Last Second Field Goal Lifts Navy Over Duke 46-43
Bullen's kick finished off a fourth-quarter comeback by the Midshipmen
Linebacker Adam Banks

Linebacker Adam Banks

Sept. 22, 2007

ANNAPOLIS (AP) -Backup kicker Joey Bullen made a 44-yard field goal on the last play of the game to lift Navy past Duke 46-43 on Saturday.

Bullen's kick finished off a fourth-quarter comeback by the Midshipmen (2-2), who trailed 43-32.

With Jarod Bryant entering the game at quarterback in place of winded starter Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, Navy rode Bryant's fresh legs to 14 consecutive fourth-quarter points.

The Mids closed to 43-35 on a 35-yard field goal by Bullen with 8:07 left. Bullen had taken over the kicking duties from Matt Harmon, who kicked a field goal and three extra points for the Mids before being sidelined by a groin injury.

The Navy defense held Duke (1-3), which broke a 22-game losing streak last week, and its offense used a trick play at the end of a 65-yard drive to get a touchdown. On third down from the Duke 5, Bryant pitched to slotback Bobby Doyle, who then lofted a pass back to Bryant for the score with 3:49 to play.

Bryant ran in for the 2-point conversion to tie.

Ketric Buffin got the ball back for Navy by intercepting a long pass by Duke's Thaddeus Lewis at Blue Devils 26.

Bryant picked up 35 yards on a draw to the Duke 39 and then picked up another first down on an 8-yard run to the 25 to help set up the winning kick.

Lewis passed for a career-high 428 yards and four touchdowns to Eron Riley, who scored from 76, 35, 9 and 69 yards out.

Lewis also added a 3-yard TD run. Riley had six catches for 235 yards. Jomar Wright also had seven catches for 42 yards.

The teams combined for 1,046 yards, with Navy gaining 540.

Kaheaku-Enhada completed 11 of 16 passes for a career-best 217 yards and a 44-yard scoring toss to O.J. Washington.

Ranked No. 1 in the nation running the ball entering the game, Navy gained 304 yards on the ground. Eric Kettani had 71 yards and scored on runs of 10 and 4 yards.

Bryant ran for 69 and Kaheaku-Enhada added 59 yards and scored on a 1-yard run.

Duke led 36-25 at the half, the highest first-half total for the Blue Devils since they scored 41 points in a 48-35 win over Wake Forest on November 13, 1999.