Navy Midshipmen vs Army Black Knights Match Player Stats On Dec 10, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Dec 10, 2016

BALTIMORE -- Army quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw scored the go-ahead touchdown midway through the fourth quarter and the Black Knights ended a 14-game losing streak against Navy with a 21-17 victory in their 117th meeting on Saturday.

Fullback Andy Davidson rushed for a pair of touchdowns and the Black Knights (7-5) amassed 316 yards on the ground to control the clock and earn their first win over the Midshipmen since Dec. 1, 2001.

On a fourth-and-1 from Navy's 18, Davidson ran seven yards for a first down. That set up the 9-yard score by Bradshaw with 6:42 left in the game.

Army, which entered the game second in the nation in total defense, shut the Midshipmen down the rest of the way.

Navy (9-4) has been ravaged by injuries, losing two starting quarterback and a pair of slot backs out at different points of the season. That challenge proved to be too difficult to overcome against Army.

MIdshipmen sophomore quarterback Zach Abey was forced into his first career start after Will Worth went down last week in the American Athletic Conference championship game against Temple. After a sluggish first half where he had a pair of interceptions and passer rating of minus-66.5, Abey finally found some rhythm in third quarter.

A fumble by the Black Knights on their own 32 allowed the Midshipmen to get back in the game. Navy took advantage of the short field and pulled to within 14-7 on 1-yard touchdown run by Abey.

A 28-yard field goal by Bennett Moehring cut the margin to 14-10. Abey then gave the Midshipmen their first lead when he rumbled for a 41-yard score with 12:42 remaining in the game.

The Black Knights responded on the ensuing drive on Bradshaw's run and held on for the win.

Abey was 6 of 10 for 89 yards with two interceptions.

Navy was effective moving the ball on the game's first drive before fullback Shawn White fumbled on the Army 34. The Midshipmen had eight turnovers in the first 11 games, but five in the past two matchups.

This was one was costly as Army scored on the ensuing drive on a 1-yard plunge by Davidson. The Black Knights increased the lead to 14-0 on another 1-yard run by Davidson with 7:12 left in the half.

NOTES: Army will take on North Texas in the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl on on Dec. 27. ... Navy plays Louisiana Tech in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 23. ... President-elect Donald Trump attended the game and was cheered when shown on the scoreboard.