The tension had been building for a week. Toilet paper was strewn across the yard of the Air Force detachment and also in the Army ROTC hallway. Web pages were hijacked, faxes were sent between the two offices, and chalk drawings and slogans could be found around campus. However, the real battle was not in the war of pride on the campus but on the football field Saturday morning. On this blustery day, the Army ROTC would show the Air Force ROTC who controlled this campus.
The Army wasted no time in their conquest, forcing the Air Force back into their own end zone for a safety, bringing the score to 2-0. With 11:30 left to go in the first quarter, Cadet Donahue (Army) scored a field goal. The score remained 5-0, Army at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw much of the same. Army started things off with spectacular runs by CPT Karnaze and MSG Gleason that eventually set up the touchdown by CPT K. A quick two-point conversion later and the Air Force deficit increased to 13 points. The Army defense continued to shut down the Air Force's offensive attempts and finally got the ball back for another touchdown reception, this time by CPT Decker with 4:55 left to go in the half. Then, with only 7 seconds remaining on the clock, SFC Scroggins threw the ball 33 yards and it was caught by Cadet Morrison in the end zone for yet another Army touchdown. The score at the half was 25-0 in favor of the Army ROTC team.
During halftime, the Air Force must have came up with a plan because they scored the first touchdown of the second half with a run by Cadet Meades. As a result, the Air Force inched up to 6 points. Army, on the counterattack, again hit Cadet Morrison who ran a short 10 yards into the end zone for his second touchdown of the day. Not giving up, Air Force came right back at the Army cadets, when Cadet Ilangantileke ran to the goal line for a second Air Force touchdown bringing the score to 31-12 at the end of the third quarter.
The final points in the game went to the Army with 5:48 remaining. CPT Decker caught a pass from SFC Scroggins and ran it 5 yards for his second touchdown. Cadet Donahue made good on the extra point to bring the final score to 38-12.
Following the game, the trophy was presented to the Army ROTC's Battalion Commander by the Air Force and both teams proceeded to Harrington for a pizza party. The next challenge for the victorious Army team will come December 6 when they meet the Navy ROTC team at Holy Cross.