Utah-Navy Preview

12/13/2007 8:35 PM

By CHRIS ANTONACCI
STATS Writer

Even though Navy features a new coach, the Midshipmen don't intend on using a new offensive approach.

Navy (8-4) looks to continue to rely on its triple-option rushing attack when it faces Utah (8-4) on Thursday in the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium.

Navy promoted assistant coach Ken Niumatalolo on Dec. 8, one day after Paul Johnson left after six seasons to take the Georgia Tech job. Athletic director Chet Gladchuk specifically selected Niumatalolo because of his familiarity with the option.

"I don't care whose offense we call it," Niumatalolo said. "We're going to use it because it works. I've been involved with this offense for 20 years. I've called the plays for this offense before. I learned a lot from Paul about the various wrinkles and how to make adjustments."

It's an offense that helped Navy lead the nation in rushing in four of the last five seasons, including a NCAA-record three straight times since 2005. This season, Navy had the most attempts (746), net yardage (4,218) and rushing touchdowns (51) in the FBS this season.

"It's a great move," junior quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada said of Niumatalolo's appointment. "Personally, I'm happy because we've got a coach who really knows the option. We got a curveball thrown at us, but we woke up and found out we already have a new coach."

Navy, one of four remaining independent teams, will continue to rely on its rushing attack as it hopes to end Utah's six-game postseason winning streak - a run that dates to the 1999 Las Vegas Bowl. Boston College's seven-game bowl winning streak is the only active run longer than the Utah's.

The Midshipmen nearly ended Boston College's run last season, but they suffered a 25-24 loss despite totaling 322 yards on 59 carries in last year's Meineke Bowl. Steve Aponavicius made a 37-yard field goal as time expired to cap a six-play, 20-yard drive for the Eagles. Boston College overcame a total of 187 yards on 13 carries from Navy's Shun White and Zerbin Singleton.

Utah has allowed a total of 1,564 rushing yards this season, but only 989 in the final 10 games. The Utes lost all four games in which they surrendered more than 136 rushing yards.

Among those games was Utah's 17-10 loss on Nov. 24 at then-No. 23 BYU, ending the Utes' seven-game winning streak and dropping them to 3-3 on the road this season. Utah took a 10-9 lead with 1:34 left, but it allowed a seven-play, 80-yard drive that was capped by an 11-yard touchdown run 56 seconds later for the go-ahead score. Utah, which had 30 penalty yards on BYU's final drive, surrendered 155 yards on 33 carries in the loss.

"It was tough to swallow," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, who has won both his bowl games since succeeding Urban Meyer. "It came down to the wire just like last year, and unfortunately it went the other way."

BYU capped the rally by knocking down Brian Johnson's pass in the end zone on the final play.

"It tears your gut out when you lose like this, but it is not the end of the world," Johnson said.

Louie Sakoda was named the MVP of Utah's 25-13 win over Tulsa in last year's Armed Forces Bowl, making all four of his field-goal attempts. Sakoda has kicked a school-record 19 field goals this season, including 10 from at least 40 yards.

Utah has allowed 20 points or fewer in each of its last six games. The Utes own the nation's third-lowest points-against average at 15.6, trailing only Virginia Tech (15.5) and Ohio State (10.7).

Navy was eighth in scoring at 39.9 points per game this season. The Midshipmen went 6-1 when they scored at least 35 points, and they never finished with fewer than 24 points.

Navy enters the bowl on a four-game winning streak, capping the regular season with its most-lopsided victory by beating Army 38-3 on Dec. 1. Navy seeks its first five-game win streak since a six-game run lasted from Nov. 19, 2005-Sept. 16, 2006.

Utah and Navy have never met.