If there is one thing the Utah football team is familiar with, it’s success in the postseason. The team has won the last six bowls in which it has played, dating back to 1999.
That streak will be tested on Dec. 20 when the Utes (8-4) travel to San Diego to play Navy (8-4) in the Poinsettia Bowl.
Despite former head coach Paul Johnson recently leaving the school for Georgia Tech, the Midshipmen still boast one of the best offenses in the nation. Navy’s option attack has bulldozed opponents to the tune of 351.5 rushing yards per game.
Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada spearheads the Navy offense from the quarterback position. The junior has run for 782 yards and 11 touchdowns and passed for another 830 yards and six touchdowns.
“Navy is the best option team in the nation,” Utah safety Steve Tate said. “They run it with efficiency, and the quarterback is great at making decisions.”
Unlike most teams, the Utes are lucky enough to have played an option-based team in Air Force for the past nine years. The Falcons had run a similar power option attack to Navy under former head coach Fisher DeBerry and still use a variation of the offense under first-year head coach Troy Calhoun.
However, DeBerry’s offense tended to focus on picking up yardage between the tackles, whereas Calhoun likes to get players to the outside. The Midshipmen prefer the DeBerry method, using two bruising running backs in Eric Kettani and Shun White to eat up the clock.
“We always try to take away their fullback first,” Utah defensive coordinator Gary Andersen said. “It’s going to be a battle in the A-gaps and the B-gaps. It’s going to be a fight every snap.”
When Kaheaku-Enhada doesn’t give the ball to the fullback, he tucks it or pitches it off to one of the Midshipmen’s nimble speed backs.
Adding to the difficulty of stopping the confusing-option attack is impeccable execution and rigorous repetition.
“The biggest issue you have with (the defensive line) is that it’s the same thing every snap,” Andersen said. “They make one mistake, and all of a sudden the fullback’s head is bouncing off the goalpost.”
Although the Utes allowed Air Force to rush for 334 yards against them earlier this season, they have shown a fairly resolute rush defense as of late and rank near the top of the NCAA in points allowed per game (15.6).
“It’s hard to stop option teams,” Utah defensive end Martail Burnett said. “They’re gonna definitely be pounding the rock, because that’s what they do best, so we just have to be fundamentally sound and not make mistakes.”
When the Midshipmen aren’t in possession of the ball, it should be smooth sailing for the Utes. Navy’s defense ranks near the bottom of the country in every major statistical category. It has allowed an average of 172.7 rushing yards, 265.5 passing yards and 36.5 points per game.
After facing one of the better defenses in the nation against BYU two weeks ago, the Utes will likely relish the opportunity of facing the softer Midshipmen defense.
With almost a month gap between the rivalry game against BYU and the Poinsettia Bowl, the Utes have had plenty of time to solidify a game plan and recover from injuries.
Quarterback Brian Johnson, who has struggled with a shoulder injury the majority of the season, is expected to be near 100 percent come game time. Also presumed to be ready for the Dec. 20 bowl date are outside linebacker Malakai Mokofisi and tight end Matt Sims. Defensive tackle Gabe Long is listed as day-to-day after suffering a shoulder injury against the Cougars, but has been practicing with the team and is expected to be a game-time decision.
“Gabe Long is the only real question mark,” Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said. “We hope to get him back considering our opponent and what they like to do, but it is nothing for certain.”
As is usually the case with military schools, Navy has been particularly tough in the latter half of games. The Midshipmen have outscored opponents 197-148 in the second half this season.
“A team like that is very disciplined, so you have to really concentrate on what you’re doing and not beat yourself mentally,” Utah quarterback Brian Johnson said. “They’re resilient, and they don’t know (how to) quit, so we have to match that.”
Tyler CobbThe Utes will face Navy on Dec. 20 in the third annual Poinsettia Bowl.