Army ends 14-game losing streak to Navy with 21-17 victory
BALTIMORE — The Army football team and its fans around the world can finally rejoice.
No longer will they have to listen to barbs from Navy or lament another missed opportunity in the biggest game of the year.
At long last, The Streak is over.
The Black Knights ended a 14-year run of frustration against the Midshipmen, using an overpowering running game and opportunistic defense to carve out a long overdue 21-17 victory Saturday.
With future commander-in-chief Donald Trump looking on, Army blew a 14-point lead before quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw scored on a 9-yard run with 6:42 left to give the Black Knights the win they had been seeking since 2001.
Army’s 14-game losing streak was the longest by either academy in a series that began in 1890. The Black Knights (7-5) now trail 60-50-7 in one of the nation’s historic rivalries.
“We heard for a long time here at West Point about the streak and all that,” Army coach Jeff Monken said. “It feels good to be a part of the team that put that to an end.”
Navy (9-4) was coming off a physical 34-10 loss to Temple in the American Athletic Conference title game and had only one week to prepare with a new quarterback, sophomore Zach Abey, who was making his first college start. Abey took over for Will Worth, who broke his foot against Temple.
Abey ran for two touchdowns but passed for only 89 yards and was intercepted twice.
Auburn next stop for Stidham
Former Baylor quarterback Jarrett Stidham said he will transfer to Auburn.
The nation’s top junior college prospect, according to the 247Sports composite rankings, announced on Twitter Saturday that it’s “time to start my next chapter at Auburn University.” This fall, Stidham attended McLennan Community College, which does not have a football program.
Stidham is expected to enroll in January and compete with returning starter Sean White for the starting job.
Stidham started 10 games as a freshman with the Bears in 2015, passing for 1,265 yards and 12 touchdowns with just two interceptions. He left the program after coach Art Briles was fired and has three years of eligibility.
Odds and ends
Cincinnati hired Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell as its head coach. He agreed to a sixyear deal pending approval from the board of trustees and will continue to coach the Buckeyes through the playoffs. Fickell, a former Ohio State defensive lineman from Columbus, has been a coach with the Buckeyes since 2002. He spent one season as head coach in 2011, taking over after Jim Tressel was fired during the offseason and going 6-7. ... Easton Stick threw for 188 yards and a score and added 83 yards rushing and two touchdowns as North Dakota State controlled the clock for nearly 41 minutes in a 36-10 victory over South Dakota State at Fargo, N.D., in the Football Championship Subdivision quarterfinals. In the other two FCS playoff games, Youngstown State edged Wofford 30-23 in double overtime and Eastern Washington routed Richmond 38-0.