ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo has called Saturday's home meeting with Western Kentucky "the biggest game of the season."

Navy (1-2) is coming off a poor performance against Pittsburgh and desperately needs a victory in order to get untracked.

The Midshipmen cannot afford to get upset by Western Kentucky, which plays in the Sun Belt Conference and is 2-13 the past two seasons.

"Our backs are to the wall. It's do or die," said Niumatalolo, who boasts a 4-1 record following a loss in two seasons at the helm.

Adding to the pressure is the 50th anniversary celebration of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, which will include special events and ceremonies on Saturday. Navy opened the stadium with a 29-2 victory over William & Mary on Sept. 26, 1959. Navy will wear replica 1959 uniforms to commemorate the occasion.

"It's a tremendous honor to put on the same uniforms that Navy players wore back in '59," Pospisil said. "It's amazing to think that we are still battling on the same field they did 50 years ago."

Navy will be seeking to get its offense in gear after being limited to 14 points and 218 total yards by Pittsburgh. Quarterback Ricky Dobbs struggled with reading the option as the Midshipmen were held to 129 yards rushing, their second-lowest total since the start of the 2003 season.

"The bottom line is that we didn't execute," Navy offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper said. "Blocking, reading, running ... it was like popcorn. If we got the read right, we didn't block the perimeter. If we blocked it right, we missed the read."

Jasper is concerned that Dobbs is still not making basic reads despite having 16 games and four starts under his belt. There were times last Saturday when Dobbs should have either handed the ball to the fullback or pitched it the slotback, but made the wrong decision.

"Ricky is just missing reads and he can't do that. Some were really obvious and those are the ones that upset me," Jasper said. "He struggles with it and has to get better at it. My job is to get (Dobbs) right, and if I don't I need to be replaced."

Trailing most of the game and unable to run the ball, Navy was forced to pass. Dobbs completed just 6 of 22 passes and was sacked six times. He was pressured on almost every throw as the pass blocking was atrocious.

"Maybe that will get people off my back who say we should pass the ball more. If we are forced to throw the ball like that we are going to be in trouble. That is not who we are," Niumatalolo said. "If there is a silver lining from Saturday, it's that Ricky realized that we need to run the option in order to be successful."

Navy will have to overcome several injuries. Starting outside linebackers Clint Sovie (bruised ribs) and Ram Vela (hip pointer) left the game against Pittsburgh in the first half. Starting guard Andy Lark (neck) and starting defensive end Jabaree Tuani (back) also suffered minor injuries. None of them participated in full-contact drills this week, but Niumatalolo expects them all to play against Western Kentucky.

Western Kentucky (0-3) is playing its first season as a full-fledged member of the Football Bowl Subdivision. They have been outscored 126-27 by Tennessee, South Florida and Central Arkansas. The Hilltoppers' defense ranks 118th out of 120 FBS teams, allowing 508 yards per game.

Quarterback Brandon Smith has been the Hilltoppers' top offensive weapon, with 162 yards rushing while passing for 194 yards. Smith, who has carried the ball nearly twice as many times (45) as tailback Bobby Rainey (24), sprained his shoulder last Saturday and was listed as day-to-day. Red-shirt freshman Kawaun Jakes, who has appeared in two of the three games this season, would start if Smith cannot go.