PHILADELPHIA » The challenge was rather simple.

According to Navy fullback Eric Kettani, this was a question of “;pick your poison.”; Choose to stop Kettani, a battering, bruising running back with power up the middle, or select the lethal Shun White, a runner with 4.36 speed and ability to break off a big play at any given time.

Army (3-9) could not address either runner, and the combination of Kettani and White rushed for 273 yards in leading the Midshipmen to a 34-0 whitewash of Army before 69,144 at Lincoln Financial Field.

It is Navy's seventh straight win over Army, and its ninth victory vs. the Black Knights in their last 10 meetings.

White began the rout when he went 65 yards for a score on Navy's third play from scrimmage. He proceeded to pick up 148 yards on 13 carries and scored twice. Kettani contributed 125 yards on 24 carries and each finished his Navy career with more than 2,000 yards rushing, a first in Navy football history.

“;Getting that early touchdown was very important,”; White said. “;I have confidence I can take it to the house, and that touchdown got us going. It steamrolled from there.”;

In addition to picking up valuable real estate, White also contributed an 18-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, a Kapolei graduate, with 3:18 remaining in the first half. By that time, Navy (8-4) had built a 17-0 advantage, and Army never threatened.

Equally important was the effort of the Navy defense.

Coming off a 16-0 win over Northern Illinois, the Midshipmen recorded their first back-to-back shutouts since 1986, when Navy blanked Lehigh 41-0 and Dartmouth 45-0 on consecutive Saturdays. This also was the first Navy shutout of Army since the Mids' 19-0 win in 1974.

Key to containing Army was slowing fullback Collin Mooney, Army's major option in a newly installed offense this season. Coming into the game, Mooney was 11th in the nation in rushing, but Navy's aggressive defense limited the senior from Katy, Texas, to 54 yards on 17 carries.

“;Our plan was to key on the fullback and (Chip Bowden, the quarterback) and force them to the outside,”; said Navy nose guard Nate Frazier, who had seven tackles. “;It was my job to take the center and help clog the middle, and that worked.”;

The defensive effort was especially telling. By the numbers, Navy had allowed 358 yards of total offense per game, but held Army to 154. The game also marked the first time Army was shut out since Oct. 4, 2003, by TCU.

“;Nate was the key,”; said Navy defensive coordinator Buddy Green. “;It all starts up front and the players executing their assignments. It was important to stop them inside and force them to beat us on the perimeter.”;

That didn't happen and so Navy moves on the EagleBank Bowl on Dec. 20 in Washington, D.C.

Notes

Navy captured its sixth straight Commander-in-Chief Trophy, tying the record. Air Force won six straight from 1998 to 2002. ... Navy won its 13th straight over a service academy, a record. ... For their careers, White has rushed for 2,240 yards and Kettani, 2,041. ... When White scored on that 65-yard run on Navy's first possession, it marked the 11th time in 12 games this season the Middies scored on their opening drive. ... Navy place-kicker Matt Harmon moved into second place in field goals (31 made) when he converted from 23 yards with 2:59 remaining in the opening quarter. ... Mooney's 54 yards were just enough to become Army's single-season rushing record holder. He gained 1 yard on the final play of the game to reach 1,339, 1 better than Mike Mayweather in 1990. ... With the current contract between the academies and the city of Philadelphia to host this classic expiring, Philly mayor Michael Nutter is prepared to stress the history, tradition and economic reality of a $35 million impact to the city. “;We will be aggressive to retain this game,”; Nutter said. “;This game is very important to the city and to our region.”;