Incident in Stands Mars Game

The Army-Navy game is usually a thrilling and raucous affair both in the stands and on the field.

On Saturday, a loose railing in 27-year-old Veterans Stadium gave way, with nine fans injured after falling about 15 feet on to the field in an accident that marred the game won by Army, 34-30.

“We asked them to come out and give us all they had,” Army quarterback Joe Gerena said. “We wanted them to make it loud down there. Unfortunately, somebody got hurt.”

The accident occurred after Ty Amey’s 70-yard touchdown run gave Army a 31-30 lead with 7:33 left. Nine Army cadets and academy prep school students were celebrating for CBS cameras when the railing gave way. The accident was not shown live, but CBS showed replays.

The game was delayed 31 minutes as the injured were transported to the hospital by four ambulances.

Eight were treated for minor injuries and released, but one person was listed in stable condition with a broken neck. No paralysis or spinal damage was reported.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to them,” Army Coach Bob Sutton said of the injured fans. “At Army, we try and operate not just as a football team. We are the corps, community and Army all together as one. When those guys were injured, it’s like one of your own guys going down.”

Eric Olsen’s 26-yard field goal provided the final margin as Army (3-8) avenged last year’s 39-7 loss to Navy (3-8) at Giants Stadium.

The 64 points broke the previous series record of 55, reached in 1959 and 1983. Army took a 48-44-7 lead in the series, which began in 1890.

Army came back from a 30-19 deficit at the start of the fourth quarter, preventing the Midshipmen from winning consecutive games in the series for the first time since 1982-83.

Gerena, a sophomore, steadied the Cadets after taking over at quarterback for Johnny Goff after the senior fumbled on the first two possessions.

“I wasn’t sure how much I was going to play,” said Gerena, who had 92 yards rushing, including a 69-yard touchdown. “I knew I was going to do what I could.”

Army’s go-ahead touchdown and conversion followed a fumble at the goal line by Navy’s Matt Harden with 8:51 left.

On Navy’s final drive, Army’s Tony Coaxum atoned for getting beat for a touchdown in the second quarter by making an interception with three seconds left.

But the accident in the stands cast a somber tone over the game.

“I think it affected both teams,” Navy Coach Charlie Weatherbie said. “I have children of my own. I wouldn’t want that to happen to anybody’s children.”

The accident in the first row of the east end zone. Witnesses said the railing in the temporary stands, used only for football, was held together by duct tape.

The accident happened in the same spot where Midshipmen had sneaked beneath the stands to tear apart an Army banner earlier in the game. In a tug-of-war over the banner, one cadet fell out of the stands but landed on his feet and was not injured.