There appears to be a dusting of snow on the ground in Philadelphia. I don't recall being at an Army-Navy game with snow, but that would just add to the fun, no? OK, probably not for the people in the stands, but for two option teams, I'm wondering if the ball will be slippery enough not to risk even the few passes both teams might attempt.
Of course I'm rooting for Army to win. Everything I've read gives Army the slightest advantage. But anything can happen in this game, and often does. I want a good game--and I want an Army victory. I want many opportunities to jump up and yell my two favorite words, TOUCHDOWN ARMY!
I'll periodically update this throughout the game. I haven't been to a game in many years, and this is as close as I'll get for awhile. At least I'll get to enjoy it in the temperate environment of Northern California as opposed to the cold of the eastern seaboard. Bring it on, and BEAT NAVY!
(all times PST)
12:00 What an awesome invocation!
12:03 Good job on the national anthem by the combined glee clubs. Snow's falling lightly but steadily. The announcers say it's supposed to get worse as the game progresses.
12:12 I think Navy wins with uniform battle. Heck, you can't even see the army team on the field, what with the snow and Army's ghost-white 10th Mountain Division uniforms!
12:17 Whew, Army gets a 1st down on their first possession. And then a long run down the right sideline!
12:21 4th and 1 on the 5, first and goal!!!
12:22 TOUCHDOWN ARMY!!!
12:29 Navy quarterback keeps getting good yardage on his runs from scrimmage.
12:33 Navy converts on 4th and 1.
12:35 4th down again, about 2 yards to go, inside the red zone. What will Navy do? Timeout....
12:38 With less than a minute left in the 1st quarter, Army leads 7-3. There hasn't been a penalty yet on either side.
12:44 I brought up the penalty issue, then the announcers did--and then a Navy defender held, which gave Army a first down.
12:51 Navy defense holds, the punt is short, Navy takes over on about their own 25.
12:56 Damn, Navy quarterback runs 68 yards for a touchdown.
1:04 Navy held again, good punt, Navy's ball.
1:12 Too gimicky a play, Navy punts and downs it at the Army 37-yard line.
1:16 The long overcoats on the cadets in the stands look soaked. They're going to smell like wet sheep for awhile.
1:18 3rd and 6, the Army quarterback slips and falls for a loss. Gotta punt again.
1:19 5:22 left in the half, Navy 1st and 10 on the 20.
1:22 Army defense holds, bringing up 4th and 2. And damn, Army gets its first penalty--giving Navy a 1st down. As the president would say, YUGE.
1:24 Army defense brings up 4th down again. Navy tried to draw Army offsides, but that isn't gonna work twice. Navy takes it's last timeout with just over a dozen seconds left in the half. Remember, though, that Navy receives the kickoff in the 2nd half.
1:27 Navy punt almost dies at the 1, but it's a touchback. 9 seconds remaining.
1:29 An 8-yard run by Army ends the half. Navy leads 10-7.
Halftime
1:52 Navy starts off the half with good runs, just like the last half.
1:54 Another long run for Navy, looks like 1st and goal at the 10.
1:57 4th and 6, defense holds, field goal is good from 24. Navy 13-7.
2:00 Army kickoff returner runs into a brick wall at the 20. 1st and 10.
2:06 Holy crap, Army completes a pass for a 1st down!
2:07 Good long run by the Army quarterback, 1st and 10 on the 35. FB then runs for 9 more. Showing some spark for the first time since the 1st quarter.
2:11 Army is just being tough up front. 1st and 10 at the 11.
2:13 Damn. False start, 3rd and 13. Really bad time for a penalty.
2:14 Timeout in place of another penalty. Geez. Choking here, Army! Recover during this timeout, come back and score. It's been too long since I've gotten to yell my two favorite words
2:17 End around loses yards, gonna try for the field goal.
2:17 Third quarter ends with Navy leading 13-7.
2:22 35 or so yard field goal is about a yard to the right. What a letdown after such a strong drive.
2:26 It's not much, but I'll take a false start on Navy's first possession of the 4th quarter. Then it was the Navy runner's turn to run into a brick wall!
2:28 Defense does a good job. 4th and long, Navy will punt.
2:29 Army tried to block the punt so there was no return, 1st and 10 Army from about their own 30.
2:33 Army offense is showing toughness up front again.
2:34 4 plays, 3 first downs. Not bad.
2:36 Army back in the red zone!
2:38 First and goal!
2:39 Darn near the first option play for Army, almost dropped for a loss, down at the 1!!!
2:42 After a lengthy review, the ball is placed at the 1/2 yard line. 3rd and goal.
2:43 Took a long time for the officials to undo the pile, but when they did, TOUCHDOWN ARMY! And with the PAT, army leads 14-13 with 5:10 left in the game.
2:46 It's still commercials, ugh. I'm glad I don't have a blood pressure problem, because if I did, this game would cause my heart to explode!
2:48 Bad kick goes out of bounds, 1st and 10 at the 35.
2:52 There hasn't been a turnover yet in this game. In snow. That's pretty impressive. And geez, the announcer just made the same comment about turnovers!
2:53 Almost just had the first one. Navy center snaps the ball to no one, quick thinking by the quarterback (?) resulted in a loss of only 2 yards.
2:56 In one play, Navy got a 1st down. Sheesh.
2:57 3rd and 4. Come on, defense, HOLD!
2:58 Excellent tackle! 4th and a few, this could be for all the marbles. If Army gets the ball back here, they might could run the clock out.
3:00 Army takes a timeout. Both teams are now down to 1 timeout apiece. Still 4th and 3.
3:02 Holy crap. QB bobbled the ball, the play breaks down--and he still gets a 1st down. 1st and 10 at the 25.
3:04 Two false starts for Navy now has them at 3rd and 16. Would be a long field goal....
3:06 The clock showed over 20 minutes left in the 4th quarter, now it's fixed at only 20 seconds left. Army held, Navy will kick a field goal with 3 seconds left.
3:09 NO GOOD! NO GOOD! NO GOOD!
3:14 Time for Army's Alma Mater, and then, for the first time in over 20 years, Army will receive the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy.
3:15 Good lord, different groups of cadets were singing on their own cadence. The words weren't matching the music. How embarrassing.
3:17 Are these guys going to get to visit President Trump to receive the trophy? So much better than seeing his predecessor!!!
3:21 When did this "sing second" become a thing? While I'm sure the winning team probably sang second back in my day, I don't remember it being "a thing". We just sang when the band played our Alma Mater.
What a great game. I'm starting to get my breath back. So many text messages coming in. Whew, total nailbiter! Great game.
3 comments:
Awesome game
Yeah it was.
Actually, it was awesome being in the stands (especially for the second win in the row).
Also, the Alma Mater issue was brought on by the stadium sound system. For some reason, as we sang, the speakers played it about two seconds later. Then some people started singing with the speakers causing even more feedback. Seems like about four groups singing Row, Row, Row Your Boat.
Post a Comment