Mids fall in overtime after 18-point rally ANNAPOLIS — A controversial penalty got in the way of Navy’s improbable comeback in a 35-34 overtime loss to Air Force on Saturday.
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Quarterback Kriss Proctor completed Navy’s dramatic rally from 18 points down in the fourth quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run on the opening possession of overtime. And when he stormed off amidst wild celebrations from the fifth-largest crowd ever at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (37,506), his behavior caught the eye of back judge David Vaughn, who nailed him for unsportsmanlike conduct.
“I got up and I was trying to run to our sideline, and some guy got in my way, and I just told him to move, explicitly, and they called it,” Proctor admitted.
Navy kicker Jeff Teague’s low, driving 35-yard extra-point attempt that followed was blocked. The Falcons (3-1) had only to keep their emotions in check, and quarterback Tim Jefferson Jr., who completed nine of 10 passes for 136 yards and one touchdown while rushing for two more scores, led one more drive reminiscent of the way he’d picked apart Navy early to build Air Force’s advantage.
“This is an emotional game,” Navy fullback Alexander Teich said. “You’ve got to know that coming into the game as a ref. You’re reffing on CBS, the Navy and Air Force game. You can’t get any more psyched up about a game than that. When you score a touchdown like that, we fought back, we worked so hard. It’s disappointing. It’s pitiful, really.”
Until Navy (2-2) began its comeback, Teich’s frustration could’ve been directed at his own team, which got punished early.
Navy safety Kwesi Mitchell’s missed tackle allowed Ty MacArthur to complete a 52-yard touchdown catch 90 seconds into the game. The Falcons converted their first six third-down attempts by the time Asher Clark froze safety Shawn Lynch for a 23-yard touchdown run and a 21-3 lead for Air Force.
With nothing left to lose, Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo called for an audacious fake punt on fourth-and-10, with upback Jake Juriga catching the snap and taking off for 16 yards. The Mids overcame two fourth downs during their nearly 10-minute drive, only for kicker Jeff Teague to push a 26-yard field goal attempt inches wide right.
Down 28-10 with 14:55 left in the fourth quarter, the Mids found life in the second of three rushing touchdowns on the afternoon for Proctor (37 carries, 134 yards), a 37-yard field goal from Teague, and Brandon Turner’s onside kick recovery with 2:04 remaining.
Proctor defied the odds, and a half-dozen would-be tacklers to keep Navy’s game-tying drive alive with a 27-yard scramble prior to hitting Gee Gee Green with a five-yard scoring toss and pitching to Teich for the two-point conversion that knotted the score at 28-28.
Niumatalolo believed he had Air Force on their heels, but the Big 12 officiating crew had the rule book.
“You’ve got rivalry games, and guys just, ‘Hey guys, chill out,'” Niumatalolo said. “But to make that call then, it’s a huge, huge penalty. It just changes the whole complexion of the deal. I hope those guys can sleep well tonight.”
The win over Navy gives Air Force the inside track on retaining the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy. The Mids possessed the prize for seven straight seasons before losing it to the Falcons last year.
