Fake punts are beginning to become a bit of a tradition in the Army-Navy game.
You remember Diego Fagot’s iconic conversion for the Midshipmen in 2021, right? When the snap surprised the linebacker and he stiff-armed a would-be tackler before scampering for a critical late-game first down? Indeed, that was pretty awesome.
And so was the fake punt Navy ran in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game, the 125th meeting between the Black Knights and Midshipmen. But this time, the man who got the ball was not a linebacker, or a fullback, or a receiver.
No, he was a bit heftier.
On a fourth-and-5 setup at midfield early in the fourth quarter, Navy called for a fake punt. The ball was snapped into the mitts of junior nose tackle Landon Robinson, who cut through a hole set up by blockers and rumbled down the field for a 29-yard run. Robinson fumbled at the end, but it was safely recovered by Navy and set up Blake Horvath’s second touchdown of the day – which, of importance to bettors, triggered a rare over (39 points) in the Army-Navy game.
Here’s the play:
WHAT A WILD PLAY — Navy calls a fake punt to the big man Landon Robinson!
He picks up the first, fumbles, but Navy keeps it! pic.twitter.com/2GfXhypE9i
— CBS Sports College Football (@CBSSportsCFB) December 14, 2024
It’s not a Thicc Six, but we should celebrate it the same way.
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 14: Defensive tackle Landon Robinson #96 of the Navy Midshipmen celebrates a sack against the Army Black Knights during the first half of 125th America’s Game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at Northwest Stadium on December 14, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Robinson is listed as 6 feet tall and 285 pounds. He made an appearance on Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks List at the Athletic. Robinson, according to Feldman, can bench 450 pounds and squat 650. He entered the Army-Navy game with four sacks on the season.
