By By Associated Press
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Three turnovers by Navy and a big day for Riley Skinner and Kenneth Moore enabled Wake Forest to win its fifth straight game.
Skinner threw 15 passes to Moore for 181 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Demon Deacons beat the Midshipmen 44-24 on Saturday.
Moore tied the school record for receptions for the second time this season.
The defense of Wake Forest (5-2) also played a large part in the win, turning three Navy turnovers into 17 points. The biggest one came in the second quarter with the score tied at 17.
Just after the first of Sam Swank’s three field goals tied the score, Navy quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada was knocked out of the game with a neck injury. Jarod Bryant replaced him and fumbled on his first play. Matt Robinson scooped the ball up for Wake and returned it 7 yards for a touchdown and a 24-17 lead with 2:19 left in the half.
Swank’s 26-yard field goal put the Deacons up 27-17 as the half ended.
Navy (4-3) closed to 27-24 on its first possession of the second half on a 12-yard run by Shun White, but Wake countered with a 2-yard run by Micah Andrews for a 34-24 lead with 11:15 left in the third.
On its next possession, Navy fumbled at the Wake 25 and Kevin Patterson recovered. The Deacons turned the takeaway into a 52-yard field goal by Swank and a 37-24 lead.
Another fumble by Bryant on the next series was recovered at the Navy 39 by John Russell. The Deacons turned that into a score when Skinner hit Moore for 22 yards just eight seconds into the final period.
Josh Adams rushed for 131 yards on a season-high 27 carries for the Deacons. Kevin Marion had kickoff returns of 80 and 46 yards that set up Wake’s first two scores and helped the Deacons to a 14-3 first-quarter lead.
For Navy, Eric Kettani rushed for 75 yards and White added 63 yards and two touchdowns for the Midshipmen. Bryant added 56 yards including a 43-yard run that set up White’s second score.
WAKE FOREST 44, NAVY 24
Wake Forest 14 13 10 7 — 44
Navy 10 7 7 0 — 24
First Quarter
Wake—Moore 13 pass from Skinner (Swank kick), 14:01.
Navy—FG Bullen 26, 10:22.
Wake—Adams 1 run (Swank kick), 7:32.
Navy—Kaheaku-Enhada 1 run (Bullen kick), :46.
Second Quarter
Navy—White 7 run (Bullen kick), 10:24.
Wake—FG Swank 32, 3:18.
Wake—M.Robinson 7 fumble return (Swank kick), 2:19.
Wake—FG Swank 26, :00.
Third Quarter
Navy—White 12 run (Bullen kick), 13:04.
Wake—Andrews 2 run (Swank kick), 11:15.
Wake—FG Swank 52, 3:49.
Fourth Quarter
Wake—Moore 22 pass from Skinner (Swank kick), 14:52.
A—36,992.
Wake Navy
First downs 28 23
Rushes-yards 44-196 67-328
Passing 213 39
Comp-Att-Int 22-28-0 4-12-0
Return Yards 0 37
Punts-Avg. 1-51.0 1-28.0
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 4-3
Penalties-Yards 3-28 3-28
Time of Possession 31:11 28:49
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Wake Forest, Adams 27-131, Andrews 9-32, Skinner 3-28, Moore 1-5, Harris 2-4, Team 2-(minus 4). Navy, Kettani 14-75, White 7-63, Bryant 16-56, Kaheaku-Enhada 12-47, R.Campbell 7-40, Singleton 8-36, Ballard 3-11.
PASSING—Wake Forest, Skinner 22-28-0-213. Navy, Bryant 4-9-0-39, Kaheaku-Enhada 0-3-0-0.
RECEIVING—Wake Forest, Moore 15-181, Adams 2-9, Boldin 1-10, Brinkman 1-6, Marion 1-5, Bryant 1-4, Tereshinski 1-(minus 2). Navy, Sudderth 2-18, Washington 1-18, Kettani 1-3.