The College Football Blog: 2012 Independents Game of the Year

Independents Game of the Year

Week 15: Navy vs. Army (17-13)

Highlights: Navy came into this game 7-4, while Army was just 2-9, but the Knights were looking to snap Navy’s 10-game win streak in the series. The Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy was also up for grabs, as both teams had already defeated Air Force. 

While the streak continues, Army is at least making the game more competitive lately. They had a 26-18 edge in 1^st downs and they outgained Navy 418-297. 

Facing 4^th and 5 at the Navy 32 on their first drive of the game, Army nearly picked up the 1^st down but Trent Steelman was stopped a yard shy at the 28. The 1^st quarter ended scoreless. 

On the second play of the 2^nd quarter, Army had a 2^nd and 9 at the Navy 38 and Steelman passed to Raymond Maples for 6 yards before he fumbled. Navy recovered at their own 34 and then marched 66 yards in 9 plays for a TD to go ahead 7-0 with less than 10 minutes left in the half. 

Army responded, this time finally completing the drive, going 75 yards in 9 plays for the touchdown to even it up at 7 apiece. Navy then went 65 yards in 14 plays and kicked a FG to retake the lead, 10-7, with just a half minute remaining in the 2^nd quarter. 

However, a 15-yard personal foul penalty against Navy on the ensuing kickoff gave Army the ball at the 41 with 25 seconds. An 11-yard completion gave the Knights a 1^st down at the 48 of Navy. Steelman then completed a pass for 19 yards to the 29. Steelman then rushed for 5 yards to the 24 and Army took a timeout with 3 seconds showing on the clock. Eric Osteen then booted a FG up and good to tie the score at 10 and give the Knights a huge boost of energy going to halftime. 

In the middle of the 3^rd, Keenan Reynolds fumbled and Army recovered at the Navy 37. Army drove to the Navy 2 but eventually had to settle for a short Osteen FG that gave them a 13-10 lead heading into the 4^th. Early in the 4^th quarter Army marched 67 yards over 10 plays and set up for another Osteen FG try, this one from 37 yards out, but he missed, and Navy took over at their own 20, still down by 3 with 6:57 to play.

The Midshipmen went 80 yards on 7 plays over just 2:16 to take a 17-13 lead with only 4:41 remaining on the clock. Army was backed up to their own 12 on their ensuing possession but they managed to move the ball all the way down to the Navy 14. However, on 1^st down from the 14, Larry Dixon fumbled and Navy recovered at their own 13-yard line with 1:04 on the clock, sealing the win.