Army Kick Is Twice as Good

PHILADELPHIA — Patmon Malcom made a field goal Saturday that will live proudly in Army-Navy football lore.

Actually, he made it twice.

After a delay-of-game penalty, Malcom had to try the winning kick again. His 49-yard field goal, the longest of his career, with 12 seconds to play capped a 17-point comeback and lifted Army to a 25-24 victory in the 93rd meeting of the service academies.

Another kick? No big deal. He has had practice--in his mind.

“I’ve kicked that field goal at least a thousand times without a doubt,” Malcom said.

He had never done it in a game, though, his previous longest being 46 yards in 1990 against Duke.

The Cadets (5-6) evened the series at 43-43-7. Navy is 1-10 for the second consecutive year.

“It’s probably the toughest loss I’ve ever seen as a coach, in terms of domination and losing,” Navy Coach George Chaump said. “Unfortunately it’s been like that all year. . . .

“We were in complete control when we had a 24-7 lead. To lose like that is heartbreaking.”

Army Coach Bob Sutton told his players they had to keep chipping away. He didn’t want to change the Cadets’ rushing attack.

An Army punt downed just outside the end zone was crucial. Brian Ellis, subbing for injured Navy quarterback Jason Van Matre, couldn’t move the Middies and Navy had to punt from its end zone.

Army, behind, 24-22, got the ball at the Navy 32 with 2:15 to play and moved to the 27, where the ball was snapped for Malcom to try a 44-yard field goal. The kick went through the uprights but Army was called for a delay, so Malcom kicked again five yards farther out, giving the Cadets the victory.

Duke Ingraham scored two touchdowns as Navy appeared headed for its second consecutive victory over the Cadets.

Army, which came into the game with the nation’s fourth-best ground attack with a 276-yard average, managed only six yards of offense in the first quarter as Navy took a 10-0 lead.

The Midshipmen went 80 yards in 11 plays on their opening drive for Ingraham’s first touchdown and a 7-0 lead. Ingraham took it in from the 24 on a pitch to the left.

After a 29-yard field goal by Tim Rogers, Navy took advantage of a fumbled pitch for a 17-0 lead, Ingraham scoring from the seven.

Rick Roper’s touchdown after a Navy fumble moved Army within 24-14 with 3:24 to play in the third quarter, and the Cadets pulled to within two points when Roper and Gaylord Green combined on a 68-yard pass play, and holder Chris Shaw kept the ball on a fake extra-point attempt to score a two-point conversion.