The ground games have been impressive, as expected — Army ended the third quarter with 268 yards on the ground and doesn’t appear to be slowing down. But who figured so many key plays would come with the ball in the air? For example: On Navy’s first scoring drive, Keenan Reynolds fires an out pass to Matt Aiken, who needs five yards for a first down. He gets them the hard way, as Military Times photographer Thomas Brown captured above. Two plays later, it’s 7-0 Navy. Army gets the ball with 19 seconds to play in the first half, down…
Browsing: Army-Navy game
Vice President Joe Biden has switched sides here in Philadelphia, so it’s time for five what-to-watch-for halftime items: 1. Noah’s numbers: Navy sophomore Noah Copeland has carried 15 times already for 81 yards and his team’s only touchdown. He’s never carried more than 21 times in a game. Will fatigue set in, or is fatigue not an option in this game? 2. Step up and stop: Aside from Josh Tate’s fumble-forcing hit on Army’s Raymond Maples, neither team has had a breakout defensive play. Who’ll snare the first interception or break off the first big fumble return? 3. Old rivals,…
Both Army and Navy run variants of the option offense. The last three drives — all for scores, giving Navy a 10-7 edge — showed how those variations can equal points. Navy drove 66 yards in about five minutes, capped off by Noah Copeland’s 12-yard touchdown run. He ran the ball on five of nine plays, but two key gains came in the air — Keenan Reynolds hit Shawn Lynch for 19 yards early in the drive, and Matt Aiken caught a quick pass from Reynolds and muscled his way for five critical yards on a third down deep in…
All that pregame analysis, and everybody forgot about the punter. Navy sophomore Pablo Beltran could turn out to be a key weapon in a game where neither offense figures to have many big-play moments. He’s already shown his stuff once — a 45-yard punt pinned Army at its own 1-yard line midway through the first quarter, and though the Black Knights managed a first down behind some straight-ahead running, they didn’t manage much else. Beltran averaged a school-record 45.1 yards this season, a school record. He was the first punter to start for Navy as a plebe since 1992. He…
Sick of spirit spots? Done with uniform updates? Ready for some football? For college gridiron die-hards and once-a-year big-game watchers alike, here’s what you need to know entering Saturday’s Army-Navy showdown. Who, where, when: Navy (7-4) vs. Army (2-9), Saturday, 3 p.m. Eastern, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Weather: Accuweather.com says to think spring — a few pregame showers, with temperatures approaching 60. Quick history: It’s the 113th meeting between the teams. Navy leads the series 56-49-7 and has won 10 straight, most in series history. Army’s last win came in Philadelphia in 2001 in Veterans Stadium, which no longer…
A few more 2012 Army-Navy spirit spots for your viewing pleasure. Check back tomorrow when After Action makes its pick for best video of the year. Got a favorite? Leave a link in the comments section. 1. Navy goes global. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQZXugo8ZjA[/youtube] Pro: The Navy folks at the NATO Role 3 Hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan, found some very animated allies willing to cheer for the Mids in multiple languages. Con: You get the sense many of them would rather be watching Army-Navy soccer. And they missed it. 2. “Game for the Real Players” [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWwq0PYvJFg[/youtube] Pro: Great production value, an addictive beat,…
Another half-dozen Army-Navy tidbits, starting with a strategy discussion. No PowerPoints, we promise. 1. Cut it out. With the NFL considering banning blocks below the waist in 2013, Dan Wolken at USA Today takes a hard look at what such a move in college football could do the future of option offenses such as those used by all three service academies. It’s great timing for a great thought piece — cut blocks are a key weapon in the academy arsenal, allowing undersized linemen to compete in the trenches and giving defenders one more thing to think about while they try…
A half-dozen quick hits for early in Army-Navy week: 1. The basics. A nice recap of the path both teams have taken to Saturday’s showdown from Philly.com’s Joe Juliano, with some good big-picture comments from Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo and Army head man Rich Ellerson (Ellerson on a 2-9 season: “It really is frustrating. We know how hard we’re working and how much progress we’ve made.”). 2. The big guns. Both schools have released their game-week media notes. It’s an early win for Navy, with 73 pages of stats/recaps/bios/etc., edging out Army’s 69 pages. Check back later in the…
After a series of pro-Army spirit spots — including an inspirational message from Oakland Raider icon Otis Sistrunk, of all people — we wanted to include a few clips from the sea service, in the interest of equal time. 1. A Mac-vs.-PC commercial parody. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv7GMwI1b9c[/youtube] Pro: Possible spirit spot line-of-the-year candidate from the actor portraying an Army cadet: “I can’t hear you, I’m too busy marching.” Con: As Navy Times Prime readers know, the Windows-loving fleet is the last place you’d think to look for a Mac. 2. Warship vs. Army mascot, Take I. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EcBbbTZkuY[/youtube] Pro: You don’t often see…
Before the college football season began, we reported one Las Vegas casino’s early line for the end-of-year Army-Navy football game, installing the Mids as a 4.5-point favorite before either team took a snap. After 11 games, Navy’s earned a bowl berth and Army’s hoping a Commander in Chief’s Trophy will salvage a disappointing season. So it’s no surprise the line’s moved in Navy’s favor. The Mids are now nine-point favorites, according to multiple websites. Of course, these are some of the same oddsmakers that installed Army as a 3.5-point favorite over Temple in its last game. Gamblers or not, Black…
