PHILADELPHIA >> Both teams may run the option, but that’s where the similarity ends.

Sure, you can expect an ambitious ground game from both Army and Navy in the 109th renewal of this famed classic today at Lincoln Financial Field. But while Army employs essentially a one-dimension option, Navy throws multiple weapons at you.

If the Navy defense can control Army running back Collin Mooney, this game will likely end with another Mids win. Entering the game, Mooney is 11th in the nation in rushing with 1,289 yards and needs 54 yards to break the Army single-season rushing record.

While relying on Mooney, Army has limited alternatives to any offensive diversity. Coach Stan Brock made the decision to go with the option in the past offseason and put production of this newly installed offense clearly on the shoulders of Mooney, a 5-foot-10, 247-pound senior from Katy, Texas.

“We have to play nearly perfect to beat (Navy),” Brock said. “We’ll let it all go in this game, but you also have to take educated chances.”

Finding the quarterback to effectively engineer this option was a challenge. Brock eventually settled on sophomore Chip Bowden three games into the season. With Mooney’s near record and Bowden chipping in with 688 yards on 180 carries, the Army offense is predictable.

On the scoreboard, the Black Knights (3-8) have lost their last three. After dropping its first four, Army rebounded in midseason to win three of four, but now is in a funk.

Conversely, Navy’s defense has improved over last season, and is poised to shut down Mooney.

Last season, the Navy defense allowed an average of 36.4 points per game, but that is down to 23.4 this season. That improvement is third best in college football, with only SEC powers Florida and Alabama managing better.

Plus, Navy continues to hammer opponents with various weapons. While the Mids have dealt with a quarterback rotation of Kapolei product Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada (sidelined most of the season with a hamstring injury), Jarod Bryant and Ricky Dobbs, the running game offers more options than Mooney’s single dimension.

The Mids can pound the ball inside with Eric Kettani, a bruising 5-11, 233-pound senior who has attracted attention from NFL scouts. He has gained 811 yards on 152 carries (5.3 yards a carry), and three touchdowns.

Kettani is complemented by the outside threat of Shun White, a 5-9, 190-pound senior with 4.36 speed in the 40. Against Towson on opening day, White set a school record with 348 yards rushing on 19 carries, an average of 18.3 per carry.

While White has 2,092 yards in his career, Kettani has picked up 1,916 yards. Should Kettani reach the 2,000-yard mark, that would be the first time in Navy history that two backs in the same graduating class passed 2,000 career rushing yards.

“I’ve been associated with the option since college (playing at the University of Hawaii), and it’s worked at every level,” said Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo, a Radford alum. “(Previous Navy coach Paul Johnson) proved what this offense could do. When I took over as coach, I was familiar with the players and comfortable to continue the option.”

With the option functioning on all cylinders, the Mids lead the nation in rushing. If Navy continues at its present clip, it could finish first in rushing for the fourth straight year, and the fifth time since 2003. Coming into the Army game, the Mids average 292 yards rushing for an average of 5.3 yards per carry.

Don’t expect much passing in this one.

Of the 119 teams in Division I, Army is last in throwing the ball, averaging 43.7 yards per game. Navy is 118th, averaging 68.4 yards. Look for a heated battle, no matter what kind of offensive attack is used.

“Off the field, we’re all brothers in arms,” said Kaheaku-Enhada. “On the field, we’ll cut each other’s throats. That’s the nature of the beast.”

Game notes

In this series, Navy holds a 52-49-7 edge. … The game is televised by KGMB (Ch. 7, 7 a.m.) … CBS and the academies recently signed a 10-year deal, but the game will move to the second week in December. CBS wants this classic to be the final regular-season game of the college football season. … The future location for this game is currently up for bid. Philadelphia (site for next year’s game only) has competition with an announcement set for the spring. The Meadowlands Giants Stadium will open in 2010 (seating capacity 82,500, Lincoln Financial Field holds 69,000) and represents the strongest rival.

With its 7-4 mark, Navy accepted an invitation to the EagleBank Bowl, Dec. 20 at Washington’s RFK Stadium, its sixth straight bowl appearance. … Navy is concluding its sixth straight winning season, its longest streak since 1952-1961. … President George W. Bush is expected to attend. He last attended the 2005 game.