Navy beats Air Force 16-13 in a overtime thriller

The Navy Midshipmen (3-2) beat the Air Force Falcons (3-2, 2-0) 16-13 in their first ever overtime game with each other.  Erik Soderberg hooked his 31 yard field goal wide left on the Falcons first overtime possession.  This is the 7^th straight win against the Air Force Academy for the Navy Midshipmen, and nearly seals the Commander-In-Chief trophy for Navy.

In overtime Navy would only gain 4 yards before Joe Buckley kicked his go ahead 38 yard field goal.  Air Force gave Soderberg his 31 yard attempt after converting on 4^th and 1 to get him closer.  It was not to be as Soderberg hooked it left.

With less than four minutes left RB Jared Tew fumbled the ball and what looked to be the game away.  However two plays later Ricky Dobbs would give it back to Air Force.  Two quick possessions later the Air Force Falcons would drive 54 yards for Soderberg's 39 yard game tying field goal with no time remaining.

Navy capitalized on a bad punt by Air Force early and drove 35 yards for a 7-0 lead.  Air Force tied it up on the second interception for a touchdown by Anthony Wright Jr in as many weeks.  Field goals would be traded the rest of the game until Soderberg hooked his overtime attempt left.

Joe Buckley hit 3 field goals for the Midshipmen, none bigger than the 38 yarder in over time that gave Navy the lead.  Ricky Dobbs carried 23 times for 92 yards, he also had 1 interception on 3 of 4 passing.  Navy never trailed in the game and time of possession was in their favor by almost eight minutes. 

Air Force was hindered early by poor starting position.  Their average starting field position on their first four drives was their own 14 yard line.  The Falcons rushing game was held to a season low 182 yards, only a 3.5 average per attempt. Defensive lineman Ben Garland was a stud for Air Force disrupting the Navy option attack all day.  Garland helped the Falcons hold the Navy attack to 173 rushing yards on 56 attempts.

It was a hard fought game and everything you would expect out of a service rivalry.