A Rapid Glimpse Into the Historic Army vs. Navy Football Rivalry

A few numbers would never comprehend all the emotions behind one of the greatest rivalries college football has ever witnessed. The Nation marks its calendar for December 9, as the rivalry is about to etch one more game on its pages of history, the 124th one. The Black Knights and the Midshipmen will battle their hearts out for the next game taking place at Gillette Stadium, Massachusetts.

While fans are arranging tickets for the ‘can’t-miss’ game, here is a little walkthrough of the team’s records through the years. All the unrivaled pageantry with the unparallel history boils down to the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.

A look into the infamous rivalry

The saga started in 1980, the season when these arch-nemeses clashed on the ground. The results turned out to be in favor of the Midshipmen, as they swept the Black Knight clean. Fast forward to 1944-45, after the Black Knights established their foot in the game, it was their time to shine as the no.1 team. Not so surprisingly, followed by the Navy at no. 2. Army had the upper hand then, with  23-7 in 1944 and 32-13 the following year.

After this, the 1963 game, which was almost canceled, tops the chart for being one of the most memorable. With President Kennedy being assassinated on Nov. 22, the game fell within the 30-day mourning period of the military. However, after the Kennedy family’s requests, the game was postponed a week, one that the Navy won, with their second Heisman Trophy winner until 2020, QB Roger Staubach. In the following years, Staubach was the star of the rivalry.

Following Staubach’s legacy, 2015 marked Keenan Reynolds’ era. Despite not being a Heisman Trophy winner, he is still an elite player, with 249 yards and two touchdowns in a 21-17 win over Army. Reynolds guided the Midshipmen to 12-2 in the 2015 season, the best record in the franchise’s history.

The 124th battle

However, the following year marked the dusk of the Navy’s era, and the new beginning of the Army’s era, where they won the next three games. The Army’s era was still full-fledged till last year 2022, when Army kicker Quinn Maretzki made a 39-yard field goal to defeat the Navy in double-overtime with a score of 20-17. What a game it was!

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The Black Knights have a solid chance at the treasured trophy, thanks to their early-November win against the Airforce. However, if the game goes in favor of the Navy, the Trophy will be shared between the three: Airforce, Navy, and Army, as the former defeated Navy earlier. All these numbers are just a sneak peek into what the fans can expect in the upcoming game between the rivalries.

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