East Rutherford, NJ – In the 122nd version of their long-storied rivalry, Navy beat Army, 17-13, in a knock-down, drag-out fight. The game wasn’t pretty. The contest depicted toe-to-toe and hand-to-hand combat. The Mids (4-8) achieved the highlight of the 2021 season by beating Army to lead the series now, 62-53-7. The game started like it would be an unexpected, see-saw battle, but both defenses adjusted quickly facing offenses that they see every day in practice. Neither side gave up, and Navy’s defense stuffed the last attempt by Army to recapture a lead with only 1:27 left to play.
At our pre-game tailgate party, we welcomed some surprise visitors walking by – the pilots of the Navy FA 18 Super Hornets who performed the pre-game flyover for today’s game.
Hot starts
Army QB Christian Anderson broke through the Navy line on the left side with a 56-yard jaunt on only the fourth play of the opening drive. However, that long burst would be the last of the day as Army’s vaunted triple-option netted only 56 more yards the entire day. Anderson added only 11 of those. The Cadets averaged 301.2 yard per game against mostly suspect competition this year. Navy’s subsequent possession lasted longer with 11 plays, but attained the same result. Navy QB Tai Lavatai ran for the final eight yards to knot the score. Army scored three more on Cole Talley’s 31-yard FG to put the Cadets up after the first fifteen, 10-7.
The defenses controlled the next four series forcing punts after three-and-outs. A missed FG by the Mids was followed by a 32-yard boot by Talley to provide Army a 13-7 advantage at half-time. Half-time memorialized the events of 9/11/2001.
Navy starts second half “full speed ahead”
Navy took the second half kickoff and drove 74 yards in 12 plays. The key play turned out to be a 26-yard run by Chance Warren, his only carry of the game. He took the ball around right end with a slight swing back before turning up field. He broke tackles and tip-toed up the right sideline before getting knocked out at the two. Lavatai slammed it over from there, and Navy suddenly had a 14-13 lead.
Proud to get together with some old friends from USNA Second Company Class of 1978 at this year’s Army-Navy tailgate!
Defense! Defense!
Navy forced a three-and-out. Both defenses forced punts before the third ended. Navy started its next drive before entering the fourth quarter. When Navy displays an effective offense, it eats up clock. This drive consumed 8:56 into the fourth before Bijan Nichols booted a 43-yard FG to put Navy up by four, 17-13. Navy forced Army to punt again from its 49 after their next series using up 2:51. The Cadet defense held the Navy to punt after picking up only three yards before forcing a punt, but they burned all three time-outs with only 2:56 to play.
Army forced to air it out
Starting from their 33, Army offense had to resort more to the pass than it desires. After a nine-yard completion and a three-yard run, the Cadets added a first down from their 45. MetLife Stadium rocked with the Brigade of Midshipman and Corps of Cadets cheering their class mates on. Two Army passes fell incomplete. The next one went for seven yards. The game would possibly be decided here at Navy’s 48 on a second and three for Army. Navy stopped
Anderson for a two-yard gain, and the Mids took over on downs. With 1:27 left, Navy went into the Victory formation and knelt three times to run out the clock. Go Navy!
Navy QB Tai Lavatai picks up yards on Mids’ first quarter scoring drive.
Next up!
The Mids finished a frustrating season at 4-8. For the second year in a row, they failed to go bowling. The Cadets finished 8-4, and go to the Lockheed-Martin Armed Forces Bowl to play 6-6 Missouri on December 22. Collegefootballfan.com travels to Shreveport, LA next Saturday to attend our first Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl. There, we will see No. 13 BYU (10-2) meet Conference USA’s U of A-Birmingham. The Blazers (8-4, 6-2) finished second to UTSA Roadrunners in the Western Division of Conference USA.
According to previous information, the Cougars would meet this season’s Conference USA champs. The 12-1 UTSA Roadrunners ranked all season until a surprising defeat to North Texas State. Despite their conference championship win over Western Kentucky to win the CUSA title, ESPN got involved in pitting UTSA against San Diego State (11-2) who fell to Utah State in the MWC Championship. Our loss. BYU vs. UTSA would have been fun bowl game to attend.
by Steve Koreivo, ed. Author of “Tales from the Tailgate: From the fan who’s seen ’em all!” Click on the title to get your copy of how one fan made the effort to see every FBS team play once.
Army battles and goes away to play again another day. On December 22, they meet Missouri in the Armed Forces Bowl. Go Army!
