bounds, don’t give up a touchdown, but the kid had enough composure to get the ball, to turn around and see he had time, and get it off,” Niumatalolo said. “I think that was the turning point of the game.”

Like it did all game, Army’s offense stalled on the next possession and punted back to a Navy team who had its starting senior quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada back from a hamstring injury he has fought all year.

Sophomore Ricky Dobbs and senior captain Jarod Bryant had played well in his stead, leading Navy to two victories and almost a third over Notre Dame, but coaches decided on Thursday to start Kaheaku-Enhada when they saw he was healthy.

“Ricky has been playing great but there is an experience factor that Kaipo brings that you can’t coach. Kaipo has been through big games,” Niumatalolo said.

Kaheaku-Enhada orchestrated an offense that out gained Army with 430 total yards to the Black Knights 154. He threw for one touchdown and ran for 43 yards, but it was the way he read Army’s defense and knew when to stick it in fullback Eric Kettani’s gut or pitch to slotback Shun White that left Army chasing Navy ballcarriers all afternoon.

“Playing in this offense [Kaheaku-Enhada] knows what changes to make and knows how to read the defense. Not to take away anything from the other two guys, but I think he’s more fit for this offense,” White said.

White, who ran for 148 yards, broke out early scoring first for Navy on their first possession on a 65-yard touchdown run.

“Coming into the game coach wanted me to bust a long run. I told him if you give me the ball I’ll probably take one to the house,” he said. “I think it was a very important play because it got the offense going and from that point on it was like a steamroll.”

Niumatalolo said White’s run settled the team down after the pre-game ceremonies rife with pageantry that included flyovers by Air Force One, Navy F/A-18 fighter jets, AH-64 Apaches helicopters and UH-1 Huey helicopters. The Army Golden Knights and Navy Leap Frog jump teams also landed on the field before kickoff.

President Bush and Defense Secretary Robert Gates were in attendance at the sold out Lincoln Financial Field, sitting on Army’s side first before the traditional crossing of the field at halftime to sit with Navy leaders.

Navy’s team played with heavy hearts after learning senior cornerback Rashawn King’s father, Drexel, died suddenly from a heart attack Thursday night at the family’s home in Raleigh, N.C. King returned to Raleigh to be with his family and didn’t play Saturday.

King’s father was close to many of the players, often hosting tailgates after the team’s home games. Navy wore a black sticker with his initials D.K. on the back of their helmets.

“Drexel was a father figure to many players on our team,” Niumatalolo said. “His passing was more than just the passing of a player’s parent. A lot of guys knew him.”

Army entered the game confident they could end their losing streak to Navy as they played better in the second half of the season winning three of their last six.

Senior fullback Collin Mooney and sophomore quarterback Chip Bowden looked more comfortable in the option offense Army adopted this year, but Navy’s interior defense stuffed Mooney up the middle and appeared to confuse Bowden who ran for six yards on 14 carries.

Mooney was limited to 54 yards, but did set the Army single season rushing record with a one-yard run on the game’s final play surpassing former running back Mike Mayweather with 1,339 yards.

Meanwhile, Navy fullback Eric Kettani busted runs through the middle of Army’s porous defense totaling 125 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown.

Army coach Stan Brock, who switched to the option offense this year opposed to Army’s previous pro-style throwing offense, said the game against Navy would be a barometer for his team’s progress earlier this week.

But, after the game he said he didn’t think the difference between his team and Navy’s was 34 points. During the press conference he also hinted at the fact his job might be in jeopardy.

“I don’t think you can base our season and our growth on one football game. I don’t think the distance between the two academies is 34 points. We stick with the plan and hopefully I’m allowed to stick with the plan,” Brock said.

Meanwhile, Navy’s football program continues to ride its recent wave of success as it prepares to play in the EagleBank Bowl Game on Dec. 20 in Washington D.C., and White said the team is looking forward to its trip to the White House to accept the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy for the sixth straight year.

“Going to the White House is always a good thing for our team. We’re kind of making it our tradition now … hopefully after I leave they will visit again,” White said with a wide smile.

New “Enforcer” Jerseys

Both teams unveiled new Nike “Enforcer” jerseys with Army featuring camouflage pants and helmets with black tops and “DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY” written on their backs.

Navy’s uniform pants emulated the Marine Corps Elegant Dress Pants with anchors on their shoulders. Navy’s helmets remained gold.

White said he liked the new jerseys although they were a bit tight and he struggled to turn his head at first.

Kettani jokingly said Army’s new uniforms helped them blend into the field and he wasn’t a fan of their new helmets.

“I couldn’t see them really; they’re camouflaged,” Kettani said. “One guy caught me, it was like, ‘What’s going on?’ It freaked me out. Their helmets were kind of gross.”

Full coverage

Read staff writer Mike Hoffman’s Army-Navy blog