Navy’s 14-game winning streak over Army has included some excruciating finishes

On Saturday, Navy will attempt to extend its 14-year winning streak over arch rival Army. That’s already the longest streak in the history of the rivalry — a streak that has flipped the all-time record from Army’s advantage in favor of Navy. The Midshipmen have only lost once in the series since 1998.

Navy’s uniforms for the game leave no doubt about the program’s goal: make it 15.

There is, indeed, a 15th star that’s yet to be filled in gold.

Navy has won a few blowouts along the way under Paul Johnson and Ken Niumatalolo, especially during the first half of the streak, but over the last five years, Army has repeatedly pulled within range of finally breaking the curse, only to fall short.

2011: Navy 27, Army 21

The Black Knights’ first game in a decade within 12 points of the Midshipmen. A Trent Steelman touchdown pass tied it up with 24 minutes to go, but two Navy field goals amid an Army three-and-out and a 12-play, scoreless drive meant for a gutting loss ... that had nothing on the misery still to come.

2012: Navy 17, Army 13

Most people remember this as the big one.

Down 17-13 with only a minute to go, Army had driven 70 yards and needed just 14 more to end the streak. And then Steelman, a four-year starter who’d been heroic on the day and one of the best players in modern program history, muffed a handoff, leading to a fumble. The image of a weeping Steelman defined the rivalry’s status.

2014 Navy 17, Army 10

The Cadets scored first, off a blocked punt. They’d remain within one score for almost the entire game, ruining two eight-play drives in the fourth quarter with a missed field goal and a fumble. A third long drive brought the final gap to one score again, but a 19-yard first down by growing Navy legend Keenan Reynolds iced No. 13.

2015: Navy 21, Army 17

The 2012 game is more memorable, but I think 2015 had to have been the most brutal. Not because of a single moment, but because there were so many of them.

Army again scored first, and this time led at halftime, 17-14. Reynolds threw a 50-yarder with 25 minutes to go to take the lead for Navy, and then Army had so many chances to take it back.

And then a three-and-out, a missed field goal, two interceptions (one on a seemingly needless trick play with two minutes left), and two incomplete Hail Mary attempts meant something like an entire hour of real-time torment for Army.

How about 2016?

In Jeff Monken’s three years as head coach, Army has improved quite a bit, and No. 25 Navy is only favored by six points.

So, well, it’s gonna be terrible for somebody, one way or the other.