Army Sprint Football Secures First Star of the Season

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Army West Point Sprint Football remained undefeated on the season with a 21-12 victory over the Navy on Friday night to claim the Star at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

In the process, Sprint Football earned Army's first Star Win of the year in the Star Series presented by USAA.

The Black Knights held Navy scoreless for the entire first half, the first time they have done so in the rivalry since Nov. 8, 2019, in a 13–0 win at Franklin Field in Philadelphia and allowed the fewest points to Navy in a game since a 17–3 victory on Oct. 4, 2024, also in Annapolis. 

Army (2-0) set the tone early behind senior running back JP Ross who capped a short-field drive with a 6-yard touchdown run at 3:09 of the first quarter. Ross finished with 63 yards on 26 carries and repeatedly churned out tough yards against Navy's front.

Senior quarterback Kyle West engineered Army's longest drive of the night in the second quarter, a 14-play, 75-yard march that consumed 7:41 of clock. West finished the possession himself, breaking free on a 9-yard touchdown run to give Army a 14–0 halftime lead. West completed 21 of 25 passes for 182 yards and added 9 rushing yards.

Army's defense delivered one of its most disciplined rivalry performances in recent years, holding Navy without a point for three quarters and limiting the Midshipmen to 62 rushing yards on 20 attempts. Sophomore linebacker Aidan Lessard and senior defensive lineman Jake Oxendine each recorded eight tackles, while sophomore linebacker Reed Hisle added seven. Junior defensive lineman Tyrus Carter produced Army's lone sack, a 6-yard loss in the fourth quarter.

Army also made program history on special teams. Sophomore defensive back Otto Leone recorded the first multi-block game against Navy in program history, part of a night that featured the first blocked kick in an Army–Navy sprint football game since Nov. 23, 2023, when Navy's Tyler Cox returned a blocked punt for a touchdown. It also marked the first blocked for Army in the rivalry since Oct. 31, 2014, when Army's Buddy Craft blocked a Navy attempt in Annapolis. Friday's matchup became the first multi-block Army–Navy game since Nov. 4, 2005, at West Point.

Army extended its lead to 21–0 just 28 seconds into the fourth quarter when West connected with sophomore wide receiver Marek Arbogast on a 45-yard touchdown strike. Arbogast finished with six receptions for 67 yards, while junior wide receiver Carson McFadden led Army with nine catches for 84 yards.

Navy scored twice in the final 4:13, but Army's defense prevented any late comeback threat and closed out the Star Game. 

Junior kicker Nicholas Cueto went 3-for-3 on PATs and averaged 57.0 yards on kickoffs. Senior punter Alex Perine placed two punts inside the 20.