DURHAM, N.C. - Navy lost fullback Eric Kettani with a hamstring injury on its third play from scrimmage, then watched as quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada's 2008 debut was shortened by a case of heat exhaustion late in the first half yesterday against Duke.
The Midshipmen also lost most of their momentum and eventually a 41-31 decision to the Blue Devils on a sunny, steamy afternoon at Wallace Wade Stadium. The defeat was the second straight on the road for Navy (1-2) and ended a four-game winning streak for the Midshipmen over Duke (2-1).
The injury to Kettani, last season's leading rusher, took away a major component of Navy's triple-option offense, but the Midshipmen seemed to be able to compensate for a while. The departure of Kaheaku-Enhada, who had missed the first two games with a hamstring injury, proved too much for Navy.
"Those are our two big guns," said coach Ken Niumatalolo, whose team also lost a handful of other players because of the heat. "Just the whole dynamic of our team changes. Other guys have to step up."
One in particular - quarterback Jarod Bryant - couldn't. After playing to mixed reviews in Navy's first two games, the senior captain struggled. Except for a 68-yard screen to wide receiver Tyree Barnes that briefly brought the Midshipmen back in the game, the offense stalled with Bryant at the helm.
Navy was stopped on downs on its first three second-half possessions, with Bryant getting stuffed on a fourth-and-one at Duke's 38-yard line. That led to the Blue Devils' building their lead to 34-24. Navy mustered only 130 yards in the second half.
"Whether they scored or not, our mind-set is that we have to score every possession," said Bryant, who finished with 8 yards on 14 carries and threw a late interception that sealed Navy's loss. "It just didn't happen, especially in the second half. Our defense was holding them, stopping them. We just couldn't get it going on offense."
Kaheaku-Enhada wouldn't blame Bryant, who a year ago in Annapolis came off the bench in the same situation under similar conditions and led Navy to a wild, 46-43, comeback victory over Duke.
"There's no difference between my play and Jarod's play, honestly," Kaheaku-Enhada said. "What it came down to is Duke made some good checks, they made some good adjustments during the halftime."
Niumatalolo was a little more forthcoming in appraising his quarterbacks.
