The Sports Corner

2008 EagleBank Bowl Preview

Navy 8-4 vs. Wake Forest 7-5(4-4)

RFK Memorial Stadium, Washington D.C.

Saturday, December 20, 8 a.m. PST

Independent vs. ACC Atlantic #3 (tie - who isn’t tied in the ACC?)

Coaches: Ken Niumatalolo (9-5) vs. Jim Grobe (53-44)

Quarterbacks: Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada or Jarod Bryant vs. Riley Skinner

The line: Wake Forest -3

Payout: $750,000

Here’s a reason to get rid of bowl games altogether, rematches of games from the regular season. On September 27, Navy beat Wake Forest 24-17. There shouldn’t be a second act to this screenplay. Not that I won’t watch, I will and you should too, because…

This game will probably see a different outcome than the original September match-up. In that game, Wake Forest QB Riley Skinner threw four interceptions, something he had never done in his three-year career, not even as a freshman. Last season, as a sophomore, Skinner threw three picks twice, in the opener against Boston College on the road and three weeks later in a home win against Maryland. Other than that Skinner has played mistake-free football for the most part. I expect him to make amends for his turnovers and lead the Demon Deacons to victory. 

Skinner threw four picks in that game… he threw a total of seven interceptions all season. Skinner had 270 yards passing in the first game between these two, and wide receiver DJ Boldin, who has been on an absolute tear lately, had 8 catches for 116 yards in that game. He will be making his case for the NFL scouts.

When Paul Johnson left Navy to coach Georgia Tech it was hard to imagine the team having as seamless a transition as this has been. Rookie head coach Ken Niumatalolo picked up where Johnson left off and led the team to nine wins. The team squeaked out close games, going 4-1 in games decided by seven points or less. That points to great coaching and a mentally strong team. Unfortunately it wasn’t a very strong schedule for the Midshipmen. The only good wins were against a struggling Rutgers team, Wake Forest and Air Force. They lost to *gasp* Notre Dame. 

Everybody knows what Navy is going to do, they’re going to run and run and run, and then run some more. Then when you’re thinking play-action pass, they’re going to run it again. Basically they plan to run you into an insane asylum. They’ve got a big play guy in Shun White, a 5′9 185-pound track star and they’ve got a workhorse in Eric Kettani, a 6′1 233-pound bruiser. Don’t expect much passing, especially against a talented Wake Forest back seven.

While Wake Forest’s strength defensively is against the pass, I expect them to be prepared to defend Navy’s triple option attack and avenge their September loss. Watch out for Wake linebacker Aaron Curry, who some think is the best senior linebacker in the country. Navy will be playing close to home and should have the crowd behind them in DC, but it might not be enough.

Wake Forest exercises their demons with a 24-17 win.