Army/Navy Game

BALTIMORE (WJZ/AP) ―

A milestone afternoon for Navy ended with the sweetest accomplishment of all: an unprecedented sixth straight win over Army.

Reggie Campbell had a school-record 98-yard kickoff return, and Navy defeated mistake-prone Army 38-3 Saturday to put a lopsided slant on college football's biggest rivalry.

The Midshipmen improved to 52-49-7 against Army, their biggest lead in a series that began in 1890. No team had ever won six in a row, though the Black Knights once registered eight successive wins around a pair of ties.

Navy (8-4), which earlier this year ended a 44-game losing streak to Notre Dame, capped a memorable regular season with another blowout against Army (3-9). The Midshipmen have outscored the Black Knights by 169 points during their six-game streak. Campbell accounted for 227 yards, including 73 on punt returns, and scored two touchdowns. His 12-yard run made it 31-3 with 10:18 left.

Although Navy's potent offense was limited to a 294 yards, the Midshipmen set a school record for points in a season (479), breaking the mark of 442 set in 1917.

Campbell's kickoff return gave the Midshipmen a 14-3 lead in the second quarter. It was 21-3 when he took a punt 46 yards to set up a 51-yard field goal by Joey Bullen on the last play of the half, giving Navy a 21-point cushion.

That was more than enough to beat an Army team that dropped several passes, fumbled three times, missed a short field goal and had a punt blocked.

The Black Knights had a chance to cut into a 21-point deficit in the third quarter, but Mike Viti lost a fumble on the Navy 1.

Army junior Tony Dace set career marks with 28 carries for 104 yards. But the run-oriented Knights couldn't rally behind sophomore Carson Williams, who went 12-for-21 for 117 yards before being replaced midway through the fourth quarter.

It was the fewest points scored by Army in the series since 1991. Dace and Williams will have another chance to beat Navy, but Army's seniors will graduate without ever having experienced the feeling.

Army took the opening kickoff and launched an impressive drive that included a successful fourth-and-1 gamble at the Navy 11. But on third down Corey Anderson dropped a pass in the end zone, and Owen Tolson missed a 28-yard field goal try.

Another misplay by the Army special teams set up the game's first score. A 23-yard punt into the wind gave Navy the ball near midfield, and four plays later Zerbin Singleton took off around end on a 38-yard touchdown run.

Tolson got Army to 7-3 with a 28-yard field goal midway through the second quarter, but Campbell took the ensuing kickoff the distance. Campbell, who also returned a kickoff for a touchdown against North Texas, became the first Navy player to score twice on kickoff returns in a single season.

On the next play from scrimmage, Wesley McMahand lost a fumble at the Army 6. On third down, Shun White scored from the 1 to make it 21-3.

The rivalry between the Army and Navy is one of the strongest in sports.  Either side could have a losing season, and still count the season as a success if they win the Army/Navy game.

Jessica Kartalija reports it's the 108th time the two teams have faced each other on the gridiron.

"It's just a great day for the country and for Baltimore," said Governor Martin O'Malley.  "It's really terrific and the way they worked out the cannon salutes is great.  It's a great celebration of Maryland's history and it's important for us to remember there are many people overseas from Maryland who are fighting for our freedom.  Thank heaven we have men and women who are willing to put on the uniform and protect all of us."

"This is a historical event," said Army Major Steve Boykin.  "It is a great atmosphere.  We're concerned about the actual outcome of the game, but it's a celebration."

"It really is terrific.  These events are great to watch but they're important because they showcase our city and the great things that are happening," said WJZ Vice President/General Manager Jay Newman.  "It's something that everybody can share in and we've been getting emails from all over the country from people watching this online and on television."

Weaponry is now in place and each time Army or Navy scores, the respective team's guns will fire.  The Army is at Fort McHenry and the Navy is at the Constellation.

"It's just great to be here with so many great young men and women," said Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  "Today I'm sitting on the Army side for the first half and then on the Navy side for the second.  It's been kind of a fun week.  I've got a lot of Army officers and a lot of Navy officers.  In the end, we all serve together and there are a lot of special people on both sides."

"This is part of a longstanding tradition," said Secretary of the Navy Dr. Donald Winter.  "It is almost a separate season.  This has been a great season for Navy...but today is a different season and we trust it will be like the other."

Winter just got back from Iraq two days ago. 

"Everybody's out there waiting for this game.  This is an important activity out there and I just want to thank each and every sailor and marine, as well as the soldiers and airmen, for their service and I want to thank their families," he said. 

"I'm down here for my first Army/Navy game," said Brett Wormack, CEO of the New Jersey Nets.  "They're committed, they're passionate, they have great training."

"This is a home game for us, and it feels like him.  But I just love knowing we've got graduates all over the world who are going to be with us in spirit today.  We're going to be cheering with them," said Andrea Campbell, USNA Alumni Association.  "Go Navy, beat Army!"

Tim Williams reports that historically, Army wins when it's cold during game time and Navy wins when it's warmer.  That was not the case this game, however.

"These are the young men and women who lead our sailors and Marines and this is the face of America," said Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughhead.  "They do it for the love of the game, for the spirit, and they're just wonderful people."

"We are strong today," said Army Brigadier General Reuben D. Jones. 

Shortly before 9:30, the March On began, with both sides marching in procession onto the field.  There are 8,000 Midshipmen and Cadets marching.  The Army went first and the Navy's procession hit the field around 10 a.m.

Because of increased security, spectators are no longer allowed to line the streets and watch the March On.

"We just love this game!" said Navy mom Kathleen Branch.  "It's a fabulous event and occasion and it's one of the few places you go and watch a game and it's just gentlemanly.  And they're all the good guys!"

"I am in New York watching all the midshipmen and cadets march into the stadium on your site.  My son is a plebe at West Point.  I am home, but hearing his voice and watching these strong and brave soldiers gives me so much pride, I want to shout it from my rooftop.  What a proud moment for any parent," said Donna Dolan. 

A little before 10:30 a.m., Bill XXXII took the field.  His handler said that, in a fight, it's likely Bill XXXII will beat the Army mule, as "he has horns and the mule doesn't."

Some Army supporters shared their support for the Cadets from Iraq.  They will be able to watch the game from their base in Baghdad.  "We actually work as part of a joint task force with the Navy, so there's a bit of camaraderie going on," an officer said.  "Unfortunately, no alcohol, but there's a big-screen TV and some food."

"Everybody's getting along really well...except with the Navy guys," laughed Leroy Hill.

"We're fired up and ready to beat Navy!" said Brigadier General Rebecca Halstad, the first woman to graduate from West Point in 1981.  "Everybody here today is a winner.  It doesn't matter.  Our nation's a winner because of these young men and women.  I've watched this game in Afghanistan and in Iraq.  You know where you are, but you feel close to home."

"The bond [between Army and Navy] is unique because they're going to go after each other as hard as any other two teams will, but after, you'll see them standing shoulder to shoulder.  To me, there's nothing like it, " said noted author John Feinstein.

"This game generates a lot of spirit," said United States Naval Academy Superintendent Jeffrey Fowler. 

It is Fowler's first game as superintendent.

"To actually be here, live in Baltimore...I'm really excited about it," Fowler said.  "These are people volunteering to serve their country in a time of war.  As much as this is a sporting event, it's also a reflection of how wonderful these people are.  We're not local institutions; we're national institutions."

Fowler added that on the game field, they are enemies but once they are on the battlefield, they are friends and brothers.

Kai Jackson reports that when these young men leave Saturday, it's all about service and they're on the same team once they leave the field.

People from across the nation have arrived to see the Army/Navy game.

"It's the only game I actually do on television, so this is a chance I couldn't pass up," said Boomer Esiason.  "It's really about the kids, because these kids have gone to these military academies knowing what faces them later on."

Esiason noted that Navy seniors have never lost a game to the Army and that the current crop of Army plays have not beaten Navy, so there is a great deal at stake in Saturday's game.

Jackson reports there seems to be a pretty even mix of Army and Navy supporters.

Navy has won 51 games, lost 49 and tied seven times.

The first game was in 1890 at West Point.  Navy won that game, 24-0.

Since 1899, Philadelphia has been the usual host for the game, because it is the halfway point between the two teams.

Baltimore has hosted this game on three other occasions, most recently in 2000.  The game will bring a lot of revenue and attention to Charm City.

"We did a great job in 2000.  We're going to do a great job today and we are going to bring it back.  We're kind of becoming a second home to the Naval Academy," said Paul Tiburzi.  "It couldn't be better.  We're going to fight to bring it back to Baltimore many times."

"This has been exciting.  We're talking about generating over $19 million this weekend," said Mayor Sheila Dixon.  "We've gotten nothing but positive responses."

Mark Viviano reports there is nothing more important to these teams than winning the Army/Navy game. 

Navy already has broken a record this year, defeating Notre Dame for the first time in decades.

The Naval Academy also named a woman as commandant for the first time this year.  Captain Peg Klein is also one of the youngest commandants ever.

"We're friendly all year, except for three hours at about this time," said Army Commandant Robert Caslen.

"They look forward to it all year," Klein said.  "Our midshipmen are local, so they'll be allowed to stay out until liberty ends tonight."

"[Army are] going to earn the right to party because they'll be celebrating a victory," Caslen said.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)