<p>Navy football notes</p>
<p>BRYANT, KETTANI FILL IN: A pair of backups performed well for the Navy offense in last night’s loss. Junior fullback Eric Kettani came off the bench to lead Navy in rushing with 126 yards on only nine carries. He scored two touchdowns, one of which came on an impressive 71-yard gallop.</p>
<p>“I thought Eric ran the ball very hard. He had the long run, which was a big play in the game. It was good to see that,” Navy coach Paul Johnson said.</p>
<p>Jarod Bryant took over at quarterback in the second half after starter Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada sprained both ankles while being sacked by Ball State linebacker Kenny Meeks on Navy’s last possession of the first half.</p>
<p>Bryant rushed for 77 yards on 13 carries and completed his lone pass attempt for 13 yards. However, the junior from Alabama fumbled on the first play of overtime.</p>
<p>“I thought (Bryant) did OK. He made some plays, he made some mistakes. The last one was huge,” Johnson said.</p>
<p>Navy committed two fumbles in the game with the other stopping a potential scoring drive in the third quarter. Slot back Shun White simply dropped a pitchout at the Ball State 15-yard line and the ball was recovered by safety Chris Allen.</p>
<p>“If we would just hold onto the dang ball,” Johnson bemoaned. “The fumble in the third quarter killed us. It’s unforced. It’s not doing fundamental football, looking the ball into your hands.”</p>
<p>BIG WIN: Head coach Brady Hoke entered last night’s game with a 16-32 record in five seasons at Ball State. All but one of those wins had come against Mid-American Conference opponents with the other over Division I-AA Indiana State.</p>
<p>So it stands to reason that going on the road and beating a Navy program that had posted four straight winning seasons was a landmark victory in Hoke’s tenure.</p>
<p>“I think it’s huge. Coming here and winning on the road, with the tradition of this program, the style of offense,” Hoke said.</p>
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<li>Compiled by Bill Wagner</li>
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