ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Army West Point sprint football team scored 17 unanswered points en route to its second consecutive Star Game win over Navy.
The Black Knight defense was the story of the game, which is part of the Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA. They forced four turnovers and only allowed 86 passing yards. Navy went on a 60 yard drive to kick a field goal to open the game, then never scored again.
The first half was a defensive slug fest. On the second Navy drive, Brayheem Swanson forced a fumble that was recovered by Louis Petkus at the Navy seven yard line. Army would be held to a field goal attempt but after a botched hold, the Mids still led 3-0.
The Black Knight defense did their job once again, forcing two more Navy punts. With 9:57 left in the second quarter, a steady dose of Kyle West passing led the Black Knights right down the field. They found pay dirt when West hit Arthur Lavalais on a wheel route from six yards out, giving the Black Knights a 7-3 lead.
Both defenses would dig their heels in for the remainder of the half, each forcing one more punt and one turnover and the Black Knights took a 7-3 lead into the locker room at halftime. Army out-gained the Midshipmen 145-89 in the first 30 minutes and out threw them 106-13.
The second half was much of the same. Army's defense pitched a shutout, allowing 141 yards compared to Army's 174.
West found Ben Deloit on a skinny post for a 50 yard touchdown with 4:58 left in the third quarter to make it a 14-3 ball game. With 11:20 to go in the fourth, Nicholas Cueto drilled a 38-yard field goal, the first of his career.
Two Midshipmen fumbles and a turnover on downs would end in Army kneeling out the clock for its second consecutive Star victory.
In his first career Star Game start, Kyle West showed out. The sophomore QB went for 234 yards and two TDs through the air, tacking on another 28 yards on the ground. The ball was spread all around through the air, with six different Black Knights catching a pass. Deloit led the way with 99 yards.
Army moves to 2-0 winning its games by a combined score of 52-3. This is the fewest points allowed through two games by the Black Knights since 2017 when they opened the season with two shutouts.