FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. -- In the seventh annual playing of the Annual Turkey Bowl between the Air Force’s Davis-Monthan Desert Lightning and the Army’s Fort Huachuca Black Knights, the Airmen brought home the win in a low scoring affair.
Desert Lightning defeated the Black Knights 14-6 in a defensive slugfest. All the scoring occurred in the first half of the game as teams traded interceptions and turnover on downs throughout the second half. With the win, Desert Lightning takes the all-time lead in the series 4-3.
“Being able to put the team together and to bring the win home for the Air Force side was a great experience,” said Brennan Camacho, lineman and coach for Desert Lightning. “Our team didn’t get to practice together before the game, but we play against each other at [Davis-Monthan] and know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.”
On the opening possession of the game, Desert Lightning quickly moved the ball down the field through the air facing little resistance from the Black Knights defense. Wide receiver Jamel Mann caught a 15-yard pass from quarterback Alex Escamilla to score the game’s first touchdown. The ensuing two-point conversion failed giving the Desert Lightning a 6-0 lead.
Following the touchdown, the Black Knights answered back with a touchdown drive of their own. The Army team relied heavily on its rushing attack to move the ball. Quarterback and coach Andrew Kinney ran the ball into the endzone to tie the score at six. The ensuing extra point was no good and the game remained tied at six.
The first drive of the second quarter saw Desert Lightning go the length of the field behind their strong passing game. Escamilla hit wide receiver Ron Lindstrom for a short touchdown to regain the lead and successfully converted the two-point attempt to take a 14-6 lead which would be all they needed to win the game.
Throughout the third and fourth quarters, both teams struggled to move the ball. The teams exchanged turnovers to begin the second half before Desert Lightning put together a drive late in the third quarter.
Desert Lightning moved the ball down to within the 10-yard line but were unable to punch the ball into the endzone. The Black Knights defense stopped Desert Lightning on four straight attempts within the 10-yard line.
On their final possession of the game, the Black Knights took over inside their own 10-yard line and had less than five minutes to drive the length of the field for the go-ahead score.
The Black Knights made a switch at quarterback, opting to use running back Isaac Cummings instead of Kinney. Cummings led the Black Knights methodically down the field. Picking up key first down conversions to extend the drive.
With less than a minute remaining in the game, the Black Knights had the ball on fourth and goal needing less than five yards to punch it in the endzone. Cummings would come up short of the endzone and Desert Lightning would take a knee to ice the win.
“All my family is retired or former Army, so I get to go home and brag a little bit since I’m the only one in the Air Force,” Camacho said. “Coming to Fort Huachuca was cool, and it was fun to get the win.”
While the Black Knights fell short against Desert Lightning, Soldiers still had fun playing the game and appreciated having leadership in the huddle with them.
“My hat goes off to the Air Force for how well they played, and they showed some great sportsmanship,” Kinney said. “You always want to come away with the win, but a lot of credit goes to [Desert Lightning] for how they played and for sticking through it to the very last whistle.”
“I’d like to thank my leadership, Col. Brendon Dever and Command Sgt. Maj. Isaac Cummings from the Noncommissioned Officer Academy, for them coming out here and showing support,” Kinney said. “It’s not often you see a brigade commander as well as a command sergeant major who are out here participating and playing with their Soldiers. Big shoutout to the two of them for being a part of this and making it special.”
The trophy celebration took place on the field at the close of the game and was followed immediately by Right Arm Night.
(Editor's note: For the complete photo album, visit 2023-11-17 Turkey Bowl | Flickr.)
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Fort Huachuca is home to the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, the U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command/9th Army Signal Command and more than 48 supported tenants representing a diverse, multiservice population. Our unique environment encompasses 946 square miles of restricted airspace and 2,500 square miles of protected electronic ranges, key components to the national defense mission.
Located in Cochise County, in southeast Arizona, about 15 miles north of the border with Mexico, Fort Huachuca is an Army installation with a rich frontier history. Established in 1877, the Fort was declared a national landmark in 1976.
We are the Army’s Home. Learn more at https://home.army.mil/huachuca/.
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