A cloudy Fort Worth sky prevented the pre-game fly over at The 2016 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. There wasn’t an air-raid offense in sight, per se. But the bowl matchup still set a new record for points with 93 cumulative — 48 of those tallied by Louisiana Tech in a three-point win over Navy, with a walk off field goal.
LA Tech set tone early, with Carlo Henderson’s 86-yard return of the opening kickoff, setting up the game’s first score, 7-0, with 13:35 remaining in the first quarter. Navy followed up with a fumble at the LA Tech 48 yard line on its second play from scrimmage, shifting all momentum to the Bulldogs. LA Tech answered with its second score, a 22-yard field goal by Jonathan Barnes, 10-zip. On their ensuing possession, Navy moved the ball only seven yards on three plays before punting and it looked as if it could be a long day for The Midshipmen.
Forget that. On the next series, the Navy defense took control, sacking LA Tech quarterback Ryan Higgins for a seven-yard loss. After three and out, Navy fielded the Bulldog punt at their own 45, with 6:50 left in the first quarter.
The Midshipmen took its third possession to the house, scoring in eight plays highlighted with its own firepower, a 38-yard aerial from Quarterback Zach Abey to Chris High, down to the LA Tech four yard line.
The Navy momentum was shortlived, as LA Tech scored again to make it 17-7 after one quarter. But the Midshipmen took it back, answering with a 14-point run of the table, taking the lead, 21-17, with 11 minutes left in the first half. After four lead changes, and a tie, LA Tech was on top 31-24 in a clean half of football with no fumbles and no interceptions, despite slight rain. The Bulldogs gained just 38 yards on the ground in the first half, but added 215 in the air … perhaps shades of an air raid. Navy rushed for 122 yards and threw for just 111.
The third quarter ended with the teams locked at 31 a piece, with LA Tech doubling the passing yardage of run-option oriented Navy. Conversely, The Midshipmen had moved the ball on dryland 221 yards to LA Tech’s 40.
To begin the final period, LA Tech jumped ahead 38-31, moving the ball 70 yards in six plays, punctuated by the Bulldog’s ace receiver Trent Taylor’s 41-yard reception down to the Navy 13 yard line. (Taylor would finish the day with 12 catches on 14 targets, for a total of 233 yards and two touchdowns.)
Navy answered … again … mixing the run and the pass, moving the ball 75 yards in 10 plays, knotting bowl at 38. Then with nine minutes left to play, the Bulldogs went back to work and responded with a 10-play, 72-yard possession and score —leading 45-38. The drive was capped off with LA Tech’s Carlos Henderson scoring on a fade route to the corner of the end zone.
Navy started its final drive of the year with four minutes remaining, and proceeded to bang out 75 yards in two plays, burning only 20 seconds from the clock. The Midshipmen tied the game once again (45-45), partially fueled by a fourth-quarter, end-of-season LA Tech meltdown — pass interference (declined), unsportsmanlike conduct, roughing the Navy passer, and a resulting ejection, in one series. Burning only 20 seconds on the drive proved significant, allowing The Bulldogs time for a final drive.
LA Tech took advantage, taking over with 3:40 left to play. The Bulldogs crafted a drive mixing ground game and passing, with passes to three different receivers, complemented with rushing by Jarred Craft. Higgins’ pass for 23 yards to Trent Taylor moved the ball within field goal range. After Taylor’s last catch of the year, the ball was spotted at the Navy 26 with 1:55 remaining.
Coach Holtz and the Bulldogs ran six more plays, garnering a crucial first down and eating up the clock. LA Tech burned a final running play, taking a knee after centering the ball in preparation for the final kick, and stopped the clock with three seconds left.
The third field goal of the day was the finishing touch on a back-and-forth slug fest. LA Tech’s Jonathan Barnes nailed the 32-yarder, 48-45, final.
For the Bulldogs, Higgins finished the day, 29 of 40 for 409 yards in the air. Craft ended the day for the Dogs with 63 yards on 17 carries. Navy’s Abey finished the day 7 for 12, 159 yards in the air, and another 114 yards on 25 keepers. Darryl Bonners led Navy receivers — only two catches, but an average of 40 yards per catch.
Know what I sayin?
Keeper – Zach Abey, QB, Navy rolls around for yards.
