Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said yesterday that the hamstring injury suffered by senior quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada in last week's 24-17 win at Wake Forest isn't as serious as the one that kept him out of the first two games this season.
It is still not known whether Kaheaku-Enhada will play in Saturday's game at Air Force.
"We're going to continue to have him get as much treatment as he can and see what happens," Niumatalolo said before practice. "It's going to be day-to-day. Either way, he's going on the trip because maybe he can improve a little bit every day."
Kaheaku-Enhada, who suffered a partially torn hamstring in Navy's first preseason scrimmage in August and was out more than a month, was injured after gaining 4 yards on third-and-five at the Wake Forest 22-yard line in the second quarter and the Midshipmen ahead 14-0. He limped off the field and did not return to the game.
"He said he felt something, but it wasn't as bad as the last time," Niumatalolo said. "Unfortunately for us, we've got a big game coming up. We've just got to wait and see."
If Kaheaku-Enhada can't play against the Falcons, Jarod Bryant will take over as he did at the beginning of the season as well as against Duke and Wake Forest. Unlike last season, when Kaheaku-Enhada missed the Northern Illinois game with a knee injury, the offense has struggled with Bryant.
That Navy (3-2) was able to hold on and beat the then-No. 16 Demon Deacons, in large part because of a 57-yard run by fullback Eric Kettani to set up a clinching 4-yard touchdown run by Bryant, should help the reserve quarterback and the team if Kaheaku-Enhada can't play at Air Force (3-1).
"For Jarod, that last drive was as big as it gets," Niumatalolo said.
Missed calls
Doug Rhoads, the Atlantic Coast Conference coordinator of football officials, said two calls for chop-blocking against the Midshipmen in the first half of Saturday's game were incorrect.
"I reviewed both plays, and they were improperly determined to be chop blocks," Rhoads said yesterday from the ACC's headquarters in Greensboro, N.C.
Niumatalolo said he talked with Rhoads about the calls and will file a formal complaint in the next few days. The calls were made by the same official, who was part of an all-ACC crew. Navy uses ACC referees for its home games.
"That was the first game that it was a big-time issue," Niumatalolo said. "It kind of took us off guard a little. We knew there would be a change in emphasis in the rule, and we changed our schemes accordingly. It was something we addressed in the offseason."
Angelo out
Niumatalolo said he would also send a tape of the tackle that knocked out kick returner John Angelo to start the second half. Angelo appeared to be the victim of a helmet-to-helmet hit. Angelo, who fumbled on the play, suffered a serious concussion that will keep him out indefinitely.
"Our doctors said it was as severe a concussion as we've seen here," Niumatalolo said.
NAVY @AIR FORCE
Saturday, 4 p.m.
TV: VS.
Radio: 1090 AM
Line: Air Force
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