Advertisement

Army breaks 14-game losing streak to Navy with dramatic 21-17 win

Army quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw ran for 51 yards and the game-winning touchdown. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Army quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw ran for 51 yards and the game-winning touchdown. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

The streak is over.

After losing to rival Navy 14 times in a row dating back to 2001, Army knocked off the 25th-ranked Midshipmen 21-17 Saturday in Baltimore.

The Black Knights fumbled away a 14-0 lead but went ahead for good with 6:00 to play on a nine-yard touchdown run by quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw. The touchdown run capped off a 12-play, 80-yard drive that immediately followed Navy taking its first lead of the game.

Army completely controlled things early on. The Black Knights controlled the ball for 22:32 of the game’s first 30 minutes and allowed Navy to gain just 49 yards, but took just a 14-0 lead into the break.

Army’s lead likely would have been larger at half if not for two turnovers. Those turnover issues carried over into the second half as Bradshaw fumbled on the team’s second play from scrimmage in the third quarter. That fumble gave Navy a short field, and the Midshipmen capitalized when quarterback Zach Abey, making his first career start in place of injured Will Worth, scored from a yard out.

The Midshipmen followed up the score by forcing an Army three-and-out, and then cut the lead to 14-10 with a field goal. With the momentum completely in its corner, Navy finally took its first lead early in the fourth when Abey kept on the option, broke at least three tackles and scampered 41 yards into the end zone.

The score gave the Midshipmen a 17-14 lead. It was a moment that had to feel all too familiar for Army. Four of the last five games in the series have been decided by a touchdown or less. But instead of this turning into another heartbreaker, the Black Knights stormed back.

Army opened the ensuing drive with a rare pass. Bradshaw took his first shot downfield all game and found Edgar Poe for a big 29-yard gain. From there, the option went back to work with five different Army runners moving the ball inside the Navy 20. On fourth-and-inches from the Navy 18, Army went to leading rusher Andy Davidson. The 220-pound Davidson shook off two fumbles to plow ahead for a seven-yard gain and a clutch first down.

Two plays later, Bradshaw barreled his way into the end zone for the go-ahead score.

There was still 6:00 remaining when Navy regained possession, but the drive quickly went nowhere. Despite having just a single timeout left, Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo decided to punt the ball back to Army instead of going for it on fourth-and-four from his own 40.

[Related: Donald Trump didn’t seem impressed by quality of Army-Navy game]

From there, Army was able to pick up a few first downs to seal the win — its first in the series since 2001.

The win gives Army a 7-5 record heading into the Heart of Dallas Bowl against North Texas on Dec. 27. Navy drops to 9-4 and will round out its season against Louisiana Tech in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 23.

More college football from Yahoo Sports:

– – – – – – –

Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!