Thank you for following along here on VAVEL. The recap of the game will be up shortly. This is Thomas Cluck saying so long!
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs win in dramatic fashion, kicking a game-winning field goal to take home the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl trophy with a thrilling 48-45 victory over Navy.
That concludes our coverage for now from Fort Worth at the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. Please check back here later for final result and check back on VAVEL USA for post-game analysis, quotes, and recap.
1st-and-10: Louisiana Tech runs for 4 yards to pick up the first down.
2nd-and-2: Higgins' pass is complete for 3 yards.
1st-and-10: Higgins' pass falls incomplete but after the penalty, the ball is moved to the 33.
2nd-and-14: Navy sacks Higgins for a loss of 4 yards.
1st-and-10: Louisiana Tech returns the ball to the 28-yard line.
The PAT is good for Navy to tie the game at 38-38 here in the fourth quarter.
Touchdown Midshipmen as High runs it into the end zone to bring the score to 38-37.
2nd-and-2: Abey gains 8 yards on the quarterback keeper.
1st-and-10: Navy picks up the first down on the 11-yard run.
1st-and-10: Abey picks up the first down on the run.
2nd-and-1: Bonner runs for 9 yards.
1st-and-10: Abey's pass to Brown is complete for a first down.
2nd-and-9: Navy gets 1 yard on the run.
1st-and-10: Navy's pass is complete for a first down.
3rd-and-9: Abey pass to Tillman sails incomplete.
2nd-and-9: Bonner gets 1 on the run.
1st-and-10: Navy takes a knee and will get the ball at the 25-yard line.
The PAT is good to put Louisiana Tech up 38-31 in the fourth quarter.
Touchdown Bulldogs, as Scott runs it in to put Louisiana Tech up 37-31.
2nd-and-9: The Bulldogs gain 1 yard on the carry.
1st-and-10: Higgins' pass to Taylor complete for a 41-yard gain.
1st-and-10: Higgins' pass to Henderson complete for a first down.
3rd-and-9: Louisiana Tech's pass falls incomplete.
The 3rd quarter comes to a close with the score still 31-31.
2nd-and-9: Louisiana Tech completes a pass for 1 yard.
1st-and-10: Taylor signals for the fair catch at the 30 on the punt return.
4th-and-5: Abey stuffed on the quarterback keeper, forcing the Midshipmen to punt.
Navy takes their third and final timeout here in the third quarter.
3rd-and-5: Abey uses his legs again to pick up 2 more yards.
2nd-and-7: Abey gets 3 yards on the carry.
1st-and-10: Navy picks up 5 on the ground.
2nd-and-4: Abey picks up 6 on the ground.
1st-and-10: Navy forces the fumble at the goal line, recovering it for first down.
2nd-and-Goal: Pass to Trent Taylor picks up 5 yards.
1st-and-Goal: Screen pass to Henderson puts the Bulldogs within striking distance.
1st-and-10: Higgins takes off for 4 yards the first down.
3rd-and-2: Craft picks up a yard on the carry.
2nd-and-4: Pass complete to Smith for a first down.
1st-and-10: Taylor picks up the first down off a reception, recover his own fumble.
1st-and-10: Higgins' pass falls incomplete, but after the pass interference penalty, the ball moves to the 38.
2nd-and-7: The Bulldogs rush for 3 yards.
1st-and-10: Louisiana Tech calls a fair catch at the 21-yard line on the kickoff return.
The PAT is good as Navy ties the game at 31-31 here in the third quarter.
Touchdown Navy as High goes to the end zone to bring the score to 30-31.
2nd-and-6: Navy gains 4 yards on the rush.
1st-and-10: Abey dives ahead on the quarterback sneak for a first down.
Timeout taken by Navy. This is the Midshipmen's second time out of the half.
4th-and-1: Abey's pass is deflected and incomplete.
3rd-and-1: Navy gets 7 yards on the pass play.
2nd-and-8: Abey gains 2 on the quarterback keeper.
1st-and-10: Romine picks up 11 yards on the ground for a Navy first down.
1st-and-10: Navy picks up the first on the ground.
3rd-and-1: Navy picks up 2 on the ground.
Timeout taken by Navy. This is the Midshipmen's first timeout of this second half.
2nd-and-3: Abey picks up 7 yards on the quarterback keeper.
1st-and-10: Navy gains 17 on the Romine carry.
1st-and-10: Abey powers forward on the quarterback keeper to get the first down.
3rd-and-1: Bonner gains 6 yards on the run.
2nd-and-7: Navy gains 3 on the run.
1st-and-10: Navy returns the ball to the 20, but a holding penalty sets the Midshipmen back to the 10.
Navy's punt goes out of bounds and that concludes the first half, with Louisiana Tech leading 31-24.
Louisiana Tech takes their 3rd and final timeout.
4th-and-10: Navy gains 3 yards on the rush.
3rd-and13: Abey's pass intended for Tillman is bobbled and dropped.
Navy takes their second timeout.
2nd-and-13: Abey is sacked for the loss of 3 yards.
1st-and-10: Navy returns the ball to the 30-yard line.
The PAT is good to put Louisiana Tech up 31-24 here in the second quarter.
Touchdown Louisiana Tech as Higgins delivers a beauty of a pass downfield to Taylor to put the Bulldogs up 30-24.
Penalty: False start on Louisiana Tech for 5 yards. The Bulldogs take their final timeout to avoid the 10-second runoff.
2nd-and-3: Craft carries for 7 yards.
1st-and-10: Higgins' pass to Taylor gives the Bulldogs a first down.
3rd-and-5: Higgins pass is incomplete.
2nd-and-5: Higgins runs 5 yards on the quarterback run.
1st-and-10: Higgins' pass to Taylor is complete for a first down.
1st-and-10: Louisiana Tech returns the ball to the 17-yard line.
The field goal is good for 40-yards to tie the game at 24-24 in the second quarter.
4th-and-9: The Bulldogs get to the quarterback and take down Abey for the sack, forcing the Midshipmen to kick a field goal.
3rd-and-7: Navy picks up 3 yards on the run.
2nd-and-10: Navy with no gain on the quarterback keeper.
Timeout called by Navy. First timeout for the Midshipmen.
1st-and-10: Bonner gets the first down for the Midshipmen on the ground.
2nd-and-6: Navy gains 4 on the run.
1st-and-10: Navy picks up 11-yards on the carry, despite the fumble, recovered by Navy.
1st-and-10: Navy picks up the first down on the carry.
3rd-and-9: Navy picks up 2 yards on the ground.
2nd-and-11: Navy loses 1 yard on the run.
1st-and-10: Navy returns the ball to the 37-yard line.
The PAT is good to put Louisiana Tech back in the ascendency, up 24-21 here in the second quarter.
Touchdown Louisiana Tech as Henderson goes up and takes down the pass to put the Bulldogs up 23-21.
3rd-and-Goal: 1 yard on the pass for the Bulldogs.
2nd-and-Goal: Scott picks up two on the run.
1st-and-Goal: Taylor gets the first and a penalty moves the Bulldogs to the 6.
1st-and-10: Henderson picks up 11 on the reception.
1st-and-10: Scott picks up the first down.
2nd-and-3: Scott gains 7 on the run.
1st-and-10: Higgins runs for 8 yards before the penalty for unnecessary roughness moves it to the 48.
2nd-and-10: Higgins' pass is incomplete.
1st-and-10: Louisiana Tech lets the kick bounce out of bounds, resulting in a penalty and the ball at the 35-yard line.
The PAT is good to put the Midshipmen ahead 21-17.
Touchdown Navy, as Abey takes it 1 yard for the touchdown.
1st-and-Goal: Abey gains 30 yards on the quarterback run.
2nd-and-5: Abey gains 5 yards on the keeper.
1st-and-10: Penalty, facemask, on Louisiana Tech, 15-yards.
1st-and-10: Navy returns the ball to the 48-yard line.
4th-and-12: Higgins' pass is incomplete, bringing up a punt.
3rd-and-12: Taylor gains 11 on the pass.
2nd-and-22: Navy sacks Higgins.
1st-and-10: Lousiana Tech returns the ball to the 26-yard line.
The PAT is good for Navy as the Midshipmen shrink the Bulldogs' lead to 17-14.
Touchdown Midshipmen on the Abey pass to Bonner.
2nd-and-1: Navy picks up 9 yards on the pass to end the first quarter,
1st-and-10: Navy returns the ball to the 27-yard line.
The PAT is good to put Louisiana Tech up 17-7 in the first quarter.
Touchdown Louisiana Tech as Taylor gets 6 points on the pass.
3rd-and-3: Louisiana Tech gets 6 yards on the pass.
2nd-and-9: The Bulldogs get 1 yard on the run.
1st-and-10: Taylor picks up a first down on the pass.
2nd-and-4: Higgins runs for 6 yards.
1st-and-10: Taylor catches the pass for a first down.
2nd-and-10: Pass from Higgins sails long and incomplete.
1st-and-10: The pass to Taylor gets a first down.
2nd-and-10: The pass intended for Smith is dropped.
1st-and-10: The Bulldogs return the ball to the 34-yard line.
The PAT is good and Navy brings the score to 10-7, with the Bulldogs leading.
Touchdown Navy, as Abey runs on the quarterback keeper to bring the score to 10-6.
2nd-and-Goal: Abey gets 1 yard on the carry.
1st-and-10: Abey escapes danger and throws a screen, resulting in a first down.
3rd-and-10: Navy gets no gain on the pitch.
2nd-and-10: Abey's pass intended for Scott flies long and incomplete.
1st-and-10: White runs for a first down.
rd-and-1: Abey gains 9 yards on the quarterback keeper.
2nd-and-10: Abey misses a wide open receiver, bringing up second down.
1st-and-10: Navy returns the punt to the 45-yard line.
4th-and-17: Higgins' pass is dropped and the Bulldogs will punt.
3rd-and-17: Taylor drops the pass, bringing up third down.
2nd-and-17: Thomas gets the sack for Navy on Higgins.
1st-and-10: Taylor calls a fair catch on the punt return at the 17-yard line.
4th-and-3: Bonner gains 6 yards on the carry, but not enough to get the first down.
3rd-and-9: Abey gains 2 yards on the quarterback keeper.
2nd-and-11: Navy loses 1 yard on the carry.
1st-and-10: Navy returns the ball to the 26-yard line.
The field goal is good for Louisiana Tech as the Bulldogs take a 10-0 lead here in the first quarter.
4th-and-Goal: Navy bats down the pass to force the Bulldogs to kick a field goal.
3rd-and-Goal: Craft has no gain on the carry.
2nd-and-Goal: Craft gains 1 yard on the carry.
1st-and-10: Louisiana Tech goes in the air to Taylor for a 29-yard reception.
3rd-and-5: Louisiana Tech gains 5 on the pass.
2nd-and-9: Craft gains 1 yard on the carry.
1st-and-10: Louisiana Tech passes to Henderson for a first down.
1st-and-10: Louisiana Tech picks up the fumble from Navy off the pitch for a Bulldog first down.
1st-and-10: Navy pitches the ball to Woods for 20 yards.
1st-and-10: Navy returns the ball to the 31 despite a fumble by the return man.
The PAT is good as Louisiana Tech goes up 7-0 in the first quarter.
The ruling on the field stands. Touchdown Louisiana Tech.
The previous ruling of a touchdown is under further review.
Touchdown Louisiana Tech as Higgins get the touchdown on the quarterback keeper for 6-0.
2nd-and-Goal: Craft gets 1 yard on the run.
1st-and-Goal: Craft runs for 1 yard for first down.
2nd-and-1: The Bulldogs run for 9 yards.
Louisiana Tech returns the ball 82 yards on the kickoff return to the Navy 16.
Navy will defend the right end zone to begin.
Louisiana Tech won the toss and has elected to receive.
Pregame festivities are underway here in Fort Worth.
The Navy Midshipmen take the field second here at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
The Louisana Tech Bulldogs take the field first here in Fort Worth.
Check back before game time for minute-by-minute updates ahead of this highly anticipated Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl encounter.
With both teams having enjoyed successful seasons but still hungry for more in their final games of the year, both squads will come out energized and eager for an Armed Forces Bowl win. The contrast in styles for both teams will be particularly intriguing to watch for, with the Bulldog's high-powered passing game going up against the brute strength of the Midshipmen's ground game. Either way, it'll be a fairly high scoring encounter with the better defense likely to be the x-factor for whichever team comes out on top.
Since that dominant win over the Mustangs of SMU, it's been a different story for the Midshipmen. Niumatalolo's squad has struggled as of late, with an injury to star quarterback Will Worth ending his season and lowering offensive proficiency since that point. In the American Atheltic Conference championship game against Temple, the Midshipmen struggled to put up points, falling 34-10 and essentially ending their New Years Six hopes. Most recently, Navy fell to an inspired Army team 21-17, ending their 14-year win streak against their bitter rivals in their final game of the regular season. That loss to the Black Knights of West Point, while heartbreaking, may serve as a catalyst for the Midshipmen, with Niumatalolo's team coming into Fort Worth with increased motivation ahead of their final game of the year.
For the Midshipmen of Navy, Ken Niumatalolo's team has been striving to reach the same heights graduated quarterback Keenan Reynolds led the Midshipmen to last year. The American Athletic Conference west division champions began their season 3-0 with wins over Fordham, UConn, and Tulane. The Midshipmen were then upset by rival Air Force 28-14 before two more victories sent Navy to 5-1. A tough 45-52 loss to USF followed, with Niumatalolo's team embarking on a four-game win streak including a thrilling, 28-27 win over rival Notre Dame. The Midshipmen followed the win up, claiming an easy 66-31 victory over East Carolina before throttling the SMU Mustangs on the road with a dominant 75-31 victory.
For Louisiana Tech head coach Skip Holtz, it's been a season of what-ifs. After beginning the season 1-3 with tight losses to Arkansas, Texas Tech, and Middle Tennessee, the Bulldogs came alive, going on a seven-game winning streak that included pivotal victories over UTEP, Western Kentucky, Rice, and UTSA in Conference USA play. Similar to their opponents Friday in Fort Worth, the Bulldogs dropped their last two, with more tight defeats at the hands of rival Southern Miss and a loss to the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky in the C-USA Championship game. For the seniors of the Louisiana Tech team, they'll be hungry to finish another successful year on a high note following four very tight losses this season.
In one of the more highly anticipated matchups of this bowl season, the 8-5 Bulldogs of Lousiana Tech out of Conference USA face the 9-4 Navy Midshipmen of the American Athletic Conference. For both teams, it's been a whirlwind season, with tough losses early on and in the tail end of the season, but with some stellar play during the middle of the year. While both teams are currently on a two-game losing streak, both head coaches, and their squads will be eager to notch up a win to end their seasons in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Kickoff will be at 3:30 pm CT on Friday, December 23. There will be coverage pregame, during the game, and postgame live from Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.
Welcome to VAVEL USA’s LIVE coverage of the 2016 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl as the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs take on the Navy Midshipmen! My name is Thomas Cluck and I will be providing minute-by-minute updates, commentary, and results of this game.