USAFA, CO (Sports Network) - Navy scored the game-winner on a fumble recovery
in the end zone, as the Midshipmen notched a 28-21 overtime win against fellow
service academy Air Force at Falcon Stadium.
Coming off their first shutout loss in six years, the Midshipmen (2-3) were
able to snap a two-game slide to Air Force. It marked the second straight year
these two teams went to overtime, as Air Force beat Navy in a wild 35-34 final
last season in Annapolis. Trey Miller ran for 110 yards in the victory,
although it was right guard Jake Zuzek playing the role of hero with his
fumble recovery in OT.
Cody Getz, who entered the weekend ranked second in the nation in rushing,
rumbled for 204 yards and a touchdown in a losing effort for the Falcons
(2-3). In doing so, Getz became the first Air Force player to post three 200-
yard games in one season. Drew Coleman finished with 106 receiving yards and a
pair of touchdowns in the loss.
Air Force needed just four plays to find the end zone, as Connor Dietz found
Coleman for a 35-yard scoring strike to grab a 7-0 lead a minute and a half
into the game.
Navy scored twice in the second quarter to take a 10-7 lead into the half.
Nick Sloan kicked a 39-yard field goal on the first play of the quarter, and
Noah Copeland scored on a five-yard run with 7:55 to play until intermission.
Four consecutive possessions for Air Force in the first half resulted in a
missed short field-goal attempt and three lost fumbles.
Despite their struggles, the Falcons eventually reclaimed the lead in the
final minute of the third quarter, as Getz capped a 14-play, 83-yard drive
with a 21-yard touchdown run.
A 41-yard field goal by Sloan trimmed the margin to 14-13 with 9:38 to play in
regulation.
However, Air Force answered on the second play of the ensuing possession, as
Dontae Strickland tossed a 54-yard touchdown pass to Coleman to push the
Falcons' lead to 21-13.
Army got the ball back and marched right down the field, as Keenan Reynolds
scored on a 15-yard run with 6:35 remaining. Copeland ran in the two-point
conversion to tie the score at 21-21.
Air Force kicker Parker Herrington, who missed a 27-yard field goal earlier in
the game, had a chance to win it at the end of regulation. However,
Herrington's 51-yard attempt hooked left, his fifth missed field goal in six
tries this season.
Navy got the ball down to the one-yard line on the first possession of
overtime. Reynolds fumbled the center exchange but Zuzek, the right guard,
fell on the ball in the end zone for the improbable touchdown. Navy's defense
held strong on the Falcons' overtime possession, and defensive end Wes
Henderson knocked down Dietz's pass attempt on 4th-and-6 to seal the outcome.
Navy can regain the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy with a win over Army on Dec.
8. Air Force has possessed the trophy for the past two years.
GAME NOTES:
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