Each week, we’ll look back on what our expert analysts thought each team needed to do to secure victory in our NCAA Football broadcasts, brought to you by Pennzoil.
- December 8th – Halftime score: Army 10 – Navy 10
(Listen to Terry Donahue’s Keys to the Second Half from our broadcast)
Army: Terry said the Black Knights needed to keep stopping the Navy run game and shut down Noah Copeland.
Army Verdict: After picking up 81 yards on 15 carries in the first half, Copeland managed just 18 yards on seven carries after halftime and the Army defense largely kept Navy in check. In the end, it was a long pass that sealed Army’s fate. Keenan Reynolds’ 49-yard strike to Brandon Turner got Navy within striking distance of the go-ahead touchdown and Reynolds did the rest with an eight-yard TD run.
Navy: For the Midshipmen, Terry said the key was matching Army’s intensity and emotion.
Navy Verdict: When it counted, Navy made the plays necessary to win for an 11th consecutive time in the series. After taking the 17-13 lead on Reynolds’ TD run, the Mids defense was rocking. Army had driven the ball down to the Navy 14-yard line and was looking poised for the go-ahead score. Then disaster struck for the Black Knights with just over 1:00 remaining. Fullback Larry Dixon and quarterback Trent Steelman didn’t connect on a hand off and the ball fell to the turf. That’s when Navy nose guard Barry Dabney reached his arm out and quickly pulled the ball in. A mad pileup ensued, but Dabney held on — just like Navy did in winning America’s Game yet again.
