It’s often said in rivalries that you “throw out the records”. Even if one team is a juggernaut, and is clearly superior in talent or tact, things have a funny way of evening out when the history, tradition and familiarity go deep.
Saturday’s Army-Navy college football game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — that pitted the United States Military Academy against the United States Naval Academy — was “exhibit A” in regards to this phenomenon.
Going into the game, Vegas and its oddsmakers had Navy (9-2) as a 21-and-a-half favorite against the struggling Army team (2-9), with the Midshipmen boasting one of the finest players in the entire country in its record-breaking quarterback Keenan Reynolds.
But it was all forgotten very quickly, as Army jumped out to an early lead despite Reynolds and company flexing their finicky option offense in fine fashion.
The following tweets documented all of the big plays and turning points — in real time — yesterday.
It's game time! The @CBS broadcasters are even giving Navy the "pretty helmet" edge. Rough. They're already 21.5-point favorites. #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
"Army was the underdog in 1776." The best @CollegeGameDay signs from Army-Navy: https://t.co/tdB0UyefZX pic.twitter.com/vDWsVUiIFV
— ESPN (@espn) December 12, 2015
They playing this game in Philly or LA!? Almost 70 degrees & sunny at kickoff. Is it really December? #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
"We willingly face the horrors, from which others are thankfully spared." – CH (COL) Matthew Pawlikowski #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
Future @WestPoint_USMA cadet #GoArmyBeatNavy #ArmyNavy pic.twitter.com/rB7XNNz0pR
— GEN Mark A. Milley (@GENMarkMilley) December 12, 2015
"Let's get after these friggin' guys!" – Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
How in the world can Army end the streak? #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
The first meeting was way back in 1890 in West Point. Since then, the game has been held in ten different cities. #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
Navy doesn't look like it's having ANY trouble moving the ball. Big third down coming up. Need a couple yards. #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
HUGE stop by Army. Navy forced to punt. #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
"MY GRACIAS!" says Verne. Edgar Poe quoth a big 50-yard punt return on that one. Army starts drive at Navy's own 40. #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
EDGAR ALLEN POE! Big catch by the literary giant, er, junior wideout. After a couple of runs it's now 3rd & 5 for Army inside the 20 …
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
Army draws first blood with 31-yard field goal by senior Daniel Grochowski. 3-0 Black Knights with 8:31 left in the 1st quarter. #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
.@CBS's Gary Danielson on the prospect of #Army beating #Navy today: "It would be the biggest upset as I've ever seen in this matchup."
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
Keenan Reynolds just showed #Army why he's the real deal – takes it to the house from 58 yards out. #Navy 7, #Army 3. 7:58 left in 1st.
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
With that last TD, Reynolds ties Adrian Peterson & Terrance West as the all-time leader in FBS & FCS rushing touchdowns (84). #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
TOUCHDOWN #Army!!
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
#Army 10, #Navy 7 after freshman back Tyler Campbell's 29-yard TD run. 4:10 left in the 1st quarter. #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
Huge favorite #Navy getting humbled by the underdog #Army thus far. Throw out the records. Looks like we have a game … #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
Crazy how every cadet's last name is "ARMY". #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
END 1ST: #Army 10, #Navy 7. #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
TOUCHDOWN #Navy! Keenan Reynolds does it again. Scores again on 3rd down. He's now the all-time FBS & FCS leader in rushing touchdowns (85).
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
#Navy 13, #Army 10 with 12:18 left in the 2nd quarter. #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
Keenan Reynolds already has 116 yards rushing (there's still 12:18 left in the 2nd quarter). #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
Oh, right after the last Reynolds' TD @CBS's Gary Danielson called Keenan a better pro prospect than Tim Tebow coming out of Florida …
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
Edgar Allen Poe with a clutch catch yet again. Good enough for the first down. #Army driving … #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
@SITREPBlog impressed with Carter. Kid is a player
— Scott Boyle (@Scott_CPO) December 12, 2015
TOUCHDOWN #Army! Carter to EDGAR ALLEN POE! Quoth the cadets! #Army 17, #Navy 14 with 2:08 left in the first half. #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
#Army looking like a juggernaut today. Will this be the game they finally end the drought? #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
What. A. Play. Carter connects with Edgar Poe for a 39-yard TD pass in this @USAA highlight. #ArmyNavy https://t.co/brmxyTmNtz
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 12, 2015
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
Army leads No. 21 Navy, 17-14, at halftime. It's the first time Army has had a halftime lead over Navy since 2009. pic.twitter.com/ZWfubvQ7Pq
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 12, 2015
If you were wondering what the Navy coach is wearing around his neck, it's a lei: https://t.co/Rq2K4P1Bqh #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
Both #Army wideout Edgar Allen Poe and THE Edgar Allan Poe attended West Point (the poet was expelled in March 1831). #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
Ken Niumatalolo has one thing on his mind…full speed ahead! #ArmyNavy pic.twitter.com/Qr90cq9fjH
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 12, 2015
ENORMOUS SACK by #Navy's D.J. Palmore! Brings up 4th down. #Army punts. #Navy will get it back at their own 29. 9:47 left in the 3rd.
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
Our Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter! #ArmyNavy @CBSSports pic.twitter.com/O0YvR8pqdz
— Allie LaForce (@ALaForce) December 12, 2015
TOUCHDOWN NAVY! Reynolds finds Jamir Tillman for 50-yard reception. #Navy 21, #Army 17. 5:51 left in third. #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
Edgar Allen Poe rewriting #Army football history. 121 yards most ever by a Black Knight in a game.
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
#Army goes for field goal. Kicker Daniel Grochowski MISSES it from 29 yards away. Still 21-17, #Navy with the lead. #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
BIG BIG BIG STOP by #Army on 3rd down, brings up 4th down & a punt by #Navy. #Army will get it at their 28 with 9:46 to go. #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
#Army fumbles snap on 1st down but regains possession. 9:15 to go in game. #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
FUMBLE AGAIN! This time #Navy gets it! They now have the ball back at their own 33. 8:33 left. #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
Did that lost fumble just cost #Army the chance to upset? #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
#Army comes up with the CLUTCH stop. #Navy eats some clock on 4th & 6 before taking a timeout. 3:53 left in the game. #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
#Navy with the touchback. #Army will have a chance to take the lead from their own 20 with 3:36 left in the contest. #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
INTERCEPTION! #Army's Chris Carter is picked by #Navy's Lorentez Barber. #Navy ball. 3:27 left.
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
Army WR Edgar Allan Poe gives dap to the pilots who flew the Apache helicopter flyover. pic.twitter.com/pDFAp0MEXN
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) December 12, 2015
Navy FB Chris Swain wears a Seal Team 3 patch in honor of a former team member killed in action. pic.twitter.com/ZLjIbedSdN
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) December 12, 2015
#Navy punt results in a touchback. #Army will have a chance to win it from their own 20 with 3:03 left. #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
CAMPBELL WITH THE CATCH DOWN THE MIDDLE! #Army QB Carter finds his man for 35-yard gain. #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
#Army now 2nd & 4 from #Navy's 39.
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
INTERCEPTION! #Navy picks off crazy trick play that had #Army wideout DeAndre Bell throw toward the endzone. Third straight #Army turnover.
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
4th & 4 for #Navy. They lead 21-17. Timeout with 21 seconds left. #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
#Army puts in a new QB: Luke Langdon. Incomplete. Just 5 seconds left.
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
#Army tries "Hail Mary" for last play with a backup tight end as QB this time. Incomplete. Gameover. #ArmyNavy
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
#Navy extends their unbeaten streak over #Army to 14.
— The SITREP (@SITREPBlog) December 12, 2015
14 straight wins! Navy defeats Army. 21-17. Navy leads all-time series, 60-49-7. pic.twitter.com/6sENwVnxe4
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 12, 2015
With the win, Navy also regained possession of the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy, which is awarded every year to the service academy with the best record (Air Force won it last year).
“We get to go to the White House this year and get our trophy back,” Reynolds said who, in his career at Annapolis, never lost a matchup to Army.
Navy beat Air Force earlier in the year, 33-11.
The Midshipmen finished the season with a record of 10-2. Inversely, Army ended with a mark of 2-10. Air Force? 8-5.