West Point cadets made it clear what the Black Knights were after against rival Navy. Mission accomplished. (J.D. Simkins/Staff)
PHILADELPHIA — The No. 22 Army Black Knights jumped out to an early lead Saturday evening against their longtime rivals from Annapolis — and they never looked back, beating Navy for the third straight year and retaining the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy in front of President Donald Trump and 66,729 fans at Lincoln Financial Field.
A lethal ground game — three players finished with over 50 yards on the day — employed all season by Army was once again used to control the pace of the game, keeping the Black Knights' offense on the field for over 34 minutes in the 119th game between the rivals.
Army (10-2) scored on its first series of the game, when junior running back Kelvin Hopkins, Jr. punched it in from 10 yards out, the culmination of an explosive 82-yard drive that took just 2:26 and was highlighted by a 51-yard rush by junior running back Kell Walker.
Army’s run game and dominant offensive time of possession allowed head coach Jeff Monken to keep his players on the other side of the ball fresh, and it paid dividends as it has all season.
Navy (3-10) managed just 208 total yards in the game, much of which came in the second half. Through the first 30 minutes, Army racked up 180 total yards, compared to just 39 for Navy. The Midshipmen also turned the ball over on an interception and didn’t complete a single pass in the first half.
But despite the lopsided stats, Navy’s defense, coupled with a couple self-inflicted wounds by the Black Knights (pass drops and a missed field goal), kept the Midshipmen in the game — Navy trailed just 7-0 at the half.
Navy showed signs of life in the second half, cutting the score to 10-7 with a 7:10 left in the fourth quarter, but that’s as close as the Mids would get.
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Army's Ke'Shaun Wells celebrates after an NCAA college football game against Navy, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Philadelphia. Army won 17-10. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Navy Midshipmen stand for their song after an NCAA college football game against Army, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Philadelphia. Army won 17 -10. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Army players celebrate with the Commander in Chief's trophy following a 17-10 victory over Navy in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Philadelphia. Army won 17 -10. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Army's James Gibson (2) recovers a fumble against Navy's Malcolm Perry (10) and OJ Davis (86) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Philadelphia. Army won 17-10. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Malcolm Perry #10 of the Navy Midshipmen attempts to make a catch against Mike Reynolds #10 and Chandler Ramirez #29 of the Army Black Knights during the first quarter of the game at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Army players celebrate a victory over Navy after an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Philadelphia. Army won 17 -10. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
The Army Black Knights celebrate a first down at the end of the third quarter during the game against the Navy Midshipmen at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 08: Calen Holt #22 of the Army Black Knights carries the ball during the second quarter of the game against the Navy Midshipmen at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump, top center, gestures to the crowd during the first half of an NCAA college football game between Army and Navy, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
US Military Academy (USMA) show their support prior to the annual Army-Navy football game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 8, 2018. - Trump will officiate the coin toss at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia between the Army Black Knights of the US Military Academy (USMA) and the Navy Midshipmen of the US Naval Academy (USNA). (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
Navy's Zach Abey leaps for a high snap during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Army, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
President Donald Trump attends the annual Army-Navy football game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 8, 2018. - Trump officiated the coin toss at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia between the Army Black Knights of the US Military Academy (USMA) and the Navy Midshipmen of the US Naval Academy (USNA). (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
James N. Mattis. Secretary of Defense, poses for a picture during the game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The Army Black Knights defeated the Navy Midshipmen 17-10. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 08: Jackson Pittman #99 of the Navy Midshipmen reacts after the Army Black Knights score a touchdown in the fourth quarter to win the game 17-10 at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Army's Jaylon McClinton, center, intercepts a pass tipped by teammate Mike Reynolds, right, that was intended for Navy's Mychal Cooper during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Army's Jordan Asberry, left, is tackled by Navy's Sean Williams during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Army Cadets cheer before the game against Navy Midshipmen at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Mychal Cooper #88 of the Navy Midshipmen carries the ball during the first quarter of the game against Army Black Knights at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump (2nd-L) and US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis (2nd-R) attend the annual Army-Navy football game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 8, 2018. - Trump will officiate the coin toss at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia between the Army Black Knights of the US Military Academy (USMA) and the Navy Midshipmen of the US Naval Academy (USNA). (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump tosses the coin before the Army-Navy NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Players of the Navy Midshipmen of the US Naval Academy (USNA) arrive waving the American flag prior to the annual Army-Navy football game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 8, 2018. - US President Donald Trump will officiate the coin toss between the Army Black Knights of the US Military Academy (USMA) and the Navy Midshipmen of the US Naval Academy (USNA). (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
Navy Cadets taunt Army Cadets as they retreat from the field before the start of the game at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
A Navy Cadet waits in the tunnel prior to marching on to the field before the start of the game against Army Black Knights at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
A U.S. Navy parachute jumper glides toward the field before the start of the game between Army Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Navy Midshipmen march onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Army, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Navy Midshipman Frey Pankratz singles his classmates as they march onto the field ahead of an NCAA college football against the Army, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Navy midshipmen watch as Army cadets march onto the field before an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
The Army cadets chant after they marched on the field before the game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The Naval cadets celebrate after they marched on the field before the game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen on December 8, 2018 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Army cadets march onto the field ahead of an NCAA college football against Navy, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Army cadets stand at attention after marching onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Navy, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Senior quarterback Zach Abey fumbled on a fourth and long deep in Navy terrority, setting up a short drive for Army that was capped off by another touchdown run by Hopkins.
Navy would add a field goal with under a minute remaining to cut it to a single-score game, but four turnovers — the Mids finished with a minus-four turnover ratio in the game — were too much to overcome for Ken Niumatalolo and crew.
The rest was history, as Army shut the door and closed the already-tight gap on the overall series, which Navy leads 60-52-7.
Army will keep the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, awarded each year to the service academy with the best record against the other academies, after winning it for the first time in 22 years last season.
Consecutive 10-win seasons is new territory for the Black Knights — the last time Army completed back-to-back seasons of even nine wins was 1945-46.
Army will next take on Houston Dec. 22 in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas.
Pregame festivities included the traditional “prisoner exchange,” with seven cadets and seven midshipmen being returned to their home academies after spending a semester visiting the other. The Navy “Leap Frogs” and Army “Golden Knights” parachute teams also joined in, wowing spectators prior to a thunderous flyover by both Army and Navy aviators.
With President Trump and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on the field prior to kick-off, a moment of silence was observed for former President George H.W. Bush, who passed away Nov. 30 at the age of 94.
Trump became the 10th sitting president to attend the historic rivalry between the two service academies, a tradition started by Theodore Roosevelt in 1901.
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