Game 598: Navy comeback derails Air Force in final minute, 34-25
Annapolis – Don’t let this score fool you. It was closer than this. The Midshipman of Navy took the lead from the Air Force Falcons with 23 seconds left in the 52nd meeting between the two with Navy QB Malcom Perry’s three-yard TD run. Navy “striker” LB Tony Brown added six more on the final play with a fumble recovery for a touchdown to give the Mids (3-1) a 34-25 win in the first meeting of the season for the 2019 Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. USNA outgained USAFA (3-2) on the ground, but several key passes from Perry (5 of 7, 144 yards) to WR Mychal Cooper set up short Navy scores to lead going into the final period before Air Force scored 16 straight points prior to Navy’s winning rally.
New experience for Collegefootballfan.com
For Collegefootballfan.com with a contingent of eight Guest Game Analysts, the game contest, tailgating, and traditions of Academy football were enjoyed on a beautiful, sunny day from the porch of the Navy-Marine Corps Anchor Club in the southeast corner of the stadium. For the first time, we treated ourselves to the Captain’s BBQ buffet and a cash bar open until the end of the third quarter. The game and the entire weekend that began on Friday could not have been experienced any better. Our GGA’s want to come back and do it all again!
Turnover time
Air Force took a 3-0 lead in the first period with Jake Koehnke’s 42-yard FG following three consecutive series resulting in four turnovers by both teams including fumbles by both teams on just one play. The Falcon recovery on that play restarted a series at Navy’s 33 to put Koehnke within distance to tally the only three points for the Air Force lead at the end of the first period.
“Precision bombing” works against Air Force
Navy didn’t go to the air often, but when they did, they were effective. The Mids put seven on the board with FB Nelson Smith’s one-yard TD run following two consecutive completions from Perry to Cooper (three receptions for 90 yards) for 38 and 24 yards respectively to set him up. The Mids next series resulted in similar fashion as Perry connected with Cooper on a 28-yard strike to the three before Smith (19 carries, 82 yards, two TDs) carried the ball over for the score. The Air Force Academy responded with a 53-yard drive to the Mids 23 where Koehnke drilled a 40-yarder to close the margin to 14-6 in favor of the Mids before the half.
Heisman Hero and halftime
A video tribute honored Navy’s Heisman Trophy winner of 1960, RB Joe Bellino, at halftime. Bellino passed away at the age of 81 on March 27, this year. His jersey number “27” emblazoned in gold, marked both yard lines on the playing field. This game’s program included an article about him as a great athlete, dedicated Naval officer, and an even a better person. It can be read on the Navy Sports website by clicking here.
Compliments of GGA Bill Serafin, we went up into the Ackerson Tower to a special event area where we met up with Bill’s fellow Wallington, NJ friend Steve Adzima whose son Mike is a senior C/OT on the Navy line (I believe I saw another son of his play QB at FDU-Florham). We had a few drinks together and watched third quarter action before Bill and I headed back down to the Anchor Club for an anticipated great finish (can’t lie, the bar closed). In the meantime, we got to speak to one of the Irish guests there on the committee for the Navy-Notre Dame game to be played in Dublin, Ireland next August. We’re considering the opportunity. We got to ask him what real Irish know about college football besides the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. They know just enough to host a big game there was basically his answer. A few years ago, when the Mids and Irish met, ND brought 28,000 and USNA 7,000.
Three scores each, but not the same score
Air Force scored on its first series of Q3 albeit once again on a 49-yard field goal on the strength of Koehnke’s leg. However, Navy’s only scoring answer came back in a touchdown on a 20-yard run by Perry (23 carries, 111 yards, two TDs) to give the Mids a 21-9 lead at the end of the third.
Punches and …
In the fourth, once again, Air Force’s drive heading into the final 15 minutes resulted in three more points on Koehnke’s 26-yard boot. On the next series, Air Force recovered a Navy fumble at the Navy 37. This time Air Force got their engines finally revving to forgo a field goal as QB Donald Hammond III (10 for 25 passing, 205 yards; 12 carries for 77 yards, one TD) took it over from the three to close within two, 21-19. The Falcons forced a Midshipman put and started from their 28. A pass to WR Benjamin Waters for 41 yards keyed the possession to the Navy six. FB Taven Birdow’s one-yard run into the end zone gave Air Force a 25-21 lead with only 3:15 left to play.
… counter-punches. Knock-out!
Perry did the brunt of the running on Navy’s next possession down by four. He converted a fourth and one on a sneak at the 14 for a first down. With 23 seconds remaining, he carried the ball over from the three to retake the lead for the Mids by three. Desperate to score quickly with only one tick left on the clock, the Falcons went into the lateral mode from their 27 resulting in an eight-yard fumble return by Brown to wrap up the scoring at 34-25 for the Navy victory and what many witnessed as the biggest celebration to ever end a game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Another great experience enjoyed by our entourage of GGAs.
Thanks to our GGAs
Other GGAs for our tailgate besides Bill included Les Di Vite (Seton Hall) and Chris Cohen (USMC Vet) who did all the driving this weekend. Frank Lorito came up from Delaware to celebrate his 60th birthday with us. Mike Pitch who said when we attended the Memphis game last year, “let’s do a big game next year”, which resulted in this weekend’s plans. He also admitted he was impressed with the hotel arrangements I made this year. Vince Gallo who took some great pics and a couple of good videos on his phone which will let us remember some great moments at this game. Steve Ciesla (Juniata/Montclair State) brought us more beer we’ll probably use for Game 600. Bob Brauer brought the Scotch and sacrificed himself to room with Mike who snores loudly.
Brian Donnelly stopped by and the best thing he did for us was to bring his sister Eileen whom we all like. And finally, for our other tailgate friend “Navy Al” and his son Alex, a professional chef who grilled some great ribs and burgers for us after the game out in the parking lot, thank you both!
On Friday, seven of us got into town only to find Annapolis packed by the annual boat show we didn’t know about as well as the biggest Navy football game of the season at the same time. Things worked out well for us despite the congestion. We decided to have late lunch when we got into town at Chick and Ruth’s instead of breakfast there the next morning. The weekend was a food fest to say the least. After lunch, we enjoyed happy hour from three to seven for our first time ever at the Ram’s Head Inn. I recommend their Oak Barrel Stout! After happy hour we had appetizers outside in the Biergarten there and reminisced about our favorite female TV stars from many years ago still on re-runs today. It was stimulating conversation before heading back to our hotel to imbibe. Great time and game in one memorable weekend.
Next!
Navy (3-1, 1-1) heads to Tulsa (2-3, 0-1) for an American Athletic Conference contest. Air Force (3-2, 1-1) hosts Fresno State (2-2) in a Mountain West Conference clash. Collegefootballfan.com meets up with our friend and Wake Forest alum Jim Harton to see his No. 19 Demon Deacons (5-0, 1-0) host Louisville (3-2,1-1) in a prime-time game at 7:30pm (ugh!). Jim and I are rooting for his Deacs to win so he and his friends can update my name among them to “9-0 Koreivo” from “8-0 Koreivo”. Over 40 years, I’ve seen the Deacs play eight times and they’ve won them all! We doubt anyone else can claim that!
