College football: Army rallies late to beat Navy in double overtime
Saturday’s Army-Navy game lived up to its reputation as a contest for heroes.
In perhaps the ugliest offensive display of the season for Army, it was defense and special teams that saved the afternoon and salvaged a 6-6 season.
Kalvyn Crummie punched the ball away from Navy running back Anton Hall that was headed for a sure touchdown in the second overtime and Darius Richardson dove into the pile to secure the fumble at the 1-yard line. On Army’s possession, Quinn Maretzki booted a 39-yarder that won it as the Black Knights prevailed 20-17 before 69,117 at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field.
“It’s obviously a big moment, but I try my best to put that aside,’’ Maretzki said. “Just being able to block everything out, (my teammates) just made that job so easy for me. So I just had to go out there and not even really think.’’
“This team never stopped fighting, they never stopped believing,’’ said Army head coach Jeff Monken, whose teams have won six of the last eight meetings with Navy. “Somehow, some way, we found a way to get it done tonight. It was an epic battle. It was one I’ll remember for a long time, probably forever.’’
Army started the season at 1-4 but finished at .500. Monken’s teams have produced only one losing season (2019) over the last seven.
“Obviously disappointed for our guys,’’ said Navy head coach Ken Niumataolo, whose team finished 4-8. “They put everything on the line. A lot of plays in the game could have changed the outcome.’’
Frustration ruled the day for both offenses: Navy had 235 rushing yards through regulation and Army had only 97 on the ground (and two receptions for 28) after four quarters. Billy Boehlke punted on Army’s first eight drives and Navy’s Riley Reithman punted 10 times.
Regulation time boiled down to two significant plays.
Trailing 3-0 with 1:16 left in the half, Army’s Noah Short broke in untouched to block a Reithman punt and Jabril Williams needed two attempts to fall on the ball in the end zone, barely avoiding the end line with his right foot, for a touchdown and 7-3 halftime lead.
Quarterback Tyhier Tyler appeared to give Army a two-score lead midway through the third quarter with a 40-yard touchdown run off the left side of the line – however, receiver Isaiah Alston was whistled for a block in the back. Two more Army penalties on the drive forced the Black Knights to punt. Navy got the ball on its own 23 and Hall staked himself as the apparent hero with a 77-yard scoring run off the right side – guard Ahmad Bradley pulled on the play and made the crucial block on Army’s Camden O’Gara and Nathaniel Smith.
That 10-7 Navy lead held firm through three Army failed drives. Army got good field position near midfield on a short punt. A pass interference call on Navy linebacker Will Harbour (he grabbed the shoulder of a sprinting Ay’Jaun Marshall) put the ball at the Midshipmen 28. Army stalled there but Maretzki drilled a 37-yard field goal down the middle to tie the game with 1:53 to play.
Army’s vaunted fullback attack of Jakobi Buchanan and Tyson Riley has been neutralized for weeks due to injuries. That left it up to sophomore Markel Johnson, who bolted 25 yards on the first play of overtime – skipping over an ankle tackle attempt by Eavan Gibbons – for Army’s lone offensive touchdown and a 17-10 OT lead.
Undaunted, Navy scored on its first OT snap. The Midshipmen finally made a completion on their fourth attempt as Xavier Arline found Maquel Haywood wide open on the right side in an apparent defensive breakdown.
In the second OT, a 6-yard sprint by a hobbled Arline converted a critical third down and Hall busted 11 yards off the right side to the Army 4. Arline was stuffed for 2 yards and no gain. Hall got the next carry but Crummie dove to his right to punch the ball free and Richardson dove back into the scrum for the hard-fought recovery.
“It was a tough year for that young man,’’ Niumataolo said of Hall, who lost three friends in the recent University of Virginia shooting of four football players on a field trip. Hall had seven carries for 99 yards. “I always speak truth to our guys, I always will. You have to take care of the ball. … No words will console him.’’
Army managed only three yards on three carries, putting the fate of the game on Maretzki’s right foot. His 39-yarder sailed a bit right but inside the upright for the winner. Maretzki burst off into a sprint lap around the field as teammates chased him down to congratulate.
“Every play of this game feels like the whole game is hanging in the balance’’ Monken said. “It’s been fought like that tonight.’’
Army split quarterback duties. Cade Ballard got the start, with Tyler often lining up in the backfield. Ballard completed only two of 10 throws and ran nine times for 23 total yards. Tyler missed both of his throws and ran 23 times for 79 positive yards (and 17 negative). Ballard was in for 32 snaps from center and Tyler for 25.
Notable
Leo Lowin led Army with 16 tackles while Marquel Broughton and Chris Frey each had 10 and Jimmy Ciarlo nine. … Navy leads the series 62-54-7. … It was the first extra time needed since the NCAA instituted the overtime rule in 1996. … Seven of the last nine meetings have been decided by one score. Navy was a 2.5-point favorite. … It was the 90th time the teams have met in Philadelphia and the 14th at Lincoln Financial. … Navy beat East Carolina in 2 OT and Temple in 1 OT this season. Army had lost to Texas San Antonio in 1 OT on Sept. 10.
Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Army-Navy football recap: Black Knights win in double OT
