By Jake Russell
Navy may have to start getting used to this. Yeah, they've always received Army's best shot every time the rivals matched up, even during the Midshipmen's series-long 14-game winning streak. Now the tide is turning in favor of the Black Knights.
Thanks to a 14-13 win on a beautiful, snowy Saturday in Philadelphia, Army has beaten Navy in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1995-1996. The Black Knights also claimed possession of the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy for the first time in 21 years.
Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo hid the decision to start Malcolm Perry at quarterback over Zach Abey until game day thinking it would give the Mids an advantage. Despite Perry putting up the second-most rushing yards (250) of any Navy player against Army, it did not.
Perry scored on a 68-yard touchdown in the second quarter but the offense mustered little else, only posting two field goals after failing to score inside Army's 11-yard-line in both of those drives.
The Black Knights scored the go-ahead touchdown with 5:10 to play, energizing the entire Army half of Lincoln Financial Field. Navy drove into Army territory but the combination of mishandling the football and two false start penalties were too much to overcome. Kicker Bennett Moehring had the chance to play hero as time expired but a 48-yard field goal in wintry conditions proved too much.
The junior's kick sailed wide left and the hopes of the Mids starting another streak were put on pause for another year as the arch rivals from West Point continued one for the first time in more than two decades.
Navy will close out its season at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium against Virginia in the Military Bowl on Thursday, December 28 at 1:30 p.m.
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