FORT BELVOIR, Va. - Army running back Chief Warrant Officer 3 Derrick Worsley took an option pitch from quarterback Maj. Daniel Horn 68 yards for the lone score as the Army team beat the Navy, 8-0, Dec. 6 in the second annual Defense Logistics Agency Army-Navy Flag Football Game.
Worsley went right on one of the only big offensive plays in a cold, soggy game at Fort Belvoir, Va.’s Pence Field. The Green Machine’s win came against a Navy team that looked very similar to last year’s winning squad.
“I knew we could do it as soon as I lined up,” Worsley said. “I saw the right side was weak and thought I could take advantage.”
Horn kept the snap on the two-point conversion to cement the final margin in a game that was marred by miscues and penalties from both teams. During the possession before Army’s scoring drive, the Navy offense had a nightmare sequence that saw two high snaps – each costing the team 10 yards – and an interception from quarterback Cmdr. Ryan Lookabill that was called back after an Army defender was penalized for roughing the passer. Lookabill capped that drive with an interception to Lt. Col. Joe Williams, who pulled the ball down at the Army 20-yard line to set up the winning drive.
Navy coach Cmdr. Mike Jefferson said the weather, which deteriorated throughout the game’s 40 minutes, limited Navy’s offense, which was designed around an aerial attack that took advantage of him and Lookabill.
“We had a lot of pass plays, and there wasn’t much we could do,” he said. “Our offense was limited in the second half. I pulled my hamstring, and I designed the offense to go through me, so it made it tough.”
Navy only threatened twice: once on the drive before Army’s score and earlier on the game’s opening drive. Lookabill and Jefferson started hot, marching Big Blue to Army’s 25-yard line. On first and 10, Lookabill floated what looked like a scoring pass into the end zone, but Army defensive back Capt. Harry Mars snatched the ball and ran it back out to the Army 20.
“We had opportunities,” Jefferson said, referring to the two drives. “They played well. You make plays, you win. We’ll get it back.”
“It felt really good to win, but we knew we’d do it anyway,” Worsley said.
Maj. Gen. Kenneth Dowd, the Army team’s general manager, said both teams showed the high level of teamwork people expect from DLA.
“We’re a great DLA family,” Dowd said. “This was great weather for a football game. It just shows with the teamwork and the teammates out here how powerful DLA is.”