2013 Armed Forces Bowl

2013 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Navy Midshipmen (8–4) (8–4) 6 24 Head coach:  Rick Stockstill Head coach:  Ken Niumatalolo
1 2 3 4 Total Middle Tennessee 3 3 0 0 6 Navy 7 3 0 14 24
Date	December 30, 2013
Season	2013
Stadium	Amon G. Carter Stadium
Location	Fort Worth, Texas
Referee	Mark Kluczynski (MAC)
Attendance	39,246[1]
Payout	US$$600,000
United States TV coverage
Network	ESPN/ESPN Radio
Announcers	Beth Mowins (play-by-play) Joey Galloway (analyst) Paul Carcaterra (sidelines)

The 2013 Armed Forces Bowl was an American college football bowl game that was played on December 30, 2013 at Amon G. Carter Stadium on the campus of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. The eleventh edition of the Armed Forces Bowl (which was originally known as the Fort Worth Bowl), it featured the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders of Conference USA against the Navy Midshipmen, an independent team. It began at 10:45 a.m. CST and aired on ESPN.^[2] It was one of the 2013–14 bowl games that concluded the 2013 FBS football season. The game was sponsored by Bell Helicopter and was officially known as the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. Navy defeated Middle Tennessee by a score of 24–6.

The Midshipmen accepted their invitation after earning a 6–4 record in their first ten games of the season,^[3] while the Blue Raiders accepted their invitation after earning an 8–4 record in theirs.^[4]

Team selection

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

The Blue Raiders' first season as a member of Conference USA saw them continue their winning ways as they finished 8–4 overall and 6–2 in conference play (tied with the East Carolina Pirates for second in the C-USA East Division). At season's end, bowl director Brant Ringler extended an invitation to the Blue Raiders to play in the game.^[4]

This was Middle Tennessee's first Armed Forces bowl.

Navy Midshipmen

In April 2009, organizers announced that they had reached a deal with Navy to play in the 2013 edition of the Armed Forces Bowl.^[5] After defeating the South Alabama Jaguars for their sixth win of the season on November 16, bowl director Brant Rigler extended an invitation to play in the game.^[6]

This was Navy's first Armed Forces Bowl, making them the last of the FBS' three service academies to reach the bowl (Air Force reached the bowl in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2012, with Army reaching the bowl in 2010).

Game summary

Scoring summary

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Middle Tennessee Navy 1 10:01 10 59 4:59 NAVY Keenan Reynolds 3-yard touchdown run, Nick Sloan kick good 0 7 1 4:08 13 56 5:53 MTSU 43-yard field goal by Cody Clark 3 7 2 14:16 11 46 4:52 NAVY 32-yard field goal by Sloan 3 10 2 6:38 9 36 3:53 MTSU 24-yard field goal by Clark 6 10 4 10:48 11 80 4:12 NAVY Reynolds 1-yard touchdown run, Sloan kick good 6 17 4 9:16 2 43 0:50 NAVY DeBrandon Sanders 41-yard touchdown run, Sloan kick good 6 24 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 6 24

References

1. "2013 Armed Forces Bowl: Middle Tennessee vs. Navy". State Broadcast. Retrieved 2012-12-30.
2. "Frequently Asked Questions". ArmedForcesBowl.com. Armed Forces Bowl. 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
3. "Navy Earns Spot in 2013 BHAFB". Armed Forces Bowl. November 16, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
4. "Raiders headed to Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth". GoBlueRaiders.com. Middle Tennessee State University. December 8, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
5. "2013 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl Sailing with Navy". ArmedForcesBowl.com. Armed Forces Bowl. April 29, 2009. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
6. "Navy Qualifies For The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl In Fort Worth, Texas; Tickets On Sale Now". NavySports.com (Press release). United States Naval Academy. November 16, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.