Week 8: Wake Forest at Navy

Usually, Wake Forest’s opponents are the ones talking about how difficult it is to prepare for an unconventional offense. But the Demon Deacons get a taste of their own medicine this week when they take on option-happy Navy.

“This is a real bring-me-down-to-earth game for us because we’ve played some very conventional offenses at the start of the season,” said Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe, whose team has won four consecutive games, including a 24-21 victory over Florida State last week. “This preparation is the toughest we’ve ever had, so this is a tough week for us.

“We’d better not be thinking too much about what we just did with Florida State or what we might be able to do later on because this is one of the best teams we’ll play all year.”

From an offensive standpoint, Grobe is correct. Navy, which has led the nation in rushing three of the last four years, is making a strong bid to become the first team in NCAA history to lead the country in that category for three consecutive seasons. The Midshipmen currently occupy the top spot with 345.5 rushing yards per game, and they ran for 331 yards last week against a Pittsburgh defense that entered the game ranked No. 27 in the country against the run.

Wake Forest, which enters this weekend ranked No. 22 nationally against the run (100.3 ypg), must find a way to keep quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada (89.3 rushing ypg) from ripping off long runs and at the same time stop Navy’s fullback tandem of Eric Kettani (65.0 ypg) and Adam Ballard (54.5 ypg) from picking up 5-yard chunks consistently.

The Midshipmen, who have scored 30 or more points in four consecutive games for only the second time since 1918, have another weapon in senior slot back Reggie Campbell. Campbell is averaging 7.5 yards per carry, and three of his seven receptions this season have gone for touchdowns.

Wake Forest has its own version of Campbell in senior wide receiver Kenny Moore, who has found the end zone via rush, reception or punt return in five of his team’s six games this season. Moore had been Wake Forest’s leading rusher until last week, when redshirt freshman Josh Adams burned the Seminoles for 140 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.

Adams should find plenty of room to run against a Navy defense that ranks No. 88 against the run (181.3 ypg), and Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner should be able to exploit a unit that is last in the country in sacks (0.5 per game) and opponents’ pass efficiency (166.8). The Midshipmen and Demon Deacons haven’t played since 2002, when Wake Forest won 30-27, but Navy coach Paul Johnson knows what he’s up against.

“It’s going to be Air Force on fast-forward,” said Johnson, whose team has put up 125 points during its three-game winning streak. “If you want to see what it looks like, just go put the Air Force game on and watch it on fast-forward. That’s what it will look like. It will be at warp speed, not at Air Force speed. They play to their personnel, and they do a great job with it.”

Wake Forest has more team speed than the Midshipmen, who beat ACC opponent Duke 46-43 on Sept. 22, but just as glaring is the Demon Deacons’ advantage in the kicking game. Navy kickers Matt Harmon and Joey Bullen are just 11-for-18 on field goals this season, including three misses from 39 yards or closer, and the Demon Deacons have one of the nation’s best kickers in junior Sam Swank (5-for-5 on field goals).

That fact is enough to give the Demon Deacons a slight edge as they pursue their fifth consecutive win after an 0-2 start.

Wake Forest by 3