Navy @ Hawaii preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 9, 2013 ) Hawaii 28, Navy 42

Navy opens its 2018 season at Hawaii on Saturday, but the groundwork for a campaign that has coach Ken Niumatalolo brimming with confidence already was being established after the Midshipmen's 14-13 loss to Army in December. Navy routed Virginia 49-7 in its next game - the 2017 Military Bowl - after tougher-than-usual preparation and hopes to carry the momentum into a season that will feature junior Malcolm Perry at quarterback.

"From what I saw in the bowl game, what I saw during spring ball and what I’ve seen in August camp, I couldn’t be more pleased,” Niumatalolo told the Capital Gazette. “I feel as good as I’ve ever felt in my 11 years of being the head coach.” Perry took over from Zach Abey, who switched to wide receiver, and rushed for a combined 364 yards and three touchdowns versus Army and Virginia without throwing a pass. Navy, which was second nationally to Army in rushing yards per game last season (351.4), could have an easy time against a Rainbow Warriors' defense that permitted an average of 210.2 yards on the ground - 110th among the 129 FBS teams in 2017. Hawaii opened its season with a 43-34 victory at Colorado State on Aug. 25 as sophomore quarterback Cole McDonald threw for 418 yards and accounted for five touchdowns.

TV: 11 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: Navy -11

ABOUT NAVY (2017: 7-6): Perry rushed for 1,182 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, including a 68-yard score versus Army, and averaged 8.6 yards per carry while attempting only two passes. He also was the Midshipmen's top kickoff returner at 24.5 yards per try but doesn't appear on the depth chart at that position with his role as the starting quarterback. Navy's defense took a hit with the graduation of linebacker Micah Thomas (team highs of 81 tackles and three interceptions last season), but senior defensive end Josh Webb returns with his team-best four sacks.

ABOUT HAWAII (1-0): McDonald also is a threat running the ball as his 96 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries versus Colorado State attest. Juniors Cedric Byrd and John Ursua appear to be McDonald's favorite targets after combining for 304 yards and three TDs on 18 receptions. Junior linebacker Solomon Matautia spearheaded the Rainbow Warriors' defense with a team-high 10 tackles, including six solo.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Rainbow Warriors coach Nick Rolovich (2000-01) and Niumatalolo (1986-87, 1989) are former Hawaii quarterbacks.

2. Navy was 6-0 when scoring more than 30 points in 2017 and 1-6 when totaling fewer than 30.

3. Navy was picked to finish third in the West Division in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll while Hawaii was tabbed to wind up fifth in the six-team West Division of the Mountain West Conference.

PREDICTION: Navy 35, Hawaii 31