Perry leads Navy to rout of Army
PHILADELPHIA — Navy used a trick play to help reverse a rare losing streak against Army and Malcolm Perry ran for a career-high 304 yards and two touchdowns in front of President Donald Trump in the No. 21 Mids' 31-7 victory Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field.
Navy (9-2, No. 23, CFP) won the Commander-InChief's Trophy for the 16th time and snapped a three-game losing streak to Army in the 120th game between the service academies.
Navy leads the series 6152-7. The Black Knights (5-8) were trying to win four straight games in the Army-Navy series for the first time since 1993 to 1996.
Perry, the 5-foot-9, 190pound senior quarterback, helped the fleet of foot Navy offense run away with the game with another game for the record book. He ran for a 55-yard TD in the first half, added a 44yard scamper and set Navy season records in yards rushing and total 100-yard games. But his most GIFworthy play didn't end up with his name on the scoring sheet. He took the snap at the 1-yard line, ran to his left and handed off the ball to receiver Chance Warren who threw to Jamale Carothers for the score and a 14-7 lead. It was Navy's twist on the Philly Special — the Naval Special? — at the home of the Philadelphia Eagles.
It was Navy's only yard passing of the game. Perry was the game's MVP.
Perry did not attempt a pass attempt and Army surprise starter Christian Anderson threw just one pass. There was more running at the Linc than at the Penn Relays held down the road each spring.
Anderson wasn't even listed on the two-deep depth chart and got the call over an apparently injured Kelvin Hopkins Jr. Hopkins had two rushing touchdowns last year in Army's 17-10 win over Navy. Anderson sparked the Black Knights on the game's opening drive, scoring on a 5-yard run to cap a methodical 10 minute, 41 second drive.
Perry needed just four plays to even the score on his first dynamic run of the game that sent the Mids into a frenzy. The traditional Philly game drew 68,075 fans and ESPN's “College GameDay” was on hand. The Cadets and Midshipmen stood, saluted, bounced and cheered for the entirety of what's billed as “America's Game.” Trump made a return visit for the second straight year. Trump also was at the 2016 game as president-elect.