Army rides strong defense to 17-10 victory over Navy

When it comes to the annual Army-Navy football game, past records really don't matter. Both teams play an entire season focused on winning this matchup.

As a result, it was no surprise that the 119th meeting between America's two oldest military academies was a tenacious defensive struggle. In the end, the sellout crowd of 66,749 at Lincoln Financial Field saw Army score its third straight triumph against the Midshipmen by a score of 17-10 on Dec. 8.

The Army defense has been the heart and soul of the Black Knights team all year. Though QB Kelvin Hopkins was named MVP of the game on the strength of 64 yards rushing and 61 yards passing, the award could easily have gone to any of multiple Army defenders including Jaylon McClinton (team-high 9 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception), Mike Reynolds (1 tackle, 1 interception and 3 pass break ups), Elijah Riley (3 tackles, 2 pass breakups), Ken Brinson (three tackles, 1 quarter back sack, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery, James Nachigal (8 tackles), Wunmi Oyetuga (7), Cole Christiansen or Amadeo West (6 each).

"It seems like on every play the whole outcome of the game is hanging in the balance," said Army coach Jeff Monken. "It was the same tonight. It was that kind of game that every single play, you're just hoping it goes your way. That's what makes it the game it is. This is the fifth one I have been a part of and all five have been decided by a touchdown or less. That's what makes it so intense, so fun to watch, so fun to be a part of. It doesn't matter what the records are, you have two evenly matched teams who play the game as hard as anyone plays it. I'm really proud of our team and just the fight and the spirit in these guys."

Some fans had not even settled into their seats by the time first half scoring was over. Keyed by a 51-yard run by Kell Walker, Army marched down the field. On the next play, quarterback Kelvin Hopkins kept the ball and ran 10 yards into the end zone with 12:42 left in the first quarter. Army (10-2) upped its lead to 10-0 early in the second half while Navy (3-10) searched for an answer at quarterback. Zach Abey and Malcolm Perry were a combined 0-for-5 with two interceptions. Early in the fourth quarter, Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo went to his third option at the position -- Garrett Lewis, who had last called signals three games ago when Abey was knocked out with a leg injury against Central Florida.

"I wasn't on target throwing," Abey said. "That's something you always need to have going into the Army-Navy game, the pass option. I wasn't on target tonight."

Lewis (5-for-11 passing for a game-high 81 yards) provided the spark Navy needed. After an incompletion -- a hard, tight spiral that was just a little too low -- on his first play, he followed with a 34-yard completion to Keoni Makekau. Navy neared the goal line but a fumble gave the ball back to Army. After forcing a punt, Navy got the ball back in good field position and marched down the field for a running touchdown by Lewis, which closed the gap, 10-7.

Hopkins concluded a ball-control drive with a 2-yard run, extending Army’s lead to 17-7.

Lewis led the Midshipmen down the field again on a nine-play drive that ended with a 46-yard field goal by Bennett Moehring, cutting the Army lead to 17-10 with 27 seconds left. The ensuing onside kickoff was covered by Army, essentially sealing the win.

Army heads to the Lockheed-Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 22 in Fort Worth, Texas, where they will play the University of Houston (6-4).