Navy defender Cedrick Victor grabs the flag off Army’s Terrence Parker, during the annual Army-Navy flag football game played at Carney Park in Naples. Navy won 20-8. (Lisa M. Novak / S&S)
Navy defender Cedrick Victor grabs the flag off Army’s Terrence Parker, during the annual Army-Navy flag football game played at Carney Park in Naples. Navy won 20-8. (Lisa M. Novak / S&S)
Navy’s Sean Fisher avoids a sack as he evades an Army defender during Navy' 20-8 flag football victory on Saturday. (Lisa M. Novak / S&S)
Army’s Dwayne Lambert lunges to avoid a Navy defender at during the annual Army-Navy flag football game played at Carney Park in Naples. Navy won 20-8. (Lisa M. Novak / S&S)
NAPLES, Italy — It may not have been the biggest Army-Navy game scheduled for Saturday, but the athletes at Carney Park played as if it were as Navy defeated Army 20-8.
The annual game has been played for at least the past 20 years in Naples. The players come from the intramural leagues: The Army team consisted mainly of players from the Joint Forces Command on the NATO base, while the Navy team included players from the Support Site in Gricignano and the base at Capodichino.
Army, which scored in the final two minutes to avoid the shutout, saluted its rival. “I give Navy credit. They called plays and executed. Today, they were the better team,” said Army coach Thaddeus Lumar. “We’ll be back next year, and hopefully the outcome will be a bit different.”
Navy coach Chuck Person attributed his team’s success to his players’ ability to execute directions from the coaches. “We have a great coaching staff. A couple of the older guys who really know the game were able to coach the younger guys on the field.”
