WEST POINT, N.Y. – In a gut-wrenching finish at Anderson Rugby Complex, Army West Point men’s rugby surrendered a 16-7 lead in the final 10 minutes, falling 21-16 to rival Navy in Saturday evening’s Star Series presented by USAA.
The Black Knights controlled much of the contest, building a 13-7 halftime advantage and extending their lead to nine points with just 10 minutes remaining. However, Navy’s late surge—scoring tries in the 71st and 78th minutes—sealed Army’s fate in the fall finale.
Despite the devastating loss, Army closes its nine-match fall 2025 campaign with an impressive 7-2 overall record and a 4-2 mark in Rugby East competition.
Dominant Start Gives Way to Late Collapse
Benjamin Kemp opened the scoring for the Black Knights in the 15th minute, with Howie Heller adding the conversion to make it 7-0. Heller, who tallied 11 points on the evening, extended Army’s lead with penalties in the 30th and 38th minutes before Navy broke through just before halftime.
Heller’s 62nd-minute penalty pushed the advantage to 16-7, seemingly putting the match out of reach. But Navy had other plans, scoring converted tries in the 71st and 78th minutes to complete the comeback and claim the victory.
The Star Series presented by USAA now stands deadlocked at 4-4-1 between the service academies.
Black Knights News:
- Army Men’s Basketball Struggles Continue in 75-52 Loss to Harvard
- Army Sprint Football’s Late Rally Falls Short in Overtime Heartbreaker to Navy
- Army Gets Offense Going Late, but Falls to Niagara 6-4 to Open Series
- Army Women’s Basketball Extends Perfect Start with 67-52 Victory Over Siena
Coach Sherman: ‘We’re Taking This With Us’
Head coach Matt Sherman didn’t mince words following the heartbreaking defeat.
“We’re absolutely gutted by the result. For long stretches, we played some of our best rugby of the entire year, and we’re incredibly proud of our men for that,” Sherman said. “But this is a bitter feeling—we’re not running from it. We’re taking it with us and using it. This group is relentless. We will turn this sting into fuel and come back stronger, coaching better, playing better, and being better. Our pursuit of growth doesn’t stop here; it sharpens here.”
Looking Ahead
The match concludes Army’s Fall 2025 schedule. The Spring 2026 slate will be announced in the coming weeks as the Black Knights look to channel Saturday’s disappointment into future success.
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