Halftime: Army 14 Navy 14
December 10th, 2011 | Army-Navy game | Posted by Mike Hoffman
Just when it looked like Navy might pull away for its 10th-straight victory in this storied rivalry, Army quarterback Trent Steelman led a rally to tie the game at 14 heading into the second half.
Steelman scored Army’s first touchdown on a 34-yard gallop right up the middle of Navy’s defense. He ran through a Navy line that had bottled up Army’s attack led by star defensive end Jabaree Tuani.
Tuani had dictated the first half with a dominant performance causing one fumble, recovering another and tallying one sack. Once Army gained some confidence off Steelman’s touchdown, though, Navy struggled to slow the Army ground attack.
After Steelman’s touchdown, Navy was unable to move the ball and was forced to punt. Army marched right back down the field and scored another touchdown with 49 seconds left in the half on a 5-yard run by junior slotback Malcolm Brown.
Both teams have forgotten about any semblance of a throwing attack, depending on their dominant running games. Army completed the only pass of the game in the second quarter. That hasn’t slowed the offenses. Army has already rushed for 201 yards and Navy has run for 129.
Army quarterback Trent Steelman runs for a 34-yard first-half touchdown to cut Navy's lead in half at 14-7. (AP photo/Evan Vucci)
If Army wants to pull the upset and end their nine-game losing streak, it must do a better job protecting the ball. Army fumbled twice leading to both of Navy’s scores. Army can ill afford to give Navy any more advantages.
Two years ago, Army went into halftime leading Navy 3-0 only to lose 17-3. Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo made adjustments and blew Army out of the water.
“Yes sir, Mr. President.”
December 10th, 2011 | Army-Navy game Navy | Posted by Chris Kelly
Air attack — well, almost
December 10th, 2011 | After Action Army-Navy game | Posted by Kevin Lilley
President Obama, center, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, left, and Vice President Joe Biden, left of Obama, walk to 50-yard line for the coin toss at FedEx Field. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
If you’re tuning in late, a quick recap: Yes, President Obama is in attendance at FedEx Field. And no, he didn’t sign an executive order banning the forward pass.
Army tried one in the first quarter, with Trent Steelman throwing wildly to the opposite side of the field after faking a more-traditional option. Navy’s first real attempt went better, mostly because QB Kriss Proctor never bothered throwing the ball.
Proctor dropped back early in the second quarter, took his time surveying his options, then did what he’s more accustomed to doing — tucking the ball and running. Behind the right side of his offensive line — led by standout senior guard John Dowd — the senior broke free for a 32-yard scamper to the Army 23-yard-line.
Then, back to the ground. Fullback Alexander Teich rumbled around that same right side for a 10-yard score, and the extra point made it 14-0 Mids.
First Quarter: Navy 7-0
December 10th, 2011 | Army-Navy game | Posted by Mike Hoffman
Fumbles have dictated the first quarter of play. Both coaches have kept their game plans conservative, allowing their players to work out the nerves and get a feel for the game.
On Navy’s first possession quarterback Kris Proctor had the Mids rolling until he fumbled it shortly after converting on a 4th down. Army recovered, but quickly returned the favor when star running back Raymond Maples coughed it up. Navy’s Jabaree Tuani recovered setting up the offense.
There was no mistake this time from Navy’s senior quarterback, who punched it in from four yards out to score the only points of the first quarter.
Army has shown the ability to move the ball, but they can’t afford to give the ball up to Navy if they want to break this losing streak. Army ranks 109th in the country in turnover differential.
Two Army players accomplished significant milestones in the first half. Maples eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark making him only the 15th Army rusher to do so. Junior quarterback Trent Steelman gained over 7,000 total yards in his career. He’s only the 4th Black Knight to accomplish the feat.
Second-level standouts on both sides
December 10th, 2011 | After Action Army-Navy game | Posted by Kevin Lilley
Navy quarterback Kriss Proctor is stopped by Army defensive lineman Holt Zalneraitis in the first quarter. (AP photo)
The pagentary’s over. For a few hours, at least, it’s less about history and fancy new uniforms and more about job No. 1 for both teams: Stopping the option run attack.
So far, both teams have prevented big gains — the key to slowing down misdirection offenses that can create open space in a hurry. That duty falls primarily to the linebackers, the defense’s “second level,” who have to sift through the fakes and counters in a split second, find the ball and attempt to separate it from the ball carrier.
Navy senior outside linebacker Jarred Shannon introduced himself to Army QB Trent Steelman on the game’s first drive, helping force a punt. On the next series, it was Army freshman Geoffrey Bacon’s turn — the middle linebacker wasn’t fooled by a Navy counter play to Gee Gee Greene, leading to one of the biggest hits of the game so far.
The option attacks from Army and Navy aren’t identical, but both sides will test the strength (and the reaction time) of the opposing linebacking corps.
Army’s defense broke first, with Navy’s Kriss Proctor running over a defensive back to reach paydirt. Plenty of game left.
It’s on: Army-Navy
December 10th, 2011 | Army-Navy game | Posted by Phil Creed
Midshipmen fill the field during the march-on before the Army-Navy Football game on Dec. 10 (Alan Lessig/Staff)
Stay with us throughout the afternoon as we bring you updates from the Army-Navy game here in Landover, Md. The president and vice president are in the house, and it’s a beautiful sunny afternoon here in the town once known as Raljon.
Army has won the toss and will receive. We’ll check back with you later.
Uneducated guesses: Our staff picks for Army-Navy
December 9th, 2011 | Army-Navy game | Posted by Phil Creed
The wise folks in Las Vegas have the Midshipmen winning this game once again, but the fearless journalists here at Gannett Government Media aren’t so sure. An informal poll of our staff experts was split 50-50. See below for the logic behind the picks:
(The person who comes closest to the actual final score will dress up in a cheerleader outfit on Monday.)
Kate Brannen, reporter for Defense News
Pick: Army
Why: I love an underdog. I hope Army breaks its losing streak tomorrow and wins. I bet it’s going to be a tight game.
Score: Army 21, Navy 17
Philip Creed, Web editor
Pick: Navy
Why: This rivalry will survive if Army loses again, but it sure would pep things up if the Cadets can steal one Saturday. Unfortunately, the Black Knights are atrocious on the road, and the lynchpin of their offense — quarterback Trent Steelman — is coming off of multiple injuries.
Army was 3-1 this season at Michie Stadium (and had bowl-bound San Diego State on the ropes in the one loss) but were a putrid 0-7 on the road or in neutral locations. Only one of those losses — a 35-28 defeat to Miami (Ohio) — was even close. For whatever reason, this team doesn’t travel well, and there’s no reason to believe that will change this week.
Score: Navy 27, Army 13
Michael Hoffman, procrastinator for Defense News
Pick: Army
Why: This is West Point’s year. Junior quarterback Trent Steelman used the past three weeks to recover from the injuries that have plagued his season, and he’ll lead Army to its first win over Navy since 2001.
Score: Army 21 Navy 14
Chris Kelly, Web producer
Pick: Navy
Why: As much as I’d like to pick Army, I can’t for one reason. Fullback Alexander Teich. It’s his final game in a Navy uniform and he’ll be motivated to go out on top. On the season, he has 793 yards on 168 carries, which is second on the team behind Kriss Proctor (938 yards). Teich rushed for only 69 yards in Mids final loss at San Jose State, but I see him bouncing back and having one hell of a performance before heading off to become a SEAL.
Army is coming off three straight losses, including a 42-14 loss at Temple. Quarterback Trent Steelman looks to start, but has faced injuries all season. With his status in question, Army’s offense losses a good deal of experience at the most crucial position.
Final score: Navy 24, Army 10
Kevin Lilley, copy chief for Navy Times
Pick: Navy
Why: Nobody likes to play these things down the middle, but it’s fair to say that Army’s top-ranked rush offense and Navy’s fourth-ranked rush offense are practically identical, from a statistical standpoint (5.59 yards per carry vs. 5.50 ypc). Both teams are going to run. Both teams are going to try to stop the run. It should be a dead heat on the ground.
That means sombody’s gonna have to pass. And Navy’s got the slight edge with a healthy quarterback in Kriss Proctor (Army’s Trent Steelman should be near 100 percent, but it’s uncertain how “near”) and three players — Gee Gee Green, Matt Aiken and Brandon Turner — who’ve at least cracked double digits in receiving. Army has zero.
Final score: Navy, 31-28
Sean Smyth, Web editor
Pick: Army
Why: Why? It’s time, friends, it’s business time.
Final score: Army, 14-10
Blair Tomlinson, Web producer
Pick: I’m picking Army!
Why: The Black Knights aren’t going to let the Midshipmen have a decade of victory, hopefully. They’ll have to rely on their run game to get into the endzone.
Truthfully, that is the extent of my knowledge, my pick is based mostly on the fact that my father served in the Army – so GO ARMY BEAT NAVY!!!
Final score: 35-28, Army.
Marcus Weisgerber, reporter for Defense News
Pick: Navy
Why: As the son of a sailor, I have to go with the Midshipmen. Go Navy! Beat Army!
Score: 31-17, Navy
Guns out: Army Chief says Go Army, Beat Navy!
December 9th, 2011 | Army-Navy game | Posted by Mike Hoffman
Slade Cutter: Streak-snapping kicker turned war hero
December 9th, 2011 | Army-Navy game Football Navy | Posted by Kevin Lilley
Before earning six valor awards as a World War II submariner, Capt. Slade Cutter kicked a streak-ending field goal for Navy in 1934. (Navy.mil image)
Navy’s current nine-game win streak over Army is the longest for either school in the rivalry’s 111-game history. But the Midshipmen went winless in 10 games from 1922 to 1933, a span that featured two ties and two years (1928 and 1929) when no game was played.
How do you end such a drought? With a field goal by a decorated World War II submarine commander, of course.
On Dec. 1, 1934, on a wet Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Navy senior Slade Cutter lined up for a 20-yard first-quarter field goal that even the Navy coaches thought was going to be a fake, according to his obituary on the NavySports.com site. It went through, and a combination of mud and defense kept both teams scoreless the rest of the way.
A life-defining moment for a service-academy athlete of any era. But for Cutter, it was one of many: He played for legendary NFL coach Paul Brown in high school; he was a national collegiate boxing champion; he won a flute competition judged by John Philip Sousa, according to his obituary.
All that came before his World War II submarine service, which began 11 days after Pearl Harbor as the executive officer of the Pompano. Then-Lt. Cutter earned two Silver Stars for his “bravery” and “conspicuous gallantry” aboard the vessel. In late 1943, Cutter took command of the Sea Horse, which sunk 19 Japanese ships under his command, according to a Navy.mil history piece. His obituary reports 23 sinkings, with Cutter refusing to take credit for four unarmed trawlers “despite orders to shoot all enemy craft.”
Lt. Cmdr. Cutter earned four Navy Crosses for his work aboard Sea Horse. Promoted to captain after the war, he would serve as the Naval Academy’s athletic director in the late 1950s and was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1967. He died in 2005 at age 93.
So, Navy’s longest winless streak ended thanks to a field-goal kicker who’d go on to earn six valor awards under the Pacific. Your move, Black Knights.
AfterAction’s Army versus Navy video preview
December 9th, 2011 | Army Army-Navy game Navy | Posted by Chris Kelly
Phil Creed and Michael Hoffman break down Saturday’s match up between the Army Midshipmen and the Army Black Knights.