ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Air Force cannot claim the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy this season, as it needed to beat Navy and Army in order to take it away from the Midshipmen.
A team that had won the trophy — given to the winner of the annual round-robin among the three service academies — retains it in the event of a tie. The best outcome Air Force can now hope for is a three-way 1-1 tie, which would return to trophy to the Midshipmen.
“To start the season, this is always our No. 1 goal, to try to defend the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy,” Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “It feels great to get the first leg of that done.”
Historically bad day. Air Force’s 28-10 loss to Navy was the Falcons’ worst loss to the Midshipmen since 1978. In that game, Navy defeated Air Force 37-8 at Falcon Stadium.
Saturday’s loss is the Falcons’ worst loss at Navy since a 42-6 win by the Midshipmen in 1973.
The 18-point difference Saturday was more than the combined five-season difference in scoring coming into the game. Three of those games went to overtime, with Navy outscoring Air Force 117-110 in those contests.
Harris injures knee. Air Force lost nose guard David Harris to a knee injury in the second quarter.
Coach Troy Calhoun said Harris would have an MRI to determine if the injury was anything more than the initial diagnosis of a sprain.
Calhoun also said running back Anthony LaCoste suffered a sprained ankle.
Staubach honored. Navy recognized some of its storied history during a halftime ceremony, with 1963 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Roger Staubach the key honoree.
In another on-field presentation, the United Services Automobile Association was given a game ball as the title sponsor of the game. This had been planned for months, but was certainly more notable when the USAA stepped in with a $230,00 gift to cover Air Force’s travel expenses.
