Army blanks archrival Navy, 15-0
WEST POINT, N.Y. — For the better part of the past two decades, Navy fielded one of the most feared rushing attacks in college football. Just last season, the Midshipmen set a singleseason school record for rushing yards (4,687) while leading the nation in that category for the sixth time since 2003.
On a dark, overcast and extremely foggy day at West
Point, a nationwide audience watched a dysfunctional Navy offense get shutout in a 15-0 loss to archrival Army. College football fans accustomed to seeing the Midshipmen’s triple-option pile up the yards and points while chewing up the clock were wondering what in the world has happened.
Freshman quarterback Xavier Arline directed an attack that could not get out of its way all game at Michie Stadium. Save for one big gain, it was ugly from start to finish as the Midshipmen (3-7) were limited to four first downs and 117 total yards
— one of the worst offensive performances in program history.
It was the first time Army has shutout Navy since 1969 when it won 27-0.
Navy’s only scoring opportunity came early in the second half after Arline broke loose on a 53-yard run to set up first-and-goal from the 2-yard line. However, Army’s defense mounted an impressive goal-line stand that produced a turnover on downs and the visitors never threatened again.
Arline, making his third career start, was the entire Navy offense and finished with 109 rushing yards. Fullback Nelson Smith was the only other ball-carrier to post positive yardage — gaining 23 yards on 11 carries.
Sophomore quarterback Tyhier Tyler rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown to lead Army (8-2), which has won four of the past five meetings with the Mids. Tyler set up a field goal with a 28-yard pass to slotback Tyrell Robinson.
Army can capture the Commanderin-chief ’s Trophy championship for the third time since 2017 by beating Air Force next Saturday at Michie Stadium.
Navy’s offensive futility wasted yet another outstanding effort by the defense, which held Army to eight first downs and 162 total yards. The Midshipmen scored 13 points over the final three games.
A pair of Navy penalties helped Army strike first. The Midshipmen faced thirdand-2 at their own 31-yard line when a slotback was whistled for false start, spoiling the drive and forcing a punt.
Navy was subsequently whistled for interfering with punt returner Tyrell Robinson and that 15-yard infraction set up Army in enemy territory.
Outside linebacker Nicholas Straw bit on play-action fake and that allowed Robinson to get wide-open off a wheel route. Tyler delivered a perfect strike and the 28-yard gain put the Black Knights in the red zone.
Navy’s defense rose to the occasion with end J’arius Warren, who had a career-high 14 tackles, dropping Tyler for a loss on third down. Quinn Maretzki came on to kick a 37-yard field goal to give the Black Knights (8-2) a 3-0 lead at the 12:41 mark of the second quarter.
Navy went three-and-out on its next two possessions and that enabled Army to gain an advantage in field position. The Black Knights got the ball in Midshipmen territory following another short punt by Daniel Davies and that led to another field-goal attempt.
This time, Maretzki was thrown off his routine because the holder bobbled the snap and a 38-yard attempt went wide left.
Navy went three-and-out for the fourth straight possession and the half ended with Army leading 3-0. To call the first half a defensive struggle would be an understatement. Navy only managed two first downs on 52 rushing yards, while Army picked up just three first downs on 80 total yards (52 rushing, 28 receiving).
The Midshipmen got the ball to start the second half and Arline broke loose on second down. Working out of shotgun formation, Arline followed fullback Nelson Smith into a huge hole on the right side and burst past the second level. He made a sharp cutback to juke free safety Cedrick Cunningham, who did not give up on the play.
Cunningham chased down Arline from behind and tripped him up just short of the goal line. Arline tried to stretch the ball into the end zone, but a replay review showed his knee touched at the 2-yard line.
No matter. It set up first-and-goal and surely Navy could pick up 2 yards on three plays. It turns out the Midshipmen were unable to do so on four plays.
Smith picked up a yard plowing straight ahead on first down. Instead of sending Smith north-south again, the play call sent him east-west. Smith took a pitchout and was quickly swarmed by multiple defenders, losing a yard.
Smith went up the middle on third down and got the yard back, setting up fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo could have chosen a chip-shot field goal attempt to tie the score but decided to go for the touchdown instead.
Smith got the call again and followed left guard Billy Honaker, who got a little push. Senior end Amadeo West led the Army’s charge as Smith was stacked up by the defense and officials ruled the 213-pound senior fullback was stopped short.
As was the case all game, Navy’s defense forced a three-and-out and Army was forced to punt from its own end zone. Zach Harding made one of the most important plays of the game, booming a 48-yard punt that prevented Navy from flipping the field position.