Navy runs streak to 11 over Army

Navy’s Keenan Reynolds scores on an 8-yard run to give the Midshipmen a 17-13 lead Saturday in the fourth quarter against Army.

Navy’s Keenan Reynolds scores on an 8-yard run to give the Midshipmen a 17-13 lead Saturday in the fourth quarter against Army.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

— Keenan Reynolds extended Navy’s dominance against Army, scoring the winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter in a 17-13 victory in the 113th rivalry game Saturday.

Navy (8-4) beat Army for the 11th consecutive time and won the Commander-in-Chief ’s Trophy awarded to the team with the best record in games among the three service academies. Army and Navy each beat Air Force, putting the prestigious trophy up for grabs in the regular season finale for the first time since 2005.

“It means everything,” Navy Coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “That’s our No. 1 goal, to get the Commander in-Chief’s Trophy. I’m just so happy for these guys.”

Army (2-10) hasn’t hoisted the Commander-in-Chief ’s trophy since 1996.

The Black Knights came close, but Navy recovered a late fumble, and Reynolds’ 8-yard rushing score made it 17-13.

In front of 69,607 fans at Lincoln Financial Field and Vice President Joe Biden at Lincoln Financial Field, Navy caught a break when Army missed a late field goal attempt.

Reynolds quickly found Brandon Turner down the sideline for a 49-yard gain. Reynolds then escaped a rush and followed with the 8-yardtouchdown run with 4:41 left in the game.

Unlike previous game over the last decade, the Black Knights were in this one until the final drive. Army had driven to the 14 when fullback Larry Dixon fumbled on a sloppy exchange. Navy recovered and the Midshipmen went wild and rushed the field.

The Commander-in-Chief’s trophy was coming back to the Naval Academy for a record 13th time after a two-year stint at Air Force. Before Navy started its 11-game winning streak, the longest one in the series, started in 1890, was only five games for either team.

The Midshipmen gathered at midfield and posed with the trophy while their classmates in the stands celebrated the victory.

This one was the toughest victory yet during the streak.

Late in the third, Army’s James Kelly stripped the ball and linebacker Alex Meier recovered to give the Black Knights the ball at Navy’s 37. Eric Osteen kicked a 21-yard field goal 10 plays later for a 13-10 lead.

Osteen, however, was wide left on a 37-yard attempt with 6:57 left in the game.

Navy made them pay on Reynolds’ score. The Midshipmen now lead the series 57-49-7

“It’s hard to do,” Niumatalolo said. “It’s hard to beat anybody in a rivalry game, but to do it that long just speaks volumes about the guys in the white jerseys.”

Navy not only won 10 consecutive, but pretty much dominated the Black Knights, winning games in 2007 and 2008 by a combined 74-3 score.

Navy’s 27-21 victory last season was the tightest margin since the winning streak started.

Sports, Pages 30 on 12/09/2012