Return to Pointer View home page December 3,  2004

USMAPS football beats Navy in "Little Army-Navy game" 

By Pfc. Jason Reeves
USMAPS PAO

FORT MONMOUTH, N.J. -- A stinging cold wind swept across the field, but the brilliant sun provided little warmth for those who showed up Nov. 13 to watch one of the oldest rivalries in football.

Dubbed the “Little Army - Navy Game”, it’s considered the most important game of the season by the staff and faculty and cadet candidates of the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School in Fort Monmouth, N.J.

“We could have a losing season, but beat Navy and we’ve had a winning season! It’s the only game that really counts,” said Lt. Col. Mark English, commandant of USMAPS.

With a record of 6-2 and a win against Air Force Academy Prep a week before, Army Prep stepped on to the field, fully aware of the expectations placed upon them.

“Navy Prep was undefeated except against Navy JV coming into the game, but we had won six of our last seven games and were still focused on what was important,” said Dan Baranik, head football coach at USMAPS.

“We were the first class to host Air Force Academy Prep in the history of the program,” said Cadet Candidate running back Jamal Robinson. “We knew we needed to stay motivated and continue to play like we did all season.”

In the first quarter Army dominated the field as CC Kevin Espinal finished a nine-play drive with a 16-yard touchdown run putting Army up 7-0.

In the second quarter Navy scored two touchdowns, setting the stage for a lead that would last most of the game at 14-7.

The third quarter began with the USMAPS team still down. Inspired by their fellow CCs, however, the Army football team began playing harder on the field, resulting in the Black Knight’s defense dominating the remainder of the quarter.

The fourth quarter continued with Navy struggling to hold the Army’s offense. 

Army put itself in position to win with 36 seconds left when CC wide receiver Michael Wright converted a two-point conversion to give the Black Knights the 15-14 emotional come-from-behind victory.