Go Army, beat Navy!: Army, Navy face off at post's first games

By CHRIS RASMUSSEN, Fort Jackson LeaderNovember 10, 2010

Go Army, beat Navy!: Army, Navy face off at post's first games
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Go Army, beat Navy!: Army, Navy face off at post's first games
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Go Army, beat Navy!: Army, Navy face off at post's first games
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Go Army, beat Navy!: Army, Navy face off at post's first games
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Go Army, beat Navy!: Army, Navy face off at post's first games
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FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- Just as interservice rivalry is at its peak during the annual Army-Navy Football Game, that competitive spirit was in full display at Fort Jackson Saturday during a series of sporting events that pitted Soldiers, Sailors and Marines against each other.

"We have better uniforms and we just look better than the Army," quipped Cecil Collins, a Sailor and religious programs specialist at the U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School.

The remark was made during the final out of a 29-5 whooping by the Army in softball. Fielded by Soldiers in the 171st Infantry Brigade, the game was called in five innings.

During a second softball game, the 4th Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment Dawgs sank Navy, 14-5.

The Army Team seemed prepped to win the second round of events when it took the field to compete against Navy in a few rounds of tug-o-war. Well, that was until it was ruled that spikes were not allowed. After switching to sneakers, Army made a strong showing in the first round quickly pulling Navy across the red cone. Navy dug deep, however, and won the next two rounds in the best-of-three match.

Flag football was the next event and, boy, did Army put a hurtin' on Navy. During the first game, Soldiers in the 120th Adjutant General Battalion (Reception) bombarded, Navy 41-0. Players from the Training Support Battalion then shutout Navy, 24-0.

MEDDAC then faced off against Navy for some volleyball and handed the Sailors and Marines a 2-0 loss. The 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment found its game , as well, defeating Navy, 2-0.

The interservice games were capped with a relay run. Army won the first race with a time of 1:34.6 compared to 1:39:4. Army also won the second race, 1:28.2 to 1:47.6.

Despite the losses to Army, Sailors and Marines participating in the games remained optimistic about their chances next year.

"The Army-Navy football game does create a bit of a rivalry between us," Sailor Jeff Hill said. "But now more than ever, because they are training us to go Iraq and Afghanistan, there is a deeper mutual respect."

Sailors and Marines who participated in the games are assigned to various units on Fort Jackson, including at McCrady Training Center, USACHCS and the Navy Operational Support Center.

"We just wanted to do something with the Navy since we have them on post," said Cindi Keene, Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation sports coordinator. "And also build some camaraderie like the Army-Navy Football coming up Dec. 11."