BALTIMORE — Around this time last year, Navy quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada was leading his team to an improbable triple overtime victory over Notre Dame.

This past Saturday, the only running he was doing was up and down the sideline, unable to play because of an injured hamstring that has kept the senior out most of the season.

"I just try to help them as much as I can on the sideline," said Kaheaku-Enhada, a 2004 Kapolei graduate, after the game. "I try to give them some of my knowledge. I don't like sitting on the sideline as you guys can see. I get after people. I just try to help them out as much as I can."

Kaheaku-Enhada witnessed Navy recovering two onside kicks and scoring two touchdowns in the final two minutes. He paced the sideline the entire game, consulting with his fellow quarterbacks and jumping up and down trying to spark the crowd.

Last year against Notre Dame, Kaheaku-Enhada enjoyed one of the best performances of his career, going 6 of 8 for 81 yards, including a touchdown in the third overtime period. He followed that with another pass for a successful two-point conversion. He also gained 47 yards on 12 carries.

The win snapped Notre Dame's 43-game winning streak against Navy.

He hopes to return for the Army-Navy game Dec. 6, although it depends on his hamstring.

"Everything else, I'm fine. I can still run on it a little bit, distance-wise, but trying to explode, I can't," Kaheaku-Enhada said. "I can run the offense, but trying to explode, I'm having a hard time with that. I have another three weeks to get ready for Army.

"Hopefully, hopefully, that's the plan. If I can make it back for that game, that would be ideal."

What wasn't ideal was the way his senior season has turned out so far. He entered the season as the starting quarterback, with preseason nods on the College Football Writers Association of America All-American Watch List and the Davey O'Brien Watch List for the nation's top quarterback.

"It's hard, because you think I'd come out my senior year and have my best year," Kaheaku-Enhada said. "That's all you want for your senior year, to finish off strong. Unfortunately that's not the case. I couldn't come out and play ball the way I wanted to."

Kaheaku-Enhada earned a starting role in his sophomore season, utilizing his athleticism — his freshman year he mainly played special teams and receiver — in Navy's triple-option offense.

The Army-Navy game is the final regular-season game for the Midshipmen (6-4), who already accepted an EagleBank Bowl bid at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., Dec. 20.

Navy became bowl-eligible after rallying from a 20-point deficit in the final 14 minutes against Temple in a 33-27 victory Nov. 1. It gave the Midshipmen hope against Notre Dame this past weekend.

"It was unreal," Kaheaku-Enhada said. "It was the same thing that happened to us two weeks ago against Temple. It was a comeback that nobody ever thought could happen. And we saw it happen. If we came through (against Notre Dame), it would have been crazy. But the guys gave a great effort and they fought until the end, and that's all we could ask for."