ShareThisCapsule preview for Saturday's Army-Navy game in Philadelphia.
ARMY (5-6) vs. Navy (8-4), in Philadelphia, 2:30 (Eastern), CBS.
FAVORITE: Navy by 14.
COACHES: Rich Ellerson (first year at Army) and Ken Niumatalolo (16-10 in second year at Navy).
LAST GAME: Army won at North Texas, 17-13, on Nov. 21. Navy lost at Hawaii, 24-17, on Nov. 28.
SERIES HISTORY: Navy leads, 53-49-7.
LAST MEETING: Navy won, 34-0, last year.
STAT THAT MATTERS: In beating Cadets last seven years (Navy's longest winning streak in series that dates back to 1891), Midshipmen have outscored Army by combined score of 274-88.
GAME FACTS: Cadets have even more incentive to snap frustrating Navy jinx since upset would put them into EagleBank Bowl vs. Temple in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 30. Army hasn't been to a bowl since 1996. Ellerson has lit fires of hope returning Cadets to preferred triple option game (14th in nation in rushing, 212.1 yards per game) that has helped freshman QB Trent Steelman (1,250 yards total offense, 5 TD runs, 3 TD passes, 1 int. in 90 passes) flourish. Playing in his first college game at North Texas, freshman CB Ty Shrader was among the heroes with fumble recovery, late int. to seal win. DE Josh McNary (second in nation with 22-1/2 tackles for loss) leads improved defense (17th in nation in total defense, 310 ypg, 30 fewer than last year) that will be put to test by Navy option (third in nation in rushing, 279.7 ypg, leads nation with 48 TD runs) that has trampled them for 655 yards rushing, 72 points in routs last two years. Despite missing most of two games in October with ankle problem, Mids junior QB Ricky Dobbs (1,753 total offense) still finished second in the nation with 23 TD runs (most ever by a D-I QB). Win or lose, Navy is bound for Texas Bowl date with Missouri on New Year's Eve, Mids' school-record seventh consecutive bowl. Not that any of the games with Army have been close lately, but Navy has been tested in close games this year going 4-3 in games decided by 7 points or less. Victory here and in bowl would give Navy its first 10-win season since 1905.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
