Navy's 38-0 loss to Connecticut last week, in which the Mids gained only 82 total yards, can be looked at in two ways: It was either a fluke or it was rock bottom.
How Navy (1-9) responds today against Wake Forest (5-5) will most likely provide the answer.
While a victory over the Demon Deacons seems like a long shot (Wake Forest is a 27-point favorite), the Mids could be competitive. Wake Forest is ranked eighth in the country in rushing (248 yards a game), and Navy's struggling, young defense has fared far better against the run this season than against the pass.
Wake Forest has extra motivation, however. With one more win - today against Navy or next week against Maryland - the Demon Deacons would become bowl eligible.
"I think they are awfully talented," Navy coach Paul Johnson said. "They have a lot of speed. They're big and they run well."
Specifically, Johnson pointed out Wake Forest defensive end Calvin Pace, who leads the Demon Deacons with eight sacks and 19 tackles for loss.
"He's about 6-foot-6, 270 pounds and can really run," Johnson said. "I remember the kid because he was a quarterback in high school in Georgia. He is one sack away from becoming their career sack leader."
Though Navy rushed for only 35 yards last week (the Mids' lowest total since 1994), Johnson said he is hesitant to put too much emphasis on one game. The offense was missing several injured starters and has moved the ball effectively in nearly every other game this season.
Quarterback Craig Candeto, who leads the Mids in rushing despite missing most of the last two games with a sprained ankle, should return this week and start.
"If we string four or five [bad games] in a row, then you can say we have some big problems on offense," Johnson said.
Navy does have big problems on defense, however, with injuries, inexperience and a lack of speed. Wake will try to attack Navy with a balanced offense, led by running backs Tarence Williams (598 rushing yards and two TDs) and Chris Barclay (494 yards and eight touchdowns). Quarterback James MacPherson also has been effective, throwing for 1,375 yards and five touchdowns.
Navy's senior class hasn't had success against ACC teams in its four years at the academy, going 0-6 and losing by an average score of 52-16. Several seniors said this week they fully understand what a win over Wake Forest would mean to the program.
"Playing as poorly as we did last week makes you want to get out there and show people that you're better than that," senior lineman Derek Jazkowiak said.
NOTES: Sophomore August Roitsch will start at center for the second consecutive week. ... Strong safety Lenter Thomas didn't practice all week with various injuries and is questionable for today's game. ... Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe was an assistant coach at Air Force under Fisher DeBerry for 11 years. ... Wake Forest has several players from the Baltimore area on its roster, including Joe Salsich (Severn), Blake Henry (Loyola), Tilghman Morton (Gilman), Napolean Sykes (Gilman) and Eric King (McDonogh).