Yards And Stripes: Get Ready For First Leg Of CIC Trophy Series

The Service Academy football season continues to deliver surprises as we approach the first leg of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. Week 5 brought a mix of dominance, struggles, and late-night fireworks across the academies, and Price Atkinson and Steve Carney broke it all down this week on Yards And Stripes.

Army’s Tough Night in Greenville

Army’s road trip to East Carolina ended in disappointment with a 28–6 defeat. The Black Knights fell behind 21–0 in the first quarter and never recovered. Head coach Jeff Monken’s squad continues to search for a fast start, as the offense struggled to sustain drives while the defense was unable to slow ECU’s balanced attack. Army dropped to 1–3 overall and remains winless in American Athletic Conference play.

Navy Keeps Rolling with Defense First

In a rain-soaked Annapolis, Navy improved to 4–0 with a gritty 21–13 win over Rice. Quarterback Blake Horvath led the way with 172 passing yards, 110 rushing yards, and two touchdowns. Yet it was the Midshipmen defense that shined, holding the Owls to just 120 rushing yards—half their season average. Navy has now started 4–0 in back-to-back years for the first time since the late 1970s.

Air Force Falls in a Shootout

Out west, Air Force dropped its third straight game in a 44–35 loss to Hawaii. The Falcons put up nearly 500 yards of offense but were undone by Hawaii quarterback Micah Alahado’s 457-yard, three-touchdown performance. Despite quarterback Liam Sarka’s efficient outing (278 yards, 3 TDs on 10 completions), Air Force’s defense couldn’t slow the Warriors’ relentless attack.

Looking Ahead: First Leg of the CIC Trophy

All eyes now turn to Annapolis, where Navy (4–0) hosts Air Force (1–3) on CBS. The winner of this matchup has gone on to claim the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy in 40 of 53 seasons—a staggering 75% rate. While Navy enters as an 11.5-point favorite, recent history shows road teams have had success in this rivalry. With pride and tradition on the line, expect another hard-fought battle.
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