Bryson Daily of the Army Black Knights faces off against the Midshipmen during the first quarter of an NCAA football game at Gillette Stadium Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Army stood its ground at the goal line in the final seconds to send Navy mascot Bill the Goat — and big-time Navy fan Bill, the Goat — home disappointed.
Army linebacker Caleb Fortner scored on a strip-sack in the fourth quarter and then helped stuff quarterback Ty Lavatai inches from the end zone with 3 seconds left to lead the Black Knights to a 17-11 victory over Navy on Saturday and win their 124th game. In the league. The oldest service academies in the country.
“Why does it always have to be like this?” said Army coach Jeff Monken, whose team won last year in double overtime. “It’s. It’s always like this. We were up by 14 points, and with one second left in the game, they were standing there knocking on the door with a chance to tie the game. Unreal.”
Bryson Daily ran for 84 yards and threw Army’s first touchdown pass against Navy since 2015 to help the Black Knights capture coveted bragging rights for the sixth time in eight attempts. Kani Udoh ran for 88 yards for Army, which also received the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy that goes to the team with the best head-to-head record against the other service academies. (The Army upset the 17th Air Force last month.)
Lavatai came off the bench in the second quarter and rushed for 74 yards, completing 16 of 26 passes for 176 yards — the most passing yards by a Navy quarterback against Army since 2010. Jayden Umbarger caught six passes for 75 yards and a touchdown that made it 17-9 With 2:47 remaining.
“This game, in the grand scheme of things, is more than just football.” Navy coach Brian Newberry said. “It’s about celebrating some of the best young men in the country on the field, and then celebrating and recognizing all those who have dedicated their lives to service, who have served and are serving your country. Shining a light on them, celebrating them and showing gratitude for their sacrifice and commitment. That’s what it’s all about.”
“I think, at the end of the day, whoever was in the stands was proud of what they saw these young men do.”
The matchup between the Patriots at home to the Patriots brought a dose of pomp and excitement to Gillette Stadium, where the six-time Super Bowl champion stumbled to a 3-10 record — being shut out twice at home in a season for the first time. In franchise history. New England is on pace for its worst season in Bill Belichick’s three decades as an NFL head coach, stripping some of the shine off the loyal Navy man who is involved in the discussion of the greatest of all time.
Belichick, who grew up in Annapolis while his father spent 34 years as an assistant coach at Navy, spoke to the Midshipmen Friday night and wore a Roger Staubach-era Navy helmet on a pregame television show to predict the winner.
It wasn’t enough.
“I know Belichick has a rich history with Navy. I know his father coached there.” Army fullback Liu Lewin said. “I know Boston is close to the ocean. But it’s good to get a win for Army here.”
The Black Knights opened up a 17-3 lead with less than five minutes to play before Lavatay led Navy by one score and then took the Midshipmen to the Army 6 in the final minute. He threw two incompletions before striking out Alex Tecza, who was tackled in bounds at 2.
With no timeouts and no chance to punt the ball — it was on fourth down — Navy scrambled to line up and start the game. Lavatai rushed forward while his entire team rushed before and behind him, but the army held firm. Replays confirmed that the ball never crossed the goal line.
To kill the remaining three seconds, Daily took a shotgun shot, hesitated, and ran out of the end zone for an intentional safety.
The students began storming the field before being sent back for another review to see if time was up. Confirmation from the booth sent another wave of Army fans onto the field.
“It was certainly good to have a tension-free game. But it speaks to the rivalry between Army and Navy: They don’t quit; we don’t quit.” Lewin said. “I’m very proud to be a part of this team and say I was an Army football player.”
This was only the second time since 1926 that America’s Game left the mid-Atlantic region and its maiden voyage to Massachusetts, where George Washington assumed command of the Continental Army and the USS Constitution – the world’s oldest naval warship – was docked.
Organizers over the weekend ramped up activities at historic sites in the area, including a pep rally and discussion at Faneuil Hall, a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, and a tug of war at the Old North Bridge in Concord. , location “The shot was heard all over the world.”
Nearly 100 buses transported cadets from West Point and Annapolis to Foxboro, where they took to the field in their gray and blue pregame uniforms. “March of a Brigade of Marines and the Corps of Cadets.” Ultramarathon relay teams ran game balls from their campus, and parachute teams landed on the 50-yard line. The new recruits were sworn in during the third quarter deadline.
Representatives of the two academies came to the midfield to toss the coin. Army cadets explained “eat squid” With a yellow stripe on their gray coats; The Navy responded with “Nuclear army.”
Wearing gold uniforms paying tribute to the Dogface Soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division, Army took a 10-0 lead against a Navy team that did not complete a pass in the half. Lavatai replaced starter Xavier Arline in the second quarter and led Navy into field goal position early in the fourth quarter to make the score 10-3.
But with about five minutes left in the game, Fortner punched the ball out, caught it on one bounce and rushed 44 yards for a touchdown that gave Army a 17-3 lead.
“I hit the ball. It almost looked like I planned it, the way it bounced in my hand, and I just started running. And behind me I saw golden jerseys in the sea of jumbotrons.” Fortner said. “It was just a surreal moment.”
In a surprising turn of events, the army has emerged victorious over the navy in a stunning 17-11 victory. The unexpected win has sent shockwaves through the military community and has left many speculating about the implications for future competitions between the two branches. This feat is sure to be celebrated among army personnel and has certainly raised their profile in the eyes of the public. The outcome of this competition is sure to be a hot topic in the news and sports world for days to come.