Navy Football: 3 takeaways from runaway win in 120th battle vs. Army

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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 14: Malcolm Perry #10 of the Navy Midshipmen scores a touchdown in second quarter against the Army Black Knights at Lincoln Financial Field on December 14, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

3. Roles were reversed this year

In last season’s game, Army defeated Navy 17-10. Army won the Commander-in-Chief Trophy in back-to-back years for the first time ever. Although they won the inaugural trophy, the Black Knights have won it the least amount of times.

Army had started quarterback in Kelvin Hopkins Jr. and the big-time fullback in Darnnell Woolfolk. It was Navy who came in the game last season with questions at quarterback and a host of injuries. It was Navy’s worst season in head coach’s Ken Niumatalolo’s tenure at the Naval Academy.

Coach Ken overhauled his staff, and started Malcolm Perry at quarterback. The result is a 10-win season and a top 25 ranking for the Midshipmen. This season it was the Army that came in with question marks at quarterback and injuries.

Not only that, Army’s defense was hit hard by graduation. Army played, well, every quarterback on their roster that didn’t enter the transfer portal. Army junior quarterback Christian Anderson made his debut in this game. They had no answers for Navy’s aggressive defense, and they had no answer for Perry.

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