The most American game of the year in college football enjoyed the 117th installment as the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen squared off in Baltimore this past Saturday. There was a lot going on with this game, President-Elect Donald Trump was in attendance, it was only the 8th meeting in 117 years that the game was played in Baltimore, this year was also the highest TV ratings the game has received in 22 years. All of those things combined for one hell of a story, but don't forget chuckleheads there was also something to play for in this game, ending a 14 year streak dating back to 2001. 14 years of Army losing, of Midshipmen domination, 14 years of mediocre football. The game this year was exactly what the rivalry needed.
Three years ago, Jeff Monken was named the 37th coach in Army’s history. He's now 13 and 33 at the helm, has a winning season for Army under his belt with this years 7 win season, no win bigger than the 21-17 victory over the Midshipmen of Navy. Monken has done some big things in his career, both at Army and before. He joined Army as the head football coach after a successful head coaching stint at Georgia Southern, where he went 38-14, while thrusting Georgia Southern into the spotlight of the Football sub-Bowl division. Throw an even bigger wrench in the rivalry, from 2002-2007 Monken was on the other side of the Army-Navy rivalry, serving as the running back and special teams coach. In fact, Monken was there at Navy 12 weeks after 9/11, when Army last beat Navy by the score of 26-17. Fast-forward 9 years, and he has brought victory back to the Black Knights locker room over the fellow Servicemen.
A year ago, the game between the Black Knights and the Midshipmen ended in the same score but for the Midshipman, a 50 yard bomb from Keenan Reynolds put the Midshipmen up for good in 2015. In 2016, all signs really pointed to the Black Knights and this being their year. Navy was without the help of starting QB Will Worth, slot Toneo Gulley, and wide receiver Tyler Carmona, all three were lost in the prior weeks 34-10 loss to Temple in the American Athletic Conference, formerly the Big East. The Black Knights also had 3 weeks to rest and boy did it show. Army took a 14-0 lead into halftime, and throughout the first half, made the first start of Sophomore Zach Abey a nightmare to say the least. Abey did settle down enough to have 73 rushing yards and two scores while briefly giving the Midshipmen the lead, 17-14. With 6:05 left to play QB Ahmad Bradshaw scored from 9 yards out and with the extra point the Black Knights were back in front 21-14, with 6 minutes to play. The Black Knight defense came out and forced Navy to punt, the defense would not be needed again. Two first down runs by sophomore Andy Davidson and just like that Army was able to kneel and end a 14 year drought in the best Army-Navy game in recent history.
Finishing up, let's look at the facts that come with having such a historic rivalry. The two teams combined for just 14 passing attempts. Army lost the turnover battle 4-3, normally not the formula to win, but the Black Knight did avoid the laundry committing no penalties. Army rushed the ball 70 times and ran a total of 74 plays. Navy's Jamir Tillman was the only receiver to go over 30 yards for the game, had 3 catches for 33 yards. The Black Knights had the ball 40:32 compared to Navy's 19:28. That is a huge stat because Navy is normally a team that, like the boa constrictor, wants to have the ball for most of the game. The teams combined for 14 pass attempts totaling 124 yards, no touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Navy leads the series all time with a record of 60-50-7. The final stat for you chuckleheads out there is that this past Saturday is the first time that Army has beaten Navy in the state of Maryland since 1944.
For college football this is great but more importantly for the rivalry of Army- Navy this was incredible. Two teams came into the game Bowl bound, with winning records, and they did not disappoint, for those that watch football for passing and little offense between the tackles, this was not the game for you. For those fans out there that love old school knock down smash mouth football, this was a game for them. Heavy running, little to no passing, our guys and their guys who wants it more and that's what the game of football is all about. Army will be in action again on December 27thin the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl against North Texas. The Midshipmen of Navy are back in action December 23rd, when they take on Louisiana Tech in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. Could this be the change in this rivalry that swings towards Army for a few years? Only time will tell.
Written by:
Carlo Guadagnino
Edited by:
Alaina Roberts
Alaina Roberts
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