Army Sprint Football Earns Star in Final Moments

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point sprint football team defeated Navy for the first time since 2020 with a dramatic 10-3 win over the Midshipmen Friday night at Michie Stadium

The victory was part of the Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA. 
 
The game was a defensive slugfest for the first 24 minutes with either team exchanging punts for the first four drives. 
 
The Midshipmen struck first with a 24-yard field goal to cap off a 9-play, 43-yard drive to go up 3-0. 
 
The Black Knights immediately responded with an 11-play, 44-yard drive of their own and tied the game at 3-3 after a 34-yard Alex Perine field goal.
 
The game would remain deadlocked until the fourth quarter when the action would really pick up.
 
With Navy beginning to drive on the Black Knight defense, Brendan Tierney would come up clutch and intercept a Brandon Atwood pass to give Army the ball at its own 19-yard line. 
 
The Midshipmen would respond with a pick of their own and take over at the 50 after an unsportsmanlike penalty on Navy.
 
Two plays later, Weber Karsay would pick Atwood off again to give Army the ball and all the momentum with 2:10 left in the game.

To that point freshman Arthur Lavalais was having a career night, but he would become an Army hero for his efforts on the final drive.
 
First play he gashed the Navy defense for a 16-yard gain, moving Army into Navy territory. He then picked up three yards, then five yards, moving Army to the 23-yard line and forcing a Navy timeout.
 
Then the play of the year happened, Lavalais took the carry, broke through the line of scrimmage and scampered his way into the endzone for the game-winning touchdown.
 
The Black Knight defense would hold strong on Navy's final possession and Mikal Willeke would knell the clock out to seal the first Army win over Navy at home since 2017.