Two weeks ago Army football pulled out a win in a nailbiter against Navy, 14-13. I think Navy was favored by 3, and they wouldn't have covered the spread even if they had made that last second field goal.
Today Army played San Diego State in the Armed Forces Bowl. SDSU was favored by 6 1/2 and came in with a record of 10-2, Army came in with a record of 9-3 but I saw only one prediction that Army might win. Both teams are running teams--in fact, Army's offense, SDSU's special teams (which returned a kickoff for a touchdown), and halftime kept SDSU's offense off the field for over 45 minutes of real time. Army received the kickoff to open the 3rd quarter and kept the ball for over 11 minutes, coming away with no points. SDSU had a player ejected in the first quarter for unsportsmanlike conduct, a call that was made against them at least 2 more times in the game. Combined, there were only 14 passes attempted, and no punts or field goals. Both teams were stingy with turnovers--until the last seconds of the game.
Until the last seconds, Army had only led once in the game, going up 21-14 with :18 left in the half. However, with :05 left, SDSU tied it up with a kickoff return for touchdown. Late in the 4th, Army was down 35-28, but with less than 2 dozen seconds left in regulation, scored. 35-34. Will the nation's top rushing team tie it up, or go for 2? With seconds left in the game, Army led 36-35.
But the game wasn't over yet! Having to go the length of the field with 5 seconds left, SDSU tried some razzle-dazzle, 1982 Cal-Stanford style. The running and lateral-ing continued until the clock ran out, but the ball was still in play. In a last gasp to avoid being tackled, an SDSU player threw the ball across the field--where it was intercepted by an Army player, who ran it in for a touchdown! Army wins 42-35! I don't know how long ESPN will keep the video up, but to see that last play, click here, and scroll across to the video labeled Army Spoils SDSU's Last-gasp Play With Insane TD. That play is going to make the post-season highlight reel for sure, maybe the entire NCAA football 2017 season highlight reel. (And if you want to see another defensive play that will make the season highlight reels, scroll to :35 in the video labeled Army Beats San Diego State In Wild Ending.) Both teams ended the season 10-3.
You know what I really liked about this game? Seeing the players from both teams help each other up at the end of a play. That's class, and it was shown by both sides. I like that.
It was a great season. I'm glad to see Army play well again, 20 years is too long!
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