America’s Game: Navy Beats Army

Joe MorganDecember 11, 2021

For the 122nd time, Army and Navy met in “America’s Game” on Saturday, officially bringing an end to the college football regular season.

Here comes Navy.
Here comes Army.
What a scene. pic.twitter.com/5xlCFttpPG

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 11, 2021

Entering the game, Army had won four of the previous five matchups between the two teams, but the 3-8 Midshipmen got back on track, having the honor of singing their team’s alma mater second following an upset 17-13 thriller at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

“This is everything our program is about, trying to crush those guys,” Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo said after the game. “I have great respect for Monk [Army coach Jeff Monken] and West Point, but for this day it’s all about beating them. And then we go back to being brothers in arms.”

Army got off to a fast start with a 56-yard touchdown run from quarterback Christian Anderson to cap off a four-play, 75-yard dive on the opening possession of the game.

CHRISTIAN ANDERSON IS GONE. TOUCHDOWN ARMY. pic.twitter.com/xwiI0p0Dia

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 11, 2021

Navy quickly responded with a touchdown of their own, going 11-plays and 83 yards on their first possession, evening the score at 7-7 on an eight-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Tai Lavatia. Army held Navy to just 47 yards the rest of the half, tacking on two field goals to take a 13-7 lead into halftime.

The second half started much like the first for Navy, marching 10-plays and 74 yards on their opening drive of the third quarter. A 24-yard completion from Lavatia to Maquel Haywood on third-and-five kept the drive alive, and Lavatia punched it in from two yards out for his second rushing touchdown of the game, putting Navy up 14-13.

Navy’s defense took it the rest of the way, allowing just 57 yards in the second half, including a fourth down stop with just under 1:30 to go in the fourth quarter to ice the game for Navy.

Unlike last year’s matchup, the President of the United States did not attend Saturday’s game, though the White House did show support for both teams.

“The President is so proud to be the Commander-in-Chief of such an incredible group of warriors,” White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

Twenty years after the attacks on September 11th, Saturday’s matchup was especially emotional for all those involved, past and present.

“This being the 20th anniversary, the magnitude of it really adds that layer but then the final withdrawal from Afghanistan. … There’s an emotional toll. There’s a grieving,” former Army quarterback Captain Chad Jenkins told the New York Post.

On Friday, both Cadets and Midshipmen came together to remember those who lost their lives during the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York.

We will never forget.

Cadets and Midshipmen joined together at One World Trade on Friday to lay a wreath underneath the Survivor Tree. #ArmyNavy #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/NH8XV9d9yD

— Army-Navy Game (@ArmyNavyGame) December 10, 2021

Navy finishes the season 4-8, while Army drops to 8-4. The Black Knights still have one game remaining on their schedule, with a matchup against Missouri in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Wednesday, December 22.

Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].

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