Jon Teague kicked two fourth-quarter field goals to break a 21-21 tie as the U.S. Naval Academy recorded their 10th straight victory over the U.S. Military Academy Saturday afternoon at FedEx Field by the score of 27-21.
Teague's 23-yarder with just over 12 minutes to play gave Navy the lead for good, and he added a 44-yard three-pointer moments later, after Navy had recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. In all, Navy scored 17 points off three Army turnovers, while Army couldn't manage any points off of two Navy fumbles. Army also committed five penalties and lost a total of 45 yards, while Navy only committed one penalty, costing them just five yards.
Army had a chance to win the game in the fourth quarter, and their last drive went as far as the Navy 24, but the Black Knights failed to convert a fourth-and-7 play and Navy ran out the clock.
Army finished the season at 3-9 and will have to wait at least one more year to record a first victory since 2001 over their respected rivals. It was the closest Army-Navy game since the Midshipmen recorded a 30-28 victory at Baltimore in 2000.
After an early exchange of fumbles, Navy (5-7) took a 7-0 lead as quarterback Kriss Proctor carried the ball in from four yards out late in the first quarter. Fullback Alexander Teich doubled Navy's lead midway through the second quarter when he rumbled into the end zone for a 10-yard score.
Down 14-0, the Black Knights put together a late rally to tie the score at 14-14 entering halftime. First, Trent Steelman ran an option keeper to perfection, crossing the goal line from 34 yards out to cut Army's deficit in half. Then, after a Navy 3-and-out, Army drove 63 yards in 7 plays. The drive was capped by a five-yard touchdown run by Malcolm Brown with just under a minute remaining in the second quarter.
Navy took the second half kick-off and cruised down the field, covering 48 yards in just five plays. This time, the quarterback Proctor took his turn, carrying in from two yards away as Navy retook the lead, 21-14.
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But Army came right back as Steelman hit Brown with a 25-yard touchdown pass, and the extra point by Alex Carlton tied the game at 21-21.
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were among the sellout crowd in attendance. The Commander-in-Chief performed the traditional coin toss before watching the first half with the Brigade of Midshipmen. At halftime, President Obama crossed over to the other side of the stands, where he watched the remainder of the game with the Corps of Cadets.
