Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
4-8
Navy
7-5
Comeback Attempt Falls Short Against Navy
December 13, 2014 | Football
Army picked up 198 of its 235 yards on the ground, with fullback Larry Dixon leading the way with 90 yards on 14 attempts in his final collegiate game. Linebacker Jeremy Timpf recorded a game-high 15 tackles, while linebacker Andrew King also registered double-digit stops with 11.
Quarterback Keenan Reynolds carried for 100 yards and totaled 77 more through air on 6-of-8 passing for Navy. Reynolds and receiver Jamir Tillman each accounted for touchdowns, and linebacker Jordan Drake paced the team with 11 tackles.
After forcing a three-and-out on Navy's opening possession, Army got on the board, thanks to a punt block from defensive back Josh Jenkins. Jenkins got a hand on Pablo Beltran's punt from inside the Midshipmen's 10-yard line before wide receiver Xavier Moss scooped up the loose ball and scored on a seven-yard return with 9:36 to play in the first half.
The blocked punt came as Jenkins' second in as many games, as the sophomore registered a block that resulted in a touchdown during Army's 42-31 victory over Fordham on Nov. 22, while the score marked the first time since 2009 that the Black Knights have struck first in the Army-Navy Game.
Army's defense held Navy in check early on, as the Black Knights force three-and-outs on the Mids' first three possessions while limiting the offense to just 14 yards.
The Black Knights' offensive unit experienced its share of struggles in the opening half, as it crossed midfield on just two possessions. Army made it down to Navy's 30-yard line before being stopped on a fourth-and-one rushing attempt late in the second quarter.
Navy registered its initial first down on its first possession of the second quarter, but was eventually halted on the drive after defensive lineman Andrew King forced a fourth-and-16 by knocking slot back Ryan Williams-Jenkins back for a loss of six yards on second-and-10.
The Midshipmen found an answer for Army's special teams touchdown with just 18 seconds remaining in the half, as Reynolds conducted a six play, 70-yard scoring drive which culminated in a nine-yard hookup with Tillman. Reynolds registered 60 yards through the air on the drive, setting up the scoring opportunity with a 39-yard completion to Tillman.
Navy converted a field goal on its first possession of the second half to take its first lead of the contest. The Midshipmen drove only 22 yards, but chewed up 5:17, as Austin Grebe's kick was successful from 45 yards out with 9:43 left in the third quarter.
The Black Knights possessed the ball once in the third stanza, rushing for 51 yards on seven carries to include a game-long 26-yard rush from Dixon. The drive set up a 49-yard field goal attempt for Daniel Grochowski that he sent wide of the left goal post.
Navy scored on its ensuing possession, with Reynolds capping a 15-play, 69-yard drive with a one-yard rush to put the Midshipmen ahead, 17-7, with 12:07 to play in the fourth quarter. The scoring drive lasted 7:49 and came as Navy's longest of the season.
Three rushers contributed to a 34-yard drive on Army's next possession before Navy's Paul Quessenberry forced a fumble by quarterback A.J. Schurr on the Navy 38 that the Midshipmen recovered at the 8:07 mark.
Navy picked up 39 yards over seven plays on its next possession before Army defensive end Joe Drummond recovered a fumbled snap with 3:47 remaining to give the Black Knights the ball on the their own 21. Army generated a first down on its first play of the ensuing drive, with Schurr pitching to tight end Kelvin White, who connected with running back Joe Walker on the left sideline for a pickup of 17 yards.
Schurr ran for 10 yards to pick up another first down on the next play before completing a 20-yard pass to Dixon on third-and-11 to bring the ball to Navy's 23-yard line. Schurr rushed for five yards following a first-down incompletion before getting sacked by linebacker Chris Johnson for a loss of six yards on third down. Grochowski salvaged the drive with a career-long 52-yard boot to bring Army back to within seven with 1:51 left in the quarter.
Navy recovered Army's ensuing onside kick before Reynolds used a 19-yard run on second-and-11 to move the ball to the Black Knights' 31-yard line before running out the clock on a pair of kneel-downs.
Army closes out the 2014 season at 4-8 in its first under head coach Jeff Monken, while the Midshipmen finish the regular season 7-5.
Team Stats
NAVY 0, ARMY 7
ARMY - Moss, Xavier 7 yd punt return (Grochowski, D. kick)
NAVY 7, ARMY 7
NAVY - Tillman, Jamir 9 yd pass from Reynolds, K (Grebe, Austin kick) 6 plays, 70 yards, TOP 1:53
NAVY 10, ARMY 7
NAVY - Grebe, Austin 45 yd field goal 9 plays, 22 yards, TOP 5:17
NAVY 17, ARMY 7
NAVY - Reynolds, K 1 yd run (Grebe, Austin kick), 15 plays, 69 yards, TOP 7:49
NAVY 17, ARMY 10
ARMY - Grochowski, D. 52 yd field goal 9 plays, 45 yards, TOP 1:56
