A few thoughts heading into the fourth quarter:

• After surrendering 17 unanswered, Utah has responded with 14 points of their own. Quarterback Brian Johnson is 9/9 in the second half with a touchdown and is really playing like he wants that jacket.
• Hopefully Reggie Campbell is better at navigating open waters than he is at catching passes.
• I didn’t know Utah fans were actually in attendance but now that the Utes have charged back to take the lead, the crowd is sounding more and more pro-Utah
• I still can’t pronounce Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada.
• In addition to the cheerleaders, Utah has a small contingent of what appear to be band groupies all dressed up in red jump suits. I don’t think they’ve stopped jumping around, let alone sat down all game.
• I have confirmed that Utah’s quarterback, Brian Johnson, isn’t the same guy as former Giants catcher and alleged ‘roid user Brian Johnson.

8:52. Navy punter Gret Veteto shows that he is actually human by unleashing a punt that only traveled 36 yards. His previous two were of the super human 51 and 57 brand.

8:54. Brian Johnson connected again with one of his receivers on another underneath route for a first down. Great strategy by Utah; wear them out underneath and then hit them deep. There’s another guy who’s not too bad at quarterback who does the same thing.

8:56. Alleged running quarterback Corbin Louks runs to the right, then turns and actually throws the ball to Darrell Mack for a small gain. This clears up any doubts about him not actually being capable of throwing a football.

8:57. Utes quarterback Brian Johnson rumbles for a 19 yard touchdown to put Utah up 28-17 while Navy defenders haplessly swab the deck dive for him. The touchdown cannon fires and I once again get startled by the loud boom.

9:00. As the press box employee hands me the stat sheet through the third quarter, I cant help but notice that Kuipo Kaheaku is only 3-8 passing for 34 yards. Not only does Navy prefer not to pass, I’d go as far as saying they flat out hate it.

9:06. And we have our first challenge of the game! Kuipo Kaheaku actually got the cojones to throw downfield and was able to complete a 14 yard pass though I’m not sold it was actually a catch

9:08. Midshipmen fullback Kyle Eckel Eric Kettani rumbled for 35 yards. This guy looks like Mike Alstott plowing through the Utes secondary.

9:09. Touchdown Navy! A 10 yard option run puts the Midshipmen within striking distance. Once again I am jolted by the loud cannon fire.

9:10. Kuipo Kaheaku calls his own number and scores on the two point conversion to bring Navy within three points. Qualcomm suddenly starts to feel more like we’re in Annapolis. Also, Navy is now 5/5 on two point conversions this year. My question…why even kick extra points anymore?

9:14. The resounding “Lets Go Navy” chant keeps being silenced by the underneath completions by Utah. Note to whoever is the admiral of this defense: make the necessary adjustments and stop playing a soft cover two.

9:16. After the latest first down scamper, I’m beginning to think Utah’s quarterback is actually the reincarnation of Vince Young in college. He’s not throwing incompletions and frankly he looks unstoppable.

9:16. Nevermind that, he almost just got intercepted. Throwing into double coverage is never a good idea.

9:18. Corbin Louks sees the field again and runs the same play that he ran last time he was in. This “run one way and throw across your body and across the field” nonsense isnt working.

9:19. Alright, we’re headed down to field level to storm the field tear down the goal posts get interviews after the game.