Navy extends streak to 10 wins over Army

Navy Midshipmen salute during the national anthem before the 112th game played against Army.

LANDOVER, Md. -- Playing his last game before he goes to SEAL training, Alexander Teich absolutely, positively, emphatically did not want to be known as a member of the Navy team that finally lost to Army.

The fullback was out there returning kickoffs, something he hadn't done all year. He was running over to the stands to fire up the Brigade of Midshipmen that took up a quarter of the lower bowl of the Washington Redskins stadium.

It took a bit more suspense than usual, but Teich and the Midshipmen made it a perfect 10 against the Black Knights, winning 27-21 Saturday in the 112th edition of one of the most passionate rivalries in sports.

"I'm an emotional person -- I don't know if you guys noticed yet," the senior captain said with a smile. "I was amped. You don't want to let that ball drop in on the senior class, and I was going to do whatever it took."

With President Obama presiding over the first Army-Navy game to be played in the vicinity of the nation's capital, the Mids (5-7) got a pair of touchdown runs from quarterback Kriss Proctor and one from Teich to win their 10th straight in the rivalry.

At least this one was close. Navy had won the other nine by at least a dozen points. The Mids needed a pair of fourth-quarter field goals from Jon Teague and a fourth-down stop in their own territory before those in the blue uniforms could start chanting "10 more years!"

It eased the sting -- and then some -- of Navy's disappointing season. Navy had a streak of eight straight bowl appearances come to an end this year.

For Army's graduating class, the sting won't ever go away, even if they did finally make a game of it.

"Almost -- it doesn't work. But it's something I have to live with now," Black Knights senior linebacker Steven Erzinger said. "Almost is my legacy now."

Obama, accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden, worked the Navy sidelines before the game, shaking hands and even getting a hug from the mascot -- a ram wearing a Santa hat. The President performed a left-handed coin toss at midfield -- Army won and elected to receive -- then adhered to presidential tradition by spending a half on each side of the field. He switched from Navy to Army with an escorted walk on the 50-yard line from sideline to sideline in a formal halftime ceremony.

As always, the pageantry was breathtaking, starting with the Army Corps of Cadets' march onto the field three hours before kickoff. Then the Brigade of Midshipmen took their turn. Both sides taunted each other in good spirits -- "Why so quiet?" was the Navy chant after the Mids took a 14-0 lead -- and beach balls and even an inflatable snake were batted while slick scoreboard videos poked fun at one academy or the other.

But there were also stirring moments of tribute for the crowd of 80,789; both sides swayed and sang loudly when Lee Greenwood performed "God Bless the U.S.A." at halftime.

Proctor ran 32 times for 97 yards, and Teich -- winner of the Campbell Trophy as the nation's top scholar athlete -- carried 18 times for 93 yards. Navy ran for 296 yards and completed only one pass in the tussle between rush-heavy, triple-option teams.