2017 Commander-in-Chief Trophy Game Saturday: Air Force vs Navy
The l
ast two weeks I’ve done a “keys to ensure a Navy victory” blog. Now, of course, there will be keys to victory and I’ll highlight a couple of them. But, if you are a member of any branches of the military (past, present and future), Saturday’s match-up between the Air Force Falcons (1-3) and Navy Midshipmen (4-0), this is the first of the three most important games of the year.
Originated back in 1972, the Commander-in-Chief is awarded to the winner of the overall match-ups of Air Force, Army and Navy (officers-to-be for the Marine Corps play and attend school in Annapolis with Navy). The way these three games are set up, Air Force/Navy normally takes place the first Saturday in October, Air Force/Army will take place the first Saturday in November and the Army/Navy game is the second Saturday in December.
Air Force has the most trophies, with 20. Navy is in second, with 15 and Army is bringing up the rear, having only winning six and the last time they won the trophy was 1996. Only four times since it’s inception has their even been a tie and the last tie was in 1993. In those occasions, the trophy is shared but the reigning academy gets to retain the trophy.
The reason why I look at this game differently is because you throw out their overall record per se. These games you see our military camaraderie in full force. On the field, you are my opponent. But once the final whistle is blown, we become a family with a very strong bond.
Now, to Saturday’s game. Here is the biggest difference normally between how Air Force approaches offense versus both Army and Navy. With Army and Navy, they rely all extremely on a running game (coming into Saturday, between Army and Navy, they have combined for a total of 59 pass attempts with 30 for Army, 29 for Navy). Air Force is more balance and sometimes is the academy that is the “air offense” attack (hmmm … coincidence maybe?).
Sounding like a broken record, the biggest key for Navy will be the effectiveness of their awesome rushing offense. Not only can it wear out a defense, but you can have long-sustained drives that eat up a lot of play clock. Navy QB Zach Abey and the tandem Slot-backs Chris High and Malcolm Perry will once again be the workhorses that has Navy at 4-0 for the second time in the last three years.
Here though, will be the difference maker. Who wins the turnover battle? Navy has shown in the last two games (wins over Tulsa 31-21 and Cincinnati 42-32) that stopping their opponent when they go for it on fourth down or forcing that red zone turnover has been crucial to securing those victories.
Abey will have to be a play maker. If his pass attempts are less than five, that’s a possible red flag. I want to see him use TE Tyler Carmona as that deep ball threat. Keep Air Force guessing. Though, I guarantee you, it’s going to be run, run, run, RUN FORREST, RUN!
My prediction: I just don’t see Air Force right now being able to match Navy offense drive for offense drive and this should be a much easier victory for Navy. Navy 41-17
