A lot of folks expected Air Force to beat Navy on Saturday. After all, the spread was 10.5 points in the Falcons’ favor.
But what was surprising about Air Force’s 17-6 win on Saturday in Annapolis was the way it pulled it off. It was somewhat of a classic service academy game where defense and toughness played a big role, where one or two home run plays made the difference and — while Navy’s backdoor cover failed — where the under in total points safely cashed.
The final points on the board featured the Falcons’ second-lowest scoring total of the season. Air Force scored via a 94-yard pass (which broke the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium record for the longest play from scrimmage), a pick-six and a 40-yard field goal. And on the other side of the ball, the Falcons made the Midshipmen look woefully inadequate. Navy rushed for just 22 yards — its lowest rushing total since a Sept. 3, 1994 loss to San Diego State, in which the Mids scampered for just 20 yards.
Navy’s defense was good, just not quite good enough. Air Force entered this game with the nation’s best percentage on third down conversions (59.4), but the Mids held the Falcons to just 1-of-13 in those situations. Air Force also averages 334.2 rushing yards per game, but Navy held the Falcons to 137 yards.
And still, Air Force won anyway. The Falcons are just that good this year.
Air Force has also now won four straight games against Navy, its longest winning streak against the Mids in more than two decades. The Falcons won six straight from 1997 to 2002.
With the win, Air Force is 7-0 for the first time since 1997. The Falcons have put themselves in the driver’s seat for not just the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy, but also a New Year’s Six Bowl bid. Entering this week, the Falcons were the highest ranked undefeated Group of Five team in the AP Top 25 Poll at No. 22. They’re undefeated and a path to an unbeaten season seems in play.
Photos from the game in Annapolis — which broke the attendance record at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium — are below.
Chrome domes
Air Force typically rolls out alternate uniforms for its clashes with Army and Navy. This year, the Falcons chose to honor the Doolittle Raiders. The helmets and jerseys were sharp, even if they came with a problematic rollout.
The Brigade of Midshipmen had fun
Celebrities showed up
Game action
The coaches
While this was the first C.I.C. game for Brian Newberry as a head coach, Air Force’s Troy Calhoun is now 9-8 all-time against the Mids.
Falcon meets Goat
While the live mascots of both schools got to hang out and chill with each other for a bit, Navy’s, uh, other mascot, got taken for a ride.
