Navy's streak entered the second half of Saturday's Army-Navy football game on life support. And Army West Point's bludgeoning run attack appears ready to pull the plug.
Behind two touchdown drives that combined to take up nearly 14 minutes and totaled exactly zero passing yards, the Black Knights marched their way to a 14-0 lead at the break, with sophomore fullback Andy Davidson reaching the end zone twice on 1-yard scoring plunges. The second one came after Army coach Jeff Monken went for it on 4th-and-2 deep in Navy territory; a Davidson run prolonged the drive.
Navy's offense, without standout quarterback Will Worth, managed one first down thanks to senior fullback Shawn White's longest run of the game -- which ended in a fumble, recovered by Army.
Navy quarterback Zach Abey, making his first career start, threw an interception on his first pass attempt. Army's Ahmad Bradshaw fared marginally better, throwing an incomplete shovel pass before a pick of his own. Abey completed the game's first pass -- a third-down throw to senior Jamir Tillman -- with about five minutes left in the half. It was short of the first down.
Army's fifth-ranked defense prevented Navy from establishing any momentum, and its offense kept the Mids off the field almost entirely. Turnovers did the most damage to the Black Knights attack -- aside from the interception, Davidson fumbled in Army territory with about two minutes to go in the second quarter, seemingly giving the Mids life ... until Abey threw an interception on the next play.
Leads at the half aren't new for the Black Knights, who held a 17-14 edge in last year's rivalry contest after two quarters.
Kevin Lilley is the features editor of Military Times.
