ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The top-ranked Navy men's rugby team (16-0) used a dominant second half to defeat eighth-ranked Army (9-6), 30-6, in the quarterfinals of the Division I-A Elite Playoffs on Saturday at the Prusmack Rugby Center.
 
The Mids outscored the Black Knights, 17-0, in the final 40 minutes to advance to the playoff semifinal match. Navy will play host to the semifinals next Saturday at noon against the winner of second-seed Lindenwood and third-seed Life.
 
Additionally, Navy defeated its service-academy rival for the third time this season and spoiled Army's opportunity to repeat as national champions.
 
"To hold Army without a try for 80 minutes is a combination of a lot of hard work defensively and being disciplined. I thought even though we gave away a number of penalties, we were still disciplined in the right areas of the pitch," said director of rugby Gavin Hickie. "We played tactically really well in terms of executing our set piece, scrums and lineouts. What we did in the second half is what we've done all season long. We made it very tough to play against us with our physicality.
 
"Massive credit to our seniors for the leadership they've shown throughout the season. The team has earned the right to another week of practice and we're excited about moving on to the semifinals of the DI-A playoffs. A huge thank you to everyone who came out to cheer us on today. The team was thrilled with all the support and we can't wait until next week."
 
Army gained an early territory advantage after Roanin Krieger dropped a kick for a knock-on penalty one minute into the match. The penalty gave the Black Knights a scrum in their offensive zone, but the Mids forced a turnover on a scrum to regain possession. Army was called for offsides following the turnover, which allowed Lewis Gray to send a free kick out of bounds into Navy's offensive zone.
 
Navy's offensive attack pushed inside the 22-meter line and a maul penalty against the Black Knights awarded the Mids a scrum. Sean MacLaney quickly picked up the ball out of the won scrum and ran through two Army defenders to score the first try of the contest in the seventh minute. Krieger missed the conversion kick to keep Navy's lead at 5-0.
 
Navy attempted to send the ball into its offensive zone with a punt after the kickoff, but was penalized on the attempt to grant a free kick for the Black Knights. Army drove inside the five-meter line following a successful lineout, but it also received a penalty to give possession back to Navy.
 
The Mids used their kicking game to flip the field and were awarded a scrum after the Black Knights kicked the ball out of the back of the try zone. Navy pushed inside the 22-meter line following a big carry by Gray and also gained a one-man advantage after Army's tackler received a yellow card. The Mids were only a few meters away from their second try, but turned the ball over on a knock-on penalty.
 
The Black Knights won the ensuing scrum and caught Navy off guard with a quick pass to the left sideline. Army's ball carrier ran over 30 meters and executed a drop kick to send the ball to the other side of the pitch. A penalty against Navy allowed Army to attempt a penalty kick inside the 22-meter line. Army's fullback put the ball through the uprights in the 24th minute to score the first points for the Black Knights despite having one less player on the field.
 
The Black Knights couldn't handle the ensuing kickoff and the ball was scooped up by Tanner Russell to give the Mids possession inside Army's 22-meter line. Navy controlled the ball in the middle of the pitch and surprised Army with its offensive attack to score another try. Rather than attacking straight ahead, MacLaney pitched the ball to the right to Gray, who found JD Bengston uncovered on the right sideline. Bengston walked into the try zone untouched in the 25th minute to increase Navy's lead to 10-3.   
 
Army took advantage of a Navy penalty to gain possession inside the 22-meter line with a free kick. The Mids were penalized for the second time on the possession following the lineout to award a second penalty kick for the Black Knights. Army was successful on the attempt to make the score, 10-6, in the 31st minute.
 
Navy retook possession inside Army's 22-meter line immediately after the kickoff due to a knock-on penalty. The Mids powered their way inside the five-meter line, but committed two knock-on penalties themselves to erase a chance for their third try of the half.
 
The Black Knights sent the ball back to midfield after being granted a free kick on a scrum penalty. Navy's defense forced a turnover after the lineout and a penalty against Army set up a penalty kick opportunity for the Mids to end the half. Gray nailed the kick from Army's 10-meter line to give Navy a 13-6 lead at intermission.
 
Army began the second half with the ball, but failed to gain any ground with its offensive attack. Navy gained possession on a lineout after Army kicked the ball out of bounds at the halfway line. The Mids controlled the lineout and Dale Sturdifen provided a huge gain on a carry down the left sideline. Navy then switched its attacking direction to the right and Jack McMahon fed a perfect pass to Landon Opp, who split two Army defenders to score a try in the 44th minute. Krieger made his first conversion kick of the day following Opp's score to give the Mids a 20-6 cushion.
 
Opp sent the ball back inside Army's 22-meter line in the 53rd minute and the Mids earned a lineout after the Black Knights punted the ball to clear it out of their zone. A knock-on penalty against Navy resulted in a turnover to award Army a scrum inside its defensive 22-meter line. However, Navy's forwards drove the entire Army line backward to cause a turnover. Ben Haugh picked up the loose ball and ran through Army's defensive line to score a try in the 54th minute. Krieger made the conversion kick to put Navy ahead, 27-6.
 
Army attempted to respond with a quick offensive attack, but was issued a penalty for not releasing. Gray was granted a free kick from the penalty and he booted it out of bounds right between the 10-meter line and the 22-meter line on Army's half of the pitch. An offsides penalty against the Black Knights awarded the Mids a penalty kick in the 61st minute and Krieger put the ball between the uprights for the final points of the match.
 
Krieger outscored Army by himself with a team-leading seven points on two conversion kicks and a penalty kick. His scoring effort put him over 100 points this season, joining Gray as the only two Mids to reach triple digits. The freshman now leads the Mids with 31 conversion kicks and is tied for first with Gray in penalty kicks with seven.
 
Gray's three points raised his season total to a team-leading 161 points this season.
 
MacLaney contributed his sixth try of the season to give him 30 points on the year.
 
Haugh scored his 14th try of the season and first since Navy's match against Kutztown (Oct. 29).
 
Bengston found the try zone for the first time since his hat trick against Southern Virginia (Sept. 10) to score his fourth try of the 2022-23 campaign.
 
Box Score
First Half
7:31 - Navy - Try - Sean MacLaney (5-0)
 
24:15 - Army - Penalty Kick (5-3)
 
25:50 - Navy - Try - JD Bengston (10-3)
 
31:02 - Army - Penalty Kick (10-6)
 
41:30 - Navy - Penalty Kick - Lewis Gray (13-6)
 
Second Half
44:43 - Navy - Try - Landon Opp (18-6)
Conversion Kick - Roanin Krieger (20-6)
 
54:48 - Navy - Try - Ben Haugh (25-6)
Conversion Kick - Roanin Krieger (27-6)
 
61:23 - Navy - Penalty Kick - Roanin Krieger (30-6)