Games of 2011: Air Force versus Navy

Air Force 35, Navy 34 (OT)--An 18-point 4th quarter comeback, a controversial penalty, and a blocked kick made for one of the most exciting games of 2011.


With 14:55 left in the 4th quarter, Air Force led 28-10 and looked to be cruising to a win over Navy what would make 2 in a row. Quarterback Kriss Proctor scored for Navy with 9:34 left and cut the lead to 11-points. After some solid defensive plays, Navy again scored on a 37-yard field goal that cut the lead to 8 points but with only 2:04 left in the 4th quarter. 

Fortune smiled upon Navy as their last ditch onside kick was recovered giving the Midshipmen a chance to tie the game. Navy scored on a 5-yard touchdown pass with 19 seconds left in the game and followed up with a 2-point conversion that sent the game to overtime.

In overtime, Proctor again found paydirt for the Midshipmen to start overtime scoring from one yard away. After the touchdown, there was a controversial flag thrown for unsportsmanlike conduct on Proctor.
Referee Mike Defee later explained the penalty by saying, "The Navy player got in the face of an Air Force player right after the play."

Proctor said, "I got up and started to head to our sideline. Some guy got in my way and I said, 'Move.' Then referee made the call."

The ensuing extra point attempts was blocked by Air Force's Alex Means giving the Midshipmen only a 6-point lead needing to stop the Falcons.

The Falcon offense was too powerful in the overtime and easily scored with Tim Jefferson taking it in for the touchdown from one yard out. Then the chip shot extra point was made giving the Falcons the razor thin win over Navy in Annapolis. 

Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo was devestated afterward but optimistic about the comeback. "Unfortunately," Niumatalolo said, "we came up one point short."