Army Ends Losing Streak vs. Navy

The Army-Navy football game, traditionally the final game of the regular college football season, was played on December 10th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. In recent years, the series had been all Navy, with the Midshipman winning every game since 2002. Navy has also enjoyed more success in football, period, than the Black Knights, with winning records every year since 2003, with the exception of a 5-7 record in 2011. Army, on the other hand, had one winning season since 1997. The Black Knights were 7-6 in 2010 and, with a record of 6-5 entering this game, had a chance to get their second such season.

Navy entered the game with a record of 9-3, and was a 5 ½ point favorite. If you like running the ball, this was the game for you. Navy QB Zach Abey threw just 10 passes, completing six for 89 yards and having two intercepted. Abey was Navy’s leading rusher, carrying the ball 19 times for 73 yards and two touchdowns.

Army quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw, who nearly left the program before the season started, threw just four passes, completing two and having one intercepted. Bradshaw, however, scored the winning touchdown on a nine yard run in the 4th quarter as Army ended its 14 game losing streak to Navy, winning 21-17. Andy Davidson scored two touchdowns for Army in the first half. The Black Knights rushed for 316 yards.

Both teams will play in bowl games later this month. Army will play North Texas in the Heart of Dallas Bowl on the 27th, while Navy will face Louisiana Tech in the appropriately named Armed Forces Bowl (appropriately sponsored by Lockheed-Martin) just down the road from Dallas in Fort Worth on the 23rd.