By Dan Gelston / Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo wrapped Malcolm Perry tighter than the Army defense could muster for an embrace that served as a bit of an apology.
Perry had done it all for Navy in a 31-7 victory Saturday that earned him MVP honors in the 120th game between the service academies. Perry became the fourth quarterback in FBS history to rush for 300 yards, he had 304 yards with two touchdowns, and set a slew of program records.
It forced Niumatalolo to go on TV and issue a mea culpa: “I’m a bad coach. How did I bench him last year?”
Perry’s biggest number? For the senior it was one, as in, the first time he led the No. 21 Midshipmen past Army.
“This was the biggest game I’ve played in my life,” Perry said. “We didn’t win the last three games. But that makes this even more sweet.”
Navy (10-2, No. 23 CFP) used a trick play to help reverse a rare losing streak against Army and won the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy for the 16th time and snapped a three-game losing streak to Army.
Navy leads the series 61-52-7. The Black Knights (5-8) were trying to win four straight games in the Army-Navy series for the first time since 1993-96.
Perry, the 5-foot-9, 190-pound senior quarterback, helped the fleet of foot Navy offense run away with the game with another game for the record book. He ran for a 55-yard TD in the first half, added a 44-yard scamper and set Navy season records in yards rushing and total 100-yard games.
“We wanted to open up the box. The last few years, we played in a phone booth,” Niumatalolo said. “We didn’t want to play that way. We wanted to spread things out and let Malcolm’s talent take over.”
But Perry’s role in Navy’s most noteworthy play didn’t end up with his name on the scoring sheet.
Perry took the snap at the 1-yard line, ran to his left and handed off the ball to receiver Chance Warren who threw to Jamale Carothers for the score and a 14-7 lead. It was Navy’s twist on the Philly Special — the Naval Special? — at the home of the Philadelphia Eagles.
It was Navy’s only yard passing of the game.
“I kind of suspected it when we got down there,” Perry said.
Perry, who ran 29 times, did not attempt a pass and Army surprise starter Christian Anderson threw just two passes.
Anderson wasn’t even listed on the two-deep depth chart and got the call over Kelvin Hopkins Jr. Hopkins had two rushing touchdowns last year in Army’s 17-10 win over Navy and curiously played only mop-up time in Saturday’s loss. Anderson sparked the Black Knights on the game’s methodical 10 minute, 41 second opening drive, scoring on a 5-yard run.
Army coach Jeff Monken said Hopkins had a pulled hamstring and only practiced once this week.
“He wasn’t going to be able to just turn it on and open up,” Monken said.
Perry needed just four plays to even the score on his first dynamic run of the game that sent the Mids into a frenzy. The traditional Philly game drew 68,075 fans and ESPN’s “College GameDay” was on hand. The Cadets and Midshipmen stood, saluted, bounced and cheered for the entirety of what’s billed as “America’s Game.” President Donald Trump made a return visit for the second straight year. Trump also was at the 2016 game as president-elect.
With pride and patriotism stretched end zone to end zone, Trump sat on the Army side of the field in the first half and crossed the field to the Navy side for the second half.
Carothers crossed the goal line for a 5-yard score in the third that made it 21-3 and sent the 10½-point favorite Mids on their way toward clinching the CIC Trophy, awarded to the team with the best record in games among the three service academies.
“We’re taking it home!” Navy players yelled as they carried the trophy.
Bijan Nichols kicked a 37-yard field goal and Perry added a 15-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.
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