Army West Point Athletics
Friday, September 25
Annapolis, Md.
6:00 p.m.
Army West Point
2-0
21
at
12
Navy
1-1
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Army | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Navy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 12 |
Sprint Football Secures First Star Series Presented by USAA Victory of 2026-27
September 25, 2026 | Sprint Football
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Army West Point sprint football remained undefeated on the season with a 21-12 victory over the Navy (1-1) on Friday night at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. In the process, Sprint Football earned Army's first Star Win of the year in the Star Series presented by USAA. The Black Knights held Navy scoreless for the entire first half, the first time they have done so in the rivalry since Nov. 8, 2019, in a 13–0 win at Franklin Field in Philadelphia and allowed the fewest points to Navy in a game since a 17–3 victory on Oct. 4, 2024, also in Annapolis. It also marked the second consecutive season both Army's FBS team and sprint football teams have won a game in the same day, as last season the FBS team defeated Temple 14-13 and sprint football beat Mansfield 21-14 on Nov. 8, 2025.
Army (2-0) set the tone early behind senior running back JP Ross who capped a short-field drive with a 6-yard touchdown run at 3:09 of the first quarter. Ross finished with 63 yards on 26 carries and repeatedly churned out tough yards against Navy's front.
Senior quarterback Kyle West engineered Army's longest drive of the night in the second quarter, a 14-play, 75-yard march that consumed 7:41 of clock. West finished the possession himself, breaking free on a 9-yard touchdown run to give Army a 14–0 halftime lead. West completed 21 of 25 passes for 182 yards and added 9 rushing yards.
Army's defense delivered one of its most disciplined rivalry performances in recent years, holding Navy without a point for three quarters and limiting the Midshipmen to 62 rushing yards on 20 attempts. Sophomore linebacker Aidan Lessard and senior defensive lineman Jake Oxendine each recorded eight tackles, while sophomore linebacker Reed Hisle added seven. Junior defensive lineman Tyrus Carter produced Army's lone sack, a 6-yard loss in the fourth quarter.
Army also made program history on special teams. Sophomore defensive back Otto Leone recorded the first multi-block game against Navy in program history, part of a night that featured the first blocked kick in an Army–Navy sprint football game since Nov. 23, 2023, when Navy's Tyler Cox returned a blocked punt for a touchdown. It also marked the first blocked for Army in the rivalry since Oct. 31, 2014, when Army's Buddy Craft blocked a Navy attempt in Annapolis. Friday's matchup became the first multi-block Army–Navy game since Nov. 4, 2005, at West Point.
Army extended its lead to 21–0 just 28 seconds into the fourth quarter when West connected with sophomore wide receiver Marek Arbogast on a 45-yard touchdown strike. Arbogast finished with six receptions for 67 yards, while junior wide receiver Carson McFadden led Army with nine catches for 84 yards.
Navy scored twice in the final 4:13, but Army's defense prevented any late comeback threat and closed out the Star Game.
Junior kicker Nicholas Cueto went 3-for-3 on PATs and averaged 57.0 yards on kickoffs. Senior punter Alex Perine placed two punts inside the 20.
Up Next
Army will put their undefeated record on the line on the road against the University of Pennsylvania on Oct. 2 at Franklin Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Follow the Black Knights
Follow Army Sprint Football on X @ArmyWP_SprintFB and on Instagram @armywp_sprintfb. Fans can also like Army West Point Athletics on Facebook and learn more about sprint football and other programs at goarmywestpoint.com
Army West Point Athletic Association, Inc. (AWPAA)
AWPAA is an IRS code 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established to execute the United States Military Academy's intercollegiate athletics program. AWPAA is led by a board of directors that provides guidance to the director of athletics, who serves as the primary advisor to the USMA Superintendent and the USMA leadership on all NCAA operations. The AWPAA mission is to recruit, educate, train and inspire leaders of character who are committed to the Army values through an extraordinary Division I athletic experience.
Army (2-0) set the tone early behind senior running back JP Ross who capped a short-field drive with a 6-yard touchdown run at 3:09 of the first quarter. Ross finished with 63 yards on 26 carries and repeatedly churned out tough yards against Navy's front.
Senior quarterback Kyle West engineered Army's longest drive of the night in the second quarter, a 14-play, 75-yard march that consumed 7:41 of clock. West finished the possession himself, breaking free on a 9-yard touchdown run to give Army a 14–0 halftime lead. West completed 21 of 25 passes for 182 yards and added 9 rushing yards.
Army's defense delivered one of its most disciplined rivalry performances in recent years, holding Navy without a point for three quarters and limiting the Midshipmen to 62 rushing yards on 20 attempts. Sophomore linebacker Aidan Lessard and senior defensive lineman Jake Oxendine each recorded eight tackles, while sophomore linebacker Reed Hisle added seven. Junior defensive lineman Tyrus Carter produced Army's lone sack, a 6-yard loss in the fourth quarter.
Army also made program history on special teams. Sophomore defensive back Otto Leone recorded the first multi-block game against Navy in program history, part of a night that featured the first blocked kick in an Army–Navy sprint football game since Nov. 23, 2023, when Navy's Tyler Cox returned a blocked punt for a touchdown. It also marked the first blocked for Army in the rivalry since Oct. 31, 2014, when Army's Buddy Craft blocked a Navy attempt in Annapolis. Friday's matchup became the first multi-block Army–Navy game since Nov. 4, 2005, at West Point.
Army extended its lead to 21–0 just 28 seconds into the fourth quarter when West connected with sophomore wide receiver Marek Arbogast on a 45-yard touchdown strike. Arbogast finished with six receptions for 67 yards, while junior wide receiver Carson McFadden led Army with nine catches for 84 yards.
Navy scored twice in the final 4:13, but Army's defense prevented any late comeback threat and closed out the Star Game.
Junior kicker Nicholas Cueto went 3-for-3 on PATs and averaged 57.0 yards on kickoffs. Senior punter Alex Perine placed two punts inside the 20.
Up Next
Army will put their undefeated record on the line on the road against the University of Pennsylvania on Oct. 2 at Franklin Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Follow the Black Knights
Follow Army Sprint Football on X @ArmyWP_SprintFB and on Instagram @armywp_sprintfb. Fans can also like Army West Point Athletics on Facebook and learn more about sprint football and other programs at goarmywestpoint.com
Army West Point Athletic Association, Inc. (AWPAA)
AWPAA is an IRS code 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established to execute the United States Military Academy's intercollegiate athletics program. AWPAA is led by a board of directors that provides guidance to the director of athletics, who serves as the primary advisor to the USMA Superintendent and the USMA leadership on all NCAA operations. The AWPAA mission is to recruit, educate, train and inspire leaders of character who are committed to the Army values through an extraordinary Division I athletic experience.
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Sprint Football
DL
/ Sprint Football
K/P
/ Sprint Football
LB
/ Sprint Football
DB
/ Sprint Football
LB
/ Sprint Football
QB
/ Sprint Football
LB
/ Sprint Football
K/P
/ Sprint Football
RB
/ Sprint Football
QB
/ Sprint FootballTeam Stats
ARMY
NAVY
Total Yards
257
270
Pass Yards
182
208
Rushing Yards
75
62
Penalty Yards
40
91
1st Downs
16
14
3rd Downs
4
3
4th Downs
1
2
TOP
32:51
27:09
1st Quarter
ARMY 7, NAVY 0
ARMY - JP Ross 6 yd run (Nicholas Cueto kick), 3 plays, 21 yards, TOP 1:16
2nd Quarter
ARMY 14, NAVY 0
ARMY - Kyle West 9 yd run (Nicholas Cueto kick), 14 plays, 75 yards, TOP 7:41
4th Quarter
ARMY 21, NAVY 0
ARMY - Marek Arbogast 45 yd pass from Kyle West (Nicholas Cueto kick) 2 plays, 45 yards, TOP 0:28
ARMY 21, NAVY 6
NAVY - Biamungu Nkere 4 yd pass from Luke O'Connell (Jacori Sutton kickfailed) 12 plays, 73 yards, TOP 4:51
ARMY 21, NAVY 12
NAVY - Ibi Denson 25 yd pass from Luke O'Connell (Hunter Gennicks rushfailed) 3 plays, 36 yards, TOP 0:57
Game Leaders
CMP
21
TD
1
YDS
182
INT
0
CMP
0
TD
0
YDS
0
INT
0
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