ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -In making its first trip to Annapolis in 21 years, No. 23 Pittsburgh has no reason to look past Navy in a rematch of last year’s double-overtime thriller.
Pittsburgh brought one of the nation’s top-rated defenses into the matchup with Navy. Middle linebacker Scott McKillop and his group allowed 497 yards as the Midshipmen left Heinz Field with a 48-45 win.
Coming off an upset of then-No. 10 South Florida on Oct. 2, Pittsburgh (4-1) believes it will be ready for Navy (4-2) on Saturday.
Coach Dave Wannstedt hopes his team will fare better against the triple-option after having two weeks to prepare.
“We had a bye week before the Navy game last year, too, and that didn’t help,” McKillop said. “But our mentality is totally different this season. Having seen the offense firsthand, we have a little bit better idea of what to expect.”
Panthers, who were kept off-balance.
“It was a real shock for us. They came in and racked up the yards on us. It hurts,” McKillop said this week. “You never see this offense. It forces you to be very disciplined with your keys and precise with your tackling.”
The Panthers won’t have to worry about one of the players that gave them fits a year ago. Kaheaku-Enhada, who rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown and completed 9 of 12 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns against Pitt, is expected to sit out Saturday’s game with a hamstring injury.
Fellow senior Jarod Bryant, who has struggled to execute the triple option at times this season, will make his second consecutive start and fourth overall in 2008.
In Kaheaku-Enhada’s absence, fullback Eric Kettani and slot back Shun White have become the two primary threats for Navy, which ranks second nationally in rushing offense with an average of 313.5 yards.
Navy’s defensive concerns are centered on Pitt tailback LeSean McCoy, who has rushed for 533 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
McCoy, a sophomore, had 165 yards and three touchdowns in last year’s matchup.
edge and gets a step, he outruns you to the corner.”
Navy has not beaten more than one ranked opponent in the same season since 1957. The Midshipmen, who are on a three-game winning streak, upset then-No. 16 Wake Forest on Sept. 27.
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