ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Army West Point sprint football team (2-0) converted a 17-yard field goal with under five minutes to play to claim a 17-14 victory over Navy (1-1) on Friday night at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in the annual Star game as part of the Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA. In front of a crowd of 3,349, the two teams matched each other stride for stride until the Black Knights' go-ahead field goal.
 
"Tonight was a tough one," head coach Captain Jason Dewald, USMC said. "The guys fought extremely hard. Army is a good team. It was a great battle. I am so proud of this team's effort. They played their hearts out. I am so pleased with how our boys played tonight and we are going to bounce back from this."
 
The Black Knights held a slight 341-304 advantage in total offense, and a 30:29-29:31 edge in time of possession. The defenses for both teams kept the powerful offenses from scoring for most of the night. Each team limited the other to under 100 yards rushing (Army 93, Navy 76) and under 250 yards in the air (Army 248, Navy 225). On special teams, both teams blocked a field goal in the first half to keep the other team off the scoreboard.
 
Dean Rye (Fairfax, Va.) paced the Navy defense with a game-high 17 tackles, including a game-best 10 solo stops. The senior added a pass break up, while also blocking Army's field goal attempt on the opening drive of the game. Rye was joined by Mason Hooten (Orlando, Fla.) who also notched double-digit tackles, finishing the game with 14 stops (5 solo, 9 assisted). The Midshipmen combined for 3.0 tackles for loss with Rye and Hooten combining for 1.5 TFLs. Senior captain Sheppard Wilson, who gained 24 yards on a fake punt, also had a tackle for loss.
 
Offensively, Caleb Champion (Milton, Fla.) led the way with 70 yards on the ground, while J.T. Thompson (Stratham, N.H.) finished with 113 receiving yards, including an 81-yard touchdown reception. Quarterback Walt Fagan (Rock Hill, S.C.) finished the game 12-for-26 for 225 yards in the air with a touchdown, an interception and a rushing score.
 
Both teams posted shutouts in the first half thanks to key defensive effort. Army drove down to the 16 yardline on its opening drive, but came away with no points as Rye blocked the Black Knight's field goal attempt. Just before the half, Navy attempted to take the lead with a field goal, but the Mids' kick attempt was blocked leaving the game scoreless at intermission.
 
The Midshipmen were the first team to scratch the scoreboard, finding the end zone with 10:12 remaining in the third quarter. Fagan found Thompson down the right sideline and Thompson broke free for the 81-yard reception. Jared Swenson (Seymour, Wis.) added the PAT to put Navy in front 7-0.
 
The lead was short lived as Army scored on the following drive. The Black Knights capped a six-pay, 74-yard drive with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Keegan West to Tom Williamson to tie the game with eight minutes to play in the third quarter.
 
Fagan called his own number for a six-yard jaunt into the end zone three and a half minutes later. The play was set up by a fake punt by the Mids. On fourth and 10, Navy lined up for a punt, but snapped it to Wilson on the fake. The defensive captain scurried for 24 yards and the first down at the 13 yardline. After the play, Army was whistled for a penalty moving the ball to the six and setting up Fagan's TD rush.
 
The Black Knights pieced together an eight-play, 80-yard scoring drive for the touchdown equalizer. West hit Williamson for a second time – this time from 21 yards out – for the game-tying touchdown.
 
With 4:55 remaining in the game, Army took its first lead of the game on a 17-yard Seppi Ortman field goal. The field goal capped a long 15-play drive for the Black Knights that covered 68 yards and took over six minutes off the clock.
 
Navy had two drives in the final five minutes of play, but were unable to put points on the board, falling in the first Star Series game of the season by three points.
 
The Midshipmen return to action on Friday, Sept. 28, as Navy hosts Mansfield at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. and live stats will be available for the game.