Air Force Falcons @ Navy Midshipmen Football Recap

Air Force 35, Navy 34 – OT

What the college football community should have remembered from a spellbinding afternoon in Annapolis, Maryland, is that two service academy teams staged a thrilling and rousing college football game filled with big plays and ballsy responses to adversity. However, the only thing that the common fan will remember from this Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy tilt is that a taunting penalty thrown against Navy’s quarterback in overtime cast a pall over the proceedings.

Once again, it was a memorable battle between Air Force and Navy. Even after Air Force got out to an early big lead in Annapolis, it could almost be expected that Navy would make a game out of it. But a blocked extra point attempt in overtime following a dubious unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was the final difference, and Air Force escaped with a 35-34 overtime win on Saturday.

Air Force got it going very early when Ty MacArthur took a Tim Jefferson pass 52 yards for a touchdown just 1:30 into the game. Jefferson’s accuracy was key to the Falcons’ offensive success, as he would finish 9-10 for 136 yards through the air on the afternoon. Later in the quarter, Jefferson would punch in a two-yard run. The only score in the second quarter also went to Air Force, a 23-yard touchdown run to Asher Clark. Navy looked dead, and the Falcons took a 21-3 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The offense from the Midshipmen had shown no signs of being dynamic enough to overcome a big deficit on the day, so when Air Force’s Clark found the endzone again to open the fourth quarter to give the Falcons a 28-10 lead, it felt like it was just a matter of time ticking down and Air Force would leave with a win. But Kriss Proctor had other ideas for Navy. The left-handed quarterback leading Navy’s version of the option attack got Navy going with 9:34 left on a seven-yard touchdown run to cut the score to 28-17. The fourth quarter seemed like it was all meant for Proctor to take over and become a service-man’s hero. Proctor diced through Air Force’s defense the entire frame, picking up yards with his feet, or buying time on passing plays until receivers got open for him.

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Continuing the battle back in the first step to reclaim the Commander-in-Chief Trophy, Navy took a drive to the Air Force 20-yard line where it stalled. Needing two scores, Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo chose to kick a field goal, and Jon Teague came through with a 37-yarder. But down 28-20 with just two minutes left, Navy needed the ball back. Teague teed up a perfect onside kick that moved past Air Force’s front line and was recovered by Navy. Proctor put Navy in great position with a dazzling 27-yard run in which he juked some tacklers and broke through others. With just 19 seconds left, Proctor found Gee Gee Greene with a five-yard touchdown pass. An option pitch to Alexander Teich at the left pylon gave Navy a two-point conversion, and the Midshipmen had miraculously forced overtime.

Navy kept its momentum going in overtime, moving in quickly for a touchdown. But Proctor was flagged for taunting after getting in the face of some Air Force players after the score. Navy’s point-after attempt was blocked. Soon after Jefferson put Air Force inside Navy’s ten-yard line with a 11-yard pass on the Falcons’ first overtime play, he punched in a one-yard run to tie the game at 34-34. Parker Herrington confidently put through the extra point, and Air Force escaped Annapolis with the upper-hand in defending its Commander-in-Chief title.

Navy outgained Air Force 466-359 led by Teich and Proctor, who combined for an amazing 72 carries and 282 yards. Asher Clark led Air Force with 91 rushing yards. The Falcons, now at 3-1, prepare to travel to South Bend to take on Notre Dame next week. Navy will host Southern Mississippi.

By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer