Navy has beaten Army in their annual football game that ends the college football regular season 11 years in a row now, although I really, really don't remember hearing the last time the Cadets beat the Midshipmen. It's already a beatdown, and yet it still feels longer.
Army had a great chance to end that losing streak back on the 8th, though. The Cadets/Black Knights led to start the fourth quarter 17-13 before the Middies scored a touchdown with 4:41 left. But Army was able to march down the field with ease.
The Cadets were at the Navy 14 when their Quarterback, Trent Steelman, fucked up a handoff to his Fullback, Larry Dixon. The Midshipmen recovered the fumble and ran out the clock.
This was the second straight year Army outgained Navy in yards. Although it's the Middies who are known for running the ball, the Black Nights ran through the Middies defense for 370 yards. But it was that turnover, one of three Army committed (to Navy's one), that was the difference. And Army, who drop to 2-10, lose both the Commander-in-Chief's trophy and the chance to finally say they beat Navy after more than a decade.
Right after the turnover, through the final whistle and into the tradition where both teams sing both service academies' fight songs (loser first), Steelman was inconsolable. I don't think I've ever seen a football player cry like that without first putting a towel over his head. This guy is going into the Army after this year. But at that moment he couldn't handle the weight of losing four straight times to that other school. The just-completed loss, mostly at his hands, weighed the most, obviously.
Nevertheless it was nice to see Navy Head Coach Ken Niumatalolo try to find Steelman and give him a hug. They finally did while the teams were walking from the Army side to the Navy side of the field to sing the winners' alma mater. Hope he finds peace with this defeat.
Till then, poor bastard.
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