Navy took a big step in keeping the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy in Annapolis by defeating Air Force, 16-13, in overtime on Saturday.
If the Midshipmen defeat Army on Dec. 12, Navy will win an unprecedented seventh straight Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. They haven’t been this successful since the early 1960s when Roger Staubach was under center.
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The Midshipmen spent most of the 80s and 90s on the losing end of the service academy award. From 1982-2000, Navy beat Air Force twice. But recently the Mids have prevailed by being the better team in the fourth quarter. The combined margin of their seven straight wins over the Air Force is 36 points. Saturday’s margin came by way of a converted 38-yard field goal by Navy’s Joe Buckley and a 31-yarder that was missed by Air Force’s Erik Soderberg.
Games between the service academies have a special atmosphere. Saturday’s game, before a sellout crowd, on a beautiful, cloudless day will long be remembered.
“That’s the most emotional feelings I’ve ever had in a game,” said Navy senior linebacker Tony Haberer. “Just going out there and playing for the brotherhood.”
