Hodges and Medders score, Air Force clinches Commander-in-Chief's Trophy in 24-21 win over Army

WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — Kemper Hodges and Evan Medders each ran for a touchdown as Air Force defeated Army 24-21 on Saturday to secure their first Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy since 2022.

Coupled with a 14-9 win over Navy on Oct. 3, Air Force (7-2) snapped the longest drought in the series between the three Bowl Subdivision service academies.

The Falcons stretched their record to 22 trophy victories, six of them under 19-year head coach Troy Calhoun, and boast a 39-21-1 record against Army in the longest uninterrupted intersectional rivalry game.

Hodges and Medders each scored in the first half to give Air Force a 17-7 lead at the break, but Army (5-4) took its first lead in the third quarter after two straight scoring drives.

On his sixth pass attempt of the game on the first play of the fourth quarter, Medders found an open Simon Kibbee in the middle of the field. The 6-foot-6 tight end walked into the end zone to give the Falcons the lead for good.

On the next drive, Air Force’s Korey Johnson came up with an interception, but a fourth-down stop by Army on the goal line returned the possession.

Army went three-and-out and punted with 5:18 left, and Air Force ran out the remaining clock to finish off the win and “sing second.”

Godspower Nwawuihe and Bryson Luter paced the Black Knights’ ground attack with a touchdown each and 82 and 81 yards, respectively.

Up next

Air Force: hosts San Jose State next Saturday.

Army: hosts East Carolina on Nov. 21.

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