Mids run series-record winning streak to nine games
PHILADELPHIA – Army was marching goal-ward and Navy safety Wyatt Middleton was visibly frustrated. Three straight times Black Knights ball carriers had bolted through the line, leaving Middleton – the Mids’ last line of defense — to help make the stop.
But on the next play, Middleton changed the momentum, and the game.
Snatching a fumble from mid-air and racing 98 yards for a touchdown, Middleton gave Navy the boost it needed for its series-record ninth straight victory in the 111th edition of the storied rivalry, 31-17, before a crowd of 69,223 at Lincoln Financial Field.
The improved and inspired Black Knights (6-6) broke their string of three straight Army-Navy games without a touchdown, and late in the first half were on the verge of cutting Navy’s 17-7 lead when Middleton turned the game around.
“It was a big swing,” said Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo. “They had us reeling right there.”
» Ricky Dobbs’ 77-yard touchdown pass to John Howell was the longest pass play in Army-Navy history.» Navy leads the series 55-49-7.» Linebacker Stephen Anderson led the Army defense with 12 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.» Middleton’s fumble recovery was his fifth this season, tied for most in the nation.Up nextPoinsettia BowlNavy vs. San Diego StateWhen » Thursday (Dec. 23), 8 p.m.Where » Qualcomm Stadium, San DiegoTV/Radio » ESPN/1050 AM» San Diego is a familiar bowl stop for the Midshipmen. Navy played in the inaugural Poinsettia Bowl (2005) and the inaugural of its forerunner, the Holiday Bowl (1978), winning both games.» Oddly, this will be just the second time San Diego State has played a bowl game at home. The Aztecs lost to Iowa in the 1986 Holiday Bowl.» The losses for San Diego State (8-4) of the Mountain West came by a combined 15 points. The losses for Navy (9-3) came by a combined 12 points.» The only common opponent between the teams was Air Force. The Aztecs defeated the Falcons 27-25. The Midshipmen lost to their service academy rival, 14-6.
The play was made possible by senior linebacker Tyler Simmons, who stood Army quarterback Trent Steelman up at the 2-yard line, knocking the ball lose. Middleton plucked it from the air and streaked the other way for the first touchdown in his career, spanning 49 starts.
“I just happened to be the guy who was there to catch it,” said Middleton, a senior who was named the game’s most valuable player. “Before the game I told coach [Buddy] Green I was going to score a touchdown. He was like, yeah, OK.”
The play allowed Navy (9-3) to survive a day when quarterback Ricky Dobbs committed four turnovers.
“I was praying,” said Dobbs. “Just like in basketball. A good shooter has a short-term memory.”
But Dobbs (6 of 11, 186 yards) also had some spectacular moments. He came out firing, throwing seven passes in the first quarter, two more than he had attempted in the first period of any game in his career. The strategy worked. The senior tossed touchdown strikes of 77 yards to sophomore slot back John Howell and 32 yards to sophomore wideout Brandon Turner as the Midshipmen built a 17-0 lead before Army gained a first down.
“They play a lot of man [to man],” said Niumatalolo. “We had some match-ups we thought we could take advantage of.”
Army coach Rich Ellerson admitted his defense is vulnerable to deep throws, but praised the execution of Navy.
“When you’re committing that much to defend the run, you’re going to put people on islands in the passing game,” said Ellerson. “Give them credit. They threw and caught really well. We need to make some plays on the back end.”
But Dobbs’ domination would not continue. When he fumbled for the second time in the game and Army defensive end Josh McNarry recovered at the Navy 23, the Black Knights followed with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Steelman (11 of 20, 128 yards) to slot back Malcolm Brown to make it 17-7.
After Dobbs again fumbled on the ensuing possession, McNary making the strip and senior linebacker Stephen Anderson (Damascus) recovering at the Navy 48, Army moved efficiently, gaining four first downs. But on first and goal at the 3, Middleton made his game-changing play.
“We crawled back in with turnovers,” said Ellerson. “And we shut the door down with turnovers.”
The second half was inconsequential, Navy removing all doubt with a clock-milking, spirit-sapping drive that last 9 minutes, 3 seconds. Sophomore Gee Gee Greene’s 25-yard touchdown sprint made it 31-10 with 5:44 to go.
Army retaliated with Steelman’s second touchdown pass to Brown, a sophomore, who ran a post pattern for a 45-yard score, cutting the lead to 31-17. Army got the ball back and threatened again, driving inside the Navy 10, but junior linebacker Aaron McCauley sacked Steelman (19 carries, 74 yards). Two plays later, sophomore linebacker Matt Warrick halted Steelman short on a fourth down scramble, to end the Black Knights hopes with 5 seconds left.
Linebackers Simmons (13 tackles, 2 forced fumbles), Warrick (13 tackles) and McCauley (11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss) led a Navy defense that limited Army to 337 yards, many of them in garbage time.
“It’s special in its own way,” said McCauley of Navy’s success against Army.
“We’re practicing for this game all year,” added Simmons.
The win ended a regular season that was trying after tough losses to Maryland, Air Force, and Duke.
“We had some really high expectations for ourselves and maybe they got the best of us,” said Dobbs (20 carries, 54 yards). “After the Air Force game, we picked it up, bounced back … I think there was a turning point as far as us having fun.”
For Army, it was a positive step in its effort to compete with Navy. But the loss still stung. The Black Knights entered with the belief that the Mids could be beaten.
“What we proved is that we can play with a really good football team. We haven’t played with them for 60 minutes, and you have to play all 60 minutes,” said Ellerson. “The difference is 60 minutes of those suckers. Our guys are in there looking at each other like, ‘We can hang with this bunch. We can compete there.’ But that’s not the same as doing it, or not doing it for 60 minutes.”
