By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA (December 9, 2017) The Army Black Knights came from behind in the fourth quarter to down the Midshipmen of Navy by the score of 14-13 and take possession of the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy for the first time since 1996. It also marked the first time the Black Knights have won consecutive games over Navy since 1995-96.
Army struck first with a three-yard run by Darnell Woolfork (Maine Endwell - USMAPS, Endwell, New York) to cap an 11 play, 68-yard drive to kickoff the first drive of the game. Blake Wilson booted the extra point to put the Black Knights up 7-0 at the 8:06 mark of the first quarter. Navy came back with 55 seconds left in the first quarter with a Bennett Moehring (Bentonville High School, Bentonville Arkansas) 28-yard field goal. The score was Woolfork's twelfth TD of the year. He is scored touchdowns in eight of the nine games he has played this season.
The Midshipmen took the lead 3:32 into the second quarter when Malcolm Perry (Kenwood High School, Clarksville, Tennessee) rambled 68 yards on a third and four play for the touchdown. Moehring tacked on the extra point to put Navy up 10-7. Both teams headed to the locker room with Navy leading by three. Army took back the lead when Ahmad Bradshaw (Gwendolyn Brooks High School - USMAPS, Chicago, Illinois) scored on a one-yard rush with 5:10 left in the game.
Bradshaw rushed for 94 yards on 21 carries while Woolfork tallied 57 yards on 12 carries. Perry carried the ball 30 times for 250 /of Navy's 294 yards.
By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA (December 9, 2017) Today marks the 118th edition of one of the most classic and historic match-ups in college football; Army vs Navy. The Black Knights (8-3) of Army will be facing the Midshipmen of Navy (6-5) at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Navy has won the past 14 of the past games, dating back to 2002. Last season, Army broke Navy's 14 years streak, downing the Midshipmen 21-17 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
Navy hold the all-time record; 60-50-7. The 14-year win streak, from 2002 to 2015 is the longest in the series. Navy won the initial game in 1890 by the score of 24-0 at "The Plain" at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. In 1891, Army won their first game 32-16 at Worden Field on the campus of
the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.
Navy will be led by quarterback Zach Abey with 1322 yard rushing and 805 yard passing, while Army will counter with quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw. The 5-11, 205-pound senior from Chicago, Illinois rushed for 1472 yards for the Black Knights. Both teams rely heavily on their ground game, but both teams can also pass if the need arises. Both teams average over 30 points a game (Army: 31.2, Navy: 30.4) with Navy giving up more points per game (29.2 - 21.6).
No matter the outcome today, both team are headed to a bowl game. Navy is headed to the Military Bowl on Thursday, December 28 against Virginia, while Army will face-off against San Diego State on Saturday, December 23 in the Armed Forces Bowl.
