The biggest worry for Rear Admirals around the world is that their alma mater will not continue on its current five-year bowl streak (2-3). That’s because no other era of Naval gridiron action has been this prosperous – ever. We’re talking five-straight Commander-In-Chief’s Trophies and six-straight wins over rival Army. And Navy fans - knowing it all came to be because of Paul Johnson’s superior running schemes, and knowing that this mentor has moved on to Georgia Tech - realize that it could all mean the end of the recent prosperity. It has sirens going off in Annapolis’s gathering places. What will happen to their record setting offense?

Simply put, little, if nothing, will change. Assistant head coach Ken Niumatalolo bumps up from the precision he’s brought to the offensive line(s) and now sits atop their Pigskin ranks. Breaking the Samoan coaching barrier is its own accomplishment, but more directly applicable is his commitment to keep what is already in place as his chosen attack, the triple option. If anyone knows it as well as its innovator, it’s Niumatalolo. He has QB coach Ivin Jasper bumping into Johnson’s coordinator’s chair. With QB Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada returning for a rare third season here and the backfield full of vets, there is no reason Navy shouldn’t again top the FBS team rushing ranks.

Averaging 39+ points per game means the Midshipmen can outscore many opponents and win with offense. That’s mainly because allowing an average of 36+ means the defense forces such. Getting the ball last is often the key to grinding out the clock for that final go-ahead score which cannot be answered. Big comebacks will still be hard to find. Six foes went over the 40-point barrier, with one of them (Delaware, an FCS-/I-AA-level team) going over 50 and another (North Texas) breaking 60. Prospects of the defense stepping up are hard to find since JUCO transfers and other influxes of talent aren’t part of the equation here…working with what’s in place means only the safeties look improved. Really, the line should also hold its own, but in the 3-4 approach, the DL can only do so much. To sum it up from another statistical angle, the Middie’s 51% conversion rate on offensive third-downs basically only offsets the fact that they allow foes to convert 47.5% of their third-downs. Muddling around just outside the Top 25 will continue as long as the Naval offense and defense are diametrically opposite each other in effect.

Stopping the nation’s longest single-game losing streak wasn’t easy, but beating Notre Dame was cathartic after three overtime sessions halted 35 years of frustration(s). Only three times has Navy put together a series’ best two-game win-streak over Notre Dame, a likely repeated scenario since the Irish are still unproven and the game is in neighboring Baltimore.

A total of five BCS opponents are slated; Navy is 5-3 in regular season games versus such high level foes over the last two campaigns. Four foes in 2008 reached bowl games last year. Reaching ten wins – a feat only twice accomplished, in 1905 and most recently during Johnson’s tenure in 2004 – is a realistic goal. Limiting the losses to three or less seems to be the only way Navy finds itself in the final polls.

Navy has been able to find consistency with a dated approach. Doing such in an era when other teams are recruiting circles around them proves every adage pertaining to teamwork overcoming superior individual talent levels. This is one area where the U.S. Navy is still considered an underdog, and what they do to overcome it all reflects the fortitude of our service academies. Regardless of your politics in wartime, supporting the Naval gridiron troops just makes sense.

Passing: Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, 55-98-5, 952 yds., 8 TD

Rushing: Eric Kettani, 152 att., 880 yds., 10 TD

Receiving: Tyree Barnes, 10 rec., 168 yds., 1 TD

Scoring: Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, 12 TD, 2 two-pt. conv., 76 pts.

Punting: None

Kicking: Matt Harmon, 6-10 FG, 15-15 PAT, 33 pts.

Tackles: Wyatt Middleton, 88 tot., 57 solo

Sacks: Michael Walsh, 3 sacks

Interceptions: Ketric Buffin, 4 for 53 yds.

Kickoff returns: Emmett Merchant, 2 ret., 43.5 avg., 0 TD

Punt returns: Bobby Doyle, 1 ret., 7.0 avg., 0 TD

QB Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada

DE Michael Walsh