Army drops 10th straight to Navy, 27-21

LANDOVER, Md. (AP)

Army is not satisfied with coming close to a win in its rivalry game.

With President Barack Obama presiding over the first Army-Navy game to be played in the vicinity of the nation's capital, Army fell to Navy 27-21 on Saturday.

The loss was Army's 10th straight in the rivalry.

But for the first time in the streak, the game was decided by fewer by than 12 points.

''`Almost' - it doesn't work, but it's something I have to live with now,'' Army senior linebacker Steven Erzinger said. ''`Almost' is my legacy now.''

His younger teammates will have a chance to break the streak, but they didn't take Saturday's loss much better.

''I'm just tired of hearing `almost,''' Army junior quarterback Trent Steelman said. ''That word probably hurts more than any other word I've heard when it comes to this game. Almost. Almost isn't good enough.''

Army (3-9) allowed Navy quarterback Kriss Proctor to run for 97 yards and two touchdowns and fullback Alexander Teich to run for 93 yards and another score.

At the end of his news conference, Army coach Rich Ellerson praised Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo.

''I love to compete with this guy,'' Ellerson said. ''Just eventually have got to kick his (butt). This is getting redundant.''

The six-point loss was a change of pace from the 14-point margins the past two years.

''An inch is a mile,'' Ellerson said. ''I know we're competitive, but I felt that way last year. ... We didn't need an out-of-body experience. We just needed to do the things that correlate with success on the scoreboard. Right on top of that list is turnovers and kicking game.''

Navy (5-7) controlled both. Army lost three fumbles to Navy's two, and Navy's Jon Teague kicked two field goals in the fourth quarter to break a 21-21 tie entering the period.

''The knowledge that we were competitive, the knowledge that if we do the things we practice and preach all the time, we get the same. I know that,'' Ellerson said. ''But I'm not sure that's solace. I'm sure that it's something. But it's not solace.''

Army outgained Navy 375 to 309. Steelman was asked whether the game was there for the taking.

''It definitely was,'' Steelman said. ''I think that's why it's such a heartbreaker for this team, because we felt and we knew were the better team today.''

Raymond Maples and Malcolm Brown ran for 82 yards apiece for Army, which finished the season with four straight losses. The Black Knights rushed for 298 yards and completed just four passes. They trail Navy in the overall series 56-49-7.

President Obama, accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden, worked the Navy sideline before the game, shaking hands and even getting a hug from the Navy 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 Navy's 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 around the lower deck while slick scoreboard videos poked fun at one academy or the other.

But there were also stirring moments of tribute for the 80,789 inside the Washington Redskins stadium, and both sides swayed and sang loudly when Lee Greenwood performed ''God Bless the U.S.A.'' at halftime.

Both teams stuck to their triple option attacks and rarely even bothered trying to put the ball in the air. Navy didn't throw a pass in the first half, although Army sacked Proctor twice. Steelman, starting again after missing time this season with left ankle and right leg injuries, went 1 for 2 in the half.

Army tied the game at 21 in the third quarter with the Black Knight's fifth touchdown pass of the season. Steelman found Brown wide open for a 25-yard pass.

But Army wouldn't score again.

Needing a touchdown after Teague made his second field goal with 10:26 left, Army drove to the Navy 25, but Steelman was stopped on fourth-and-7, stuffed for a 1-yard loss when linebacker Matt Warrick read the triple option perfectly with 4:31 remaining.

''In hindsight, I'll kick it,'' Ellerson said.

As the game ended, those in the blue uniforms chanted ''10 more years!''

''The big thing to take away from this is never feel like this ever next year,'' Army junior linebacker Nate Combs said. ''I'm tired of this feeling.''