<p>
[quote]
Theres no quarterback controversy at Navy.</p>
<p>Despite junior Jarod Bryant replacing starter and fellow junior Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada in the second half of the past two games including last weeks 46-43 win over Duke expect Kaheaku-Enhada to be under center when the Midshipmen (2-2) host Air Force (3-1) on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium....
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</p>
<p>
[quote]
Throughout the previous four years that marked the rebirth of Navy football on his watch, Coach Paul Johnson stayed consistent with his message.</p>
<p>Johnson still reminds observers Navys success a 35-15 record, four bowl game appearances, four straight Commander-In-Chiefs Trophies was never as easy as it looked.</p>
<p>Not with players who give away pronounced size and speed advantages every game. </p>
<p>Not with a program that has no place for redshirt players....
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</p>
<p>September 28, 2007
Fading memories</p>
<p>Navy has put stop to days Air Force dominated military rival</p>
<p>By JAKE SCHALLER THE GAZETTE</p>
<p>Air Force senior football players used to be a fixture at the White House.</p>
<p>Sixteen times from 1982 to 2002, the Falcons beat both Army and Navy to win the Commanderin-Chief¹s Trophy, given to the winner of the service academies¹ round-robin competition, and thereby earn a trip to meet the president. The Falcons visited Ronald Reagan four times, George Bush three times, Bill Clinton six times and George W. Bush three times.</p>
<p>Air Force made six consecutive trips after the 1997 through 2002 seasons under coach Fisher DeBerry. After the fifth, George W. Bush joked, "seems like coach DeBerry is the charter member of the White House frequent visitor club."</p>
<p>Air Force faces Navy on Saturday in Annapolis, Md., in the first leg of this year's competition. The game starts at 11 a.m.</p>
<p>Air Force also "retained" the trophy once during the Clinton administration when all three teams won and lost a game in the round robin. So Air Force had control of the trophy for 17 years of a 21-year span. And in that time the Falcons went 19-2 against the Midshipmen.</p>
<p>But things changed in 2003, when, like voters disgruntled with an administration, Navy decided enough was enough. The Midshipmen beat Air Force, 28-25, on Oct. 4 in a game that has turned the tables on the teams' series and reversed the fortunes of both programs.</p>
<p>"It was a big game for our program," sixth-year Navy coach Paul Johnson said. "It was big because it finally gave us a chance to win the Commander-in-Chief¹s Trophy, and Air Force had won it a lot of years in row. So we broke a string, and it was big."</p>
<p>The Falcons carried a 5-0 record and a No. 25 ranking in the coaches' poll into their 2003 meeting with Navy.</p>
<p>But the loss to the Midshipmen started a slide in which the Falcons lost five of their final seven games. Air Force has had three consecutive losing seasons since, and each has included a loss to Navy.</p>
<p>The Midshipmen, meantime, were 2-2 prior to their 2003 meeting with Air Force and coming off a 2-10 season their first under Johnson -- that included a 48-7 drubbing at the hands of the Falcons. But starting with that 2003 victory over Air Force, Navy has gone 35-15, including 8-0 against Air Force and Army, and seized the mantle as the premier service academy football team.</p>
<p>"In the last four years, they¹ve owned the series with us and Army," Air Force senior defensive end Josh Clayton said. ³And from that perspective, things have changed."</p>
<p>Players and coaches from both sides downplayed the idea that Navy's four straight victories over Air Force and four straight years with the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy -- give the Midshipmen a mental advantage.
"Winning in the past, that's not going to carry us," Navy senior inside linebacker Irv Spencer said.</p>
<p>But this time, none of the Air Force players has beaten Navy and, likewise, none of the Navy players has lost to Air Force.</p>
<p>And though the Midshipmen have been careful in their public comments this week, they played last year¹s game against the Falcons with the subtle poise Air Force players seemed to have when they were winning 19 of 21.</p>
<p>"I think it's confidence," said Falcons senior quarterback Shaun Carney, who chose Air Force over Navy in part because of Air Force¹s success in the rivalry. ³For them to come into our house twice and win the trophy, losing a couple times there, I think they¹ve got a lot of confidence because they've had it the past four years, and I'm sure Air Force was like that when they were winning it all. So we've just got to do our best to get the momentum swung back our way."</p>
<p>And take the first step toward reclaiming the White House.</p>
<p>CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0365 or <a href="mailto:jake.schaller@gazette.com">jake.schaller@gazette.com</a>. Check out our Air Force blog at gazetteafasports.blogspot.com</p>
<p>FOUR YEARS OF HEARTACHE</p>
<p>After dominating the Commander-in-Chief¹s competition and its series with Navy for more than 20 years, Air Force has lost four straight to the Midshipmen by a total of 16 points.</p>
<p>2006 Navy 24, Air Force 17</p>
<p>The Falcons have no answer for Navy¹s rushing attack as the Midshipmen, who throw just six passes and complete one, pile up 317 yards on the ground. Navy leads 24-7 in the fourth quarter before Air Force mounts a comeback, scoring with 3:06 left to close within a touchdown. The Falcons then recover an onsides kick but cannot pick up a first down.</p>
<p>"My heart bleeds for our seniors," thencoach Fisher DeBerry said. "I know they're disappointed not having beaten a Navy football team while they were here."</p>
<p>2005 Navy 27, Air Force 24</p>
<p>Probably the toughest of the Falcons' four straight losses in the series. Air Force led 24-14 late in the third quarter, but Navy rallied and tied the game on a 40-yard touchdown run by then-sophomore slotback Reggie Campbell with 2:22 remaining. Air Force then followed a three-and-out series with a 9-yard punt, giving the Midshipmen the ball at the Air Force 35-yard line with 45 seconds left and setting up Joey Bullen's 46-yard gamewinning field goal.</p>
<p>"We should have won the game, and that hurts," then-sophomore Chad Smith said.</p>
<p>2004 Navy 24, Air Force 21</p>
<p>Then-freshman Air Force quarterback Shaun Carney leads the Falcons on a pair of fourth-quarter scoring drives to tie the score at 14 and then 21 with 2:21 left in the game. But Navy drives within field goal range, aided by quarterback Aaron Polanco¹s 32-yard run to the Air Force 29-yard line, and Geoff Blumenfeld nails a 30-yarder with four seconds left. Blumenfeld was 0-for-4 on the season prior to that kick.</p>
<p>"This is so disappointing," Air Force linebacker John Rudzinski said. "It will be tough to go in the locker room and see the empty trophy case again and know you can¹t do anything about it."</p>
<p>2003 Navy 28, Air Force 25</p>
<p>Air Force enters the game 5-0 and in possession of a six-game winning streak over the Midshipmen. But Navy fullback Kyle Eckel rumbles for 176 of Navy's 309 yards on the ground, the Midshipmen score a pair of touchdowns in less than a minute in the second quarter and Air Force loses its grasp on the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy.</p>
<p>"We¹re caretakers of the trophy," DeBerry said. "And we didn't do our job today."</p>
<p>
[quote]
Five things to watch</p>
<p>THE GAZETTE </p>
<ol>
<li>WHETHER AIR FORCE CAN GET OUT OF THE BLOCKS </li>
</ol>
<p>Air Force cant afford another slow start Saturday. The Falcons have scored just six points in their past three first halves, including none last week in a 31-6 loss to BYU. Air Force fell behind Navy, 24-7, last season before scoring 10 points late and losing, 24-17. </p>
<ol>
<li>AIR FORCE QB SHAUN CARNEY </li>
</ol>
<p>Navy ranks 109th in the country in pass defense, allowing 292.5 yards per game through the air. First-year coach Troy Calhoun promised to run an offense that included more passing, but Shaun Carney, who is on pace to break all of Air Forces career passing marks, has yet to have a breakout game this season....
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<p>
[quote]
During this weeks practice, Air Force got a taste of the medicine former coach Fisher De-Berrys triple-option forced on so many teams for so many years. </p>
<p>The Falcons had to prepare for Navys triple-option an offense they wont see again this season. And unlike previous years, Air Forces defensive players did not have the advantage of seeing the offense in practice before this week. </p>
<p>Early on in fall ball, we used to run against it quite a bit, senior defensive end Josh Clayton said....
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</p>
<p>
[quote]
Cadets at the Air Force Academy made a distinctly nautical contribution to fuel an annual football rivalry Friday. </p>
<p>On a hill in the middle of the campus, cadets grounded a yellow-and blue pleasure boat, stern first. On the hull were emblazoned the cadet wings favorite words: Sink Navy. </p>
<p>Its all part of the usual high jinks that accompany the annual football pairing of the Falcons and the Middies of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. The two teams meet today at Navy....
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</p>
<p>Calhoun cuts back large emphasis to beat Army, Navy</p>
<p>
[quote]
Former Air Force Academy football coach Fisher DeBerry placed a big emphasis on, and was very vocal about, beating military rivals Army and Navy.
New coach Troy Calhoun has taken a different approach, even though the games are important. </p>
<p>That has been evident this week with increased intensity as the Falcons (3-1) have prepared for Saturday's game against Navy (2-2) at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md....
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</p>
<p>Navy 14 - Air Force 10</p>
<p>Navy 31 - Air Force 20</p>
<p>Just got back from Hockey & Soccer game. Could not get score on XM college sports. Go Navy; Beat Army!!!!!!</p>
<p>This was the most impressive event I have ever attended. As a first time attendee I cannot tell you how much i appreciate the whole Navy family. We were seated on the fifty yard line on the very first row. I was so overjoyed to see the win. And I have never witnessed anything like when they sung AF's alma mater (spelling???) the hush that fell over the crowd. A tear fell down my face as I could feel the presence of the entire NAVY family for blue and gold. The fly over, being able to stand on the sidelines before the game and shake hands with the coaches. I am now just overwhelmed with the whole day. And on top of that we had some GREAT crabcakes tonight. I want to thank every mid, every alum and all the Navy family for one of the best days of my life.</p>
<p>HOW SWEET IT IS ! ... now we know why "chair force" was so intent on down playing the importance of this game ... NAVY 31 af 20. deberry the arrogant may be gone and maybe in a few more years the af team will learn a little humility, but I doubt that will happen soon ... their trophy indeed ... NOT !!!</p>
<p>Anyone have an email address for milo bryant of "THE GAZETTE", he of the opinion the falcons will go bowling again in 2007 and win the CinC Cup by beating NAVY and ARMY ?</p>
<p>Navy 31, Air Force 20</p>
<p>
[quote]
Prior to yesterday, a fullback had led Navy in rushing in each of its previous four games against Air Force -- all victories. So it was natural that, on a second and eight from its 22-yard line early in the fourth quarter, Navy ran an option play to the left and the Falcons converged on junior fullback Eric Kettani. </p>
<p>But Kettani didn't have the ball; junior quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada did. Kaheaku-Enhada went 78 yards for a touchdown to clinch a 31-20 victory before a record crowd of 37,615 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. </p>
<p>The Midshipmen (3-2) defeated Air Force (3-2) for the fifth straight year. The 31 points marked the most Navy has scored in the series since a 37-8 victory in 1978....
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<p>
[quote]
As Air Force and Navy prepare for their annual football match tomorrow in Annapolis, their rivalry has been playing out all week in another tradition: the battle of the pranks.</p>
<p>Air Force cadets on exchange at the Naval Academy have taken responsibility for temporarily renaming the former David Taylor Research Center - across the Severn River from the Yard - the "Sink Navy" Research Center. And several Air Force planes have flown low over Annapolis, their roar drowning out the noon meal formation and a pep rally this week.</p>
<p>The pranksters may have met their match in midshipmen spending a semester at the Air Force Academy....
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</p>
<p>Key 4th-down conversions power Navy to 5th straight win over Falcons</p>
<p>
[quote]
Navy's drive that extended from the third quarter into the fourth yesterday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium was all about taking control of the game against Air Force and breaking the Falcons' spirit.</p>
<p>That, of course, isn't what Navy coach Paul Johnson said after his team beat Air Force, 31-20, but that's what it was. And it puts Navy in the driver's seat for its fifth straight Commander in Chief's Trophy....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Quarterback's two fourth quarter scores lead Mids over Falcons</p>
<p>
[quote]
Navy's drive that extended from the third quarter into the fourth today at Navy-Marine Corp Memorial Stadium was about taking control of its game game against Air Force and breaking the Falcons' spirit.</p>
<p>That, of course, isn't what Navy coach Paul Johnson said after his team had beaten Air Force, 31-20, before a record crowd of 37,615 in the first game of the round-robin series among the three service academies, but that's what it was. And it puts Navy in the driver's seat toward earning a fifth straight Commander in Chief's Trophy.</p>
<p>"It's in our hands now," said Navy quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, who directed the team to two fourth-down conversions on the drive that would give Navy (3-2) a 24-20 lead. "It's up to us whether we want to beat Army."...
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</p>
<p>
[quote]
Navy used a reliable recipe to defeat Air Force, 31-20, on Saturday in front of a Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium record crowd of 37,615. </p>
<p>The Midshipmen started with a heavy serving of fullback dives, added clutch plays at crucial times and used a dash of poise when Air Force players started to boil. </p>
<p>And as has been the case the past five years, the Falcons were kind enough to sprinkle in some mistakes. </p>
<p>It all blended into a sweet victory for the Midshipmen, who improved to 3-2 and extended their winning streak over the Falcons to five games their longest in the series. Prior to this streak, Navy had never won more than three games in a row against Air Force....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
[quote]
Navys Midshipmen run a precise, physical option attack, tackle with ferocity and take orders from a chattering, charismatic coach who hails from the South. </p>
<p>Its a little scary how much these Midshipmen resemble Air Force teams from Fisher DeBerrys glory days. </p>
<p>As Navy players nonchalantly trotted off the field Saturday after dropping Air Force 31-20 it was once again obvious. </p>
<p>This is the home of the emperors of service-academy football. Air Force and Army are chasing the Midshipmen, and its not even close. </p>
<p>Paul Johnson, the drawling commander of the Navy sideline, has constructed a program that revives memories of DeBerrys dominance from 1984-2002....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
[quote]
An advantage in time of possession and 474 total yards. </p>
<p>And just 20 points to show for it. </p>
<p>Air Force drove up and down the field Saturday in a 31-20 loss to Navy, but the Falcons faltered deep in Midshipmen territory. </p>
<p>Four times when the Falcons drove inside the Navy 25-yard line, they came away empty. Two other times they settled for field goals. </p>
<p>We felt like we were in control offensively the whole game, Air Force quarterback Shaun Carney said. We had an opportunity to score a lot more than we did. And to come away with 20 points when we know we could have scored a lot more is frustrating for an offense....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
[quote]
Air Force senior receiver Chad Hall had no excuses for his team after the Falcons 31-20 loss to Navy on Saturday. </p>
<p>Youve got to credit them, he said of the Midshipmen. They were the better team today. </p>
<p>But few players, if any, were better than Hall on Saturday....
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</p>