In Colorado air, ground game will be key for Navy, Air Force

COLORADO SPRINGS - There figures to be some serious smash-mouth football this afternoon when Navy and Air Force meet in a service academy showdown. Both teams feature high-powered running attacks and will no doubt try to ram the football down the other's throat.

Navy ranks second nationally in rushing offense with an average of 335 yards. Air Force stands sixth with 282 yards per game on the ground. The Midshipmen have attempted only 38 passes through five games. The Falcons have thrown the ball just 36 times in four contests.

So there should be no secret about what's coming and it could come down to which team's defense can rise up and stuff the run.

"This is one of those games in which it will be an absolute war at the line of scrimmage," Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun said. "Our guys are going to pin their ears back and really get after it. I'm sure the Navy guys will compete like crazy as well. I expect to see a very hard-fought football game."

There remains uncertainty as to whether Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada or Jarod Bryant will start at quarterback for Navy. Kaheaku-Enhada has not practiced in pads this week, but made the trip and is expected to dress today. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo said it will be a game-time decision based on how the 5-foot-11, 195-pound senior looks in warm-ups.

"Kaipo is not game ready right now. He's just weak right now," Niumatalolo said after Wednesday's practice. "Right now with the way things are going, we'll probably go with Jarod. If Jarod's number is called I have no doubt he'll do a good job."

Navy's triple-option offense seems to operate more smoothly with Kaheaku-Enhada at the helm. The Hawaii native, with 21 career starts under his belt, clearly does a better job of making the reads and distributing the ball.

However, Bryant has played a lot more this season - starting and going the distance against Towson and Ball State while playing the second half versus Duke and Wake Forest.

Calhoun feels both quarterbacks are capable and is more concerned about slot back Shun White and fullback Eric Kettani. White, a 5-foot-9, 190-pound speedster, leads Navy and ranks fourth in the country with 693 yards rushing. Kettani, a 6-foot-1, 243-pound bruiser, is second on the squad with 435 yards.

White busted loose for a single-game school record 348 yards versus Towson and added 128 yards against Ball State. Kettani has established a career-high for rushing in each of the past two games, rumbling for 133 yards against Rutgers then piling up 175 versus Wake.

"Navy has as good an inside-outside combination as you'll see in service academy football," Calhoun said. "Kettani is just a big, old bull coming up the middle while White is incredibly fast and does a great job turning the corner."

Sophomore inside linebacker Ken Lamendola (36 tackles) leads an Air Force defense that had two weeks to prepare for Navy's triple-option. Senior outside linebacker Hunter Altman (24 tackles), junior strong safety Chris Thomas (23) and sophomore cornerback Reggie Rembert (20) are also key figures for the Falcons, who feel having a bye week before this particular game was key.

"It's hard to get used to their offense, so I think we did a good job of repping a lot of their plays offensively and defensively," Altman said. "We made a lot of use of that (extra) week and we definitely feel a lot more comfortable to go against their offense now."

Shea Smith, a senior who saw mop-up duty in seven varsity games coming into this season, has done a good job of managing the Air Force offense without making mistakes. Calhoun admitted this week the Falcons have not thrown the ball as much this season because of Smith's lack of experience.

"Shea can play better and he will have to play better if we're to win this game," Calhoun said.

Sophomore tailback Kyle Lumpkin leads a balanced attack with 258 yards rushing while Smith and sophomore tailback Savier Stephens have contributed 250 and 208 yards, respectively. Sophomore wide receiver Kyle Halderman has been a big-play threat taking direct handoffs or reverses, running for 243 yards on just 24 carries.

"Air Force presents a lot of problems. They spread you out all over the place and give you a hundred different formations," Navy defensive coordinator Buddy Green said. "They've got the option game, the play-action pass off the option game, reverses and double-reverses. They make you defend the whole field."

Green has been impressed with the aggressive play he's seen on film from the Air Force offensive line, which is anchored by the left side duo of All-Mountain West Conference guard Nick Charles (6-4, 285) and massive tackle Keith Williams (6-6, 275).

Navy is playing with tremendous confidence after upsetting Rutgers and then-16th-rnaked Wake Forest in back-to-back weeks. This will be Niumatalolo's first service academy contest as head coach and he admitted there will be some nerves.

"You're always nervous. It's hard to sleep. You're always thinking about the game. This is our biggest game of the season. Winning the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy is our number one goal," he said. "We know the emotion will be there, we know we'll be hyped and ready to go. We want to make sure we're ready from a mental standpoint, that we're properly prepared and exactly screwed into what our assignments."