Tackle by McMorris proves a game-saver
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — An overlooked play by senior cornerback Michael McMorris on Army’s second-to-last possession might have preserved Navy’s 17-13 victory Saturday at MetLife Stadium.
On third-and-1 from the Army 34-yard line with 5:00 to go and Navy leading by four, inside linebacker Diego Fagot decided to blitz, an all-out play looking to stuff the run and keep the Black Knights from picking up a first down and forcing a three-and-out. It proved to be a mistake.
There was no one to fill the gap when fullback Jakobi Buchanan came barreling through the line of scrimmage.
As Fagot was jumping over the center and into a pile of humanity, Buchanan was breaking through a big hole on the left side and had nothing but green grass between himself and the end zone. It would have been a foot race with Navy defenders to determine whether Buchanan would have scored, but he most certainly would have set up Army with first down deep in enemy territory.
McMorris made sure it was not a game-breaking run. The 5-foot-9, 173-pound cornerback grabbed the 260-pound Buchanan around the ankles and held tight.
Buchanan wound up gaining 13 yards to just shy of midfield, but the Navy defense lived to fight another series and Army wound up having to punt four plays later.
“I saw Diego jump over the line and the fullback was still coming and I was like, ‘Aw snap, here it goes.’ I know I’m not going
to bring him down up high, so I just went straight for his legs and held on for dear life and waited for my teammates to come,” McMorris said. “I knew at that moment I had the brotherhood in my hands, so I wasn’t letting go.”
Chance Warren’s near ‘Philly Special’
While Fagot’s 4-yard gain on a fake punt was the most discussed fourth-down conver
sion of the game, senior slotback Chance Warren’s might have been just as crucial. Facing fourth-and-4 at the Army 28-yard line with 9:50 left in the third and Navy driving, he fired up the home sideline with the 26-yard run off a trick play that did not work as designed. One play later, quarterback Tai Lavatai punched in the go-ahead score on a 2-yard touchdown run.
Warren took a pitch off a reverse and was supposed to pass to Lavatai, the “Philly Special” play made famous by the Philadelphia Eagles in their Super Bowl LII victory over the New England Patriots. However, Lavatai was not open and Army defenders were bearing down on Warren, so he tucked the ball and ran.
“I was trying to pass to Tai, but he was a little slow,” Warren joked.
Warren turned the corner and was met at the first down marker by standout Army outside linebacker Andre Carter, who checks in at 6-foot-7 and 265 pounds. However, the 190-pound Warren ran right through Carter’s tackle attempt, picked up a block from wide receiver Mychal Cooper and gained additional yardage to give Navy first-and-goal from the 2-yard line.
“I knew when I got the ball today, I had to make the most of it. I wasn’t going to allow [Carter] to hinder me in any way,” Warren said. “Shout out to Tai who threw a big block. Coop is always blocking downfield and allowing me to extend the play. On fourth-and-4, I had to make a play and I’m just grateful I did.”
Local ties
Army standout senior linebacker Arik Smith, who played youth football for Severn Athletic Club in Anne Arundel County, was among his team’s top defenders on Saturday. The Bowie resident finished with nine tackles, including two solo.
Smith has enjoyed an outstanding career for the Black Knights, playing in 36 games and totaling 165 tackles, 13 ½ tackles for loss and six sacks before Saturday’s contest. The 6-foot, 235-pound St. John’s College Prep product entered the game leading Army with 67 tackles (nine for loss) and eight quarterback hurries this season. He also has two sacks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
Smith was selected as the 2021 recipient of the Defender of the Nation Award, presented annually by the Charlotte Touchdown Club, which is given to a football player at a service academy who has shown outstanding performance on and off the field.
Smith and his father spend time during the offseason restoring properties in the Baltimore region to provide housing for underprivileged families.
Army defensive coordinator Nate Woody had high praise for Smith, calling him a “violent hitter” and saying he has routinely taken over games by making big plays. Woody said Smith is one of his most-prepared players, and he has a motor that is hard to slow down, even in practice.
“I love the way Arik just brings it. He brings it every play and he doesn’t have to talk about it. Sometimes on TV, you see a lot of guys and they’re pointing a finger and doing stuff, the hype and the trash talk,” Woody said. “He doesn’t do it. He just takes his job seriously and you can count on it.’’
Patriots support
Joe Cardona, the starting long snapper for the New England Patriots, attended the ArmyNavy game for the first time since he played in it in 2014. The former Navy football standout was able to spend Saturday at MetLife Stadium because the Patriots are on a bye this week.
Cardona brought four of his Patriots teammates — punter Jake Bailey, fullback Jakob Johnson, running back Damien Harris and wide receiver Gunner Olszewski. The five Patriots sat in the club section and presumably joined Cardona in rooting for Navy.
Injured seniors dress
Navy seniors Kevin Brennan, Marcell Gleaton and Mitch West knew they could not play against Army one last time.
However, they could not stomach standing on the sidelines in street clothes and requested to wear the specialty uniforms the Midshipmen sported.
As one of four Navy captains, Brennan participated in the pregame coin toss at midfield.
Mid bits
Eight of the last 11 Army-Navy games have been decided by one possession … The attendance of 82,282 was the largest for a college football game in the history of MetLife Stadium, which opened in 2010. It was also the largest for an Army-Navy game since 1974 when 83,246 fans attended the game at John F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Philadelphia. Navy won that game 19-0. … Glen Wilson, the field judge for the game Saturday, is an Anne Arundel County resident.