Navy Sprint Football Wins Star on the Road in West Point

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Navy sprint football team (8-0) needed overtime to record a 20-17 victory over Army (7-1) on Saturday afternoon at Shea Stadium in West Point, N.Y. in the annual Star Game, which is part of the overall Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA.

The Black Knights forced overtime, tying the game at 17-17 late in the fourth quarter. After an unsuccessful field goal attempt by the home team in the extra period, the Midshipmen claimed the win with a 36-yard field goal by sophomore Jacori Sutton to finish the season undefeated and win the Collegiate Sprint Football League Championship.

"I am so proud of these guys," head coach Major Carter Reading, USMC said after the game. "They never stopped fighting. We needed everyone and that's what we got. It was a great way to continue our legacy and get the 50th victory in program history against Army. We couldn't have done this without our coaches, TADs, all the support staff, and, most importantly, the team. Team captains Seamas and Kerry leading this team to the perfect season is a true testament to the leadership and culture of excellence that this team represents."
 
Navy finished the game with 271 yards of total offense compared to 225 by Army. The Midshipmen had a decisive advantage in the running game, outgaining the Black Knights, 122-43 on the ground. The home team had a game-high 182 yards passing compared to 149 by the Mids.
 
Quarterback Luke O'Connell finished the game 15-for-25 for 149 yards and two touchdowns. Jake Berger led the way with six receptions for a team-high 79 yards and a touchdown, while Biamungu Nkere added three catches for 43 yards and a score.
 
Once again, Hunter Gennicks led the rushing attack. The junior finished the game with 137 yards on 30 carries for a 4.6 yards per carry average with a long of 59.
 
Army's Kyle West led the Black Knights in both passing and rushing. West concluded the game 13-for-34 for 174 with a touchdown and two interceptions, while finishing with a team-high 14 yards on the ground with a score.

Defensively, Jake Wolinski led the Midshipmen, finishing the game with a team-high nine tackles. Seamas Carrasco added eight stops while Christian Conley followed with seven. Wolinski and Tyler Meisenzahl led the team with 1.5 tackles for loss apiece with Gabriel Arriola adding a TFL. Meisenzhal had the Mids' only sack, dropping West for a loss overtime. Conley and Sean Bettwy picked off passes with Carrasco leading the team with a pair of pass breakups.
 
Sutton finished the game with a pair of field goals. The sophomore kicker converted a 21-yard attempt to put Navy in front 17-7 early in the fourth quarter. In overtime, Sutton connected on the biggest field goal of his two-year career with a 36-yard kick to give Navy the Star, the CSFL Championship, and an undefeated season.
 
Navy was the first team to score. With 4:15 remaining in the first quarter, O'Connell hit Berger for a 28-yard touchdown pass to put the Midshipmen in front, 6-0.
 
The Midshipmen extended their advantage just 16 seconds into the second quarter. Set up by a 59-yard run by Gennicks, O'Connell capped a four-play, 84-yard drive with a 28-yard pass to Nkere for the score. The Mids converted the two-point conversion to go up, 14-0.
 
Army cut the margin in half as West threw a 37-yard touchdown pass with 6:41 to play in the first half.
 
Navy got the ball back at the Army 39-yardline with 1:46 remaining in the first half. The Midshipmen worked their way down to the three-yardline, but were unable to score, being tackled in bounds with the clock winding down.
 
The score remained 14-7 until the fourth quarter as Sutton pushed the advantage to 10 with a 21-yard field goal with 11 minutes remaining in regulation.
 
The Black Knights pulled to within a touchdown thanks to a 24-yard field goal with 7:30 to play in regulation. With 2:13 remaining in the fourth quarter, West called his own number finding the end zone from two-yards out to tie the score at 17-17.
 
In overtime, Army had the first opportunity. After a pair of rushes resulted in three yards, Meisenzahl sacked West for a five-yard loss on third and seven, setting up a 45-yard field goal attempt for the Black Knights. Nicholas Cueto's kick was short, leaving the game tied.
 
Navy began its overtime possession with back-to-back rushes by Gennicks for just two yards. Grant Sterchi caught a four-yard pass to move the Mids a little closer. On fourth and four, Sutton split the uprights on his 36-yard field goal attempt to give Navy the victory.