Touchdowns & Trunk-or-Treats: Navy Battles Past Army in Halloween Showdown

Winn Army Community Hospital:

"Football tricks and Halloween treats coincided Saturday, Oct. 31, at Savannah’s Memorial Stadium, as two military treatment facilities faced off in the seventh annual Army-Navy flag football championship.

Naval Hospital Beaufort claimed the trophy for the seventh consecutive year with a 12-6 victory over Winn Army Community Hospital. But beyond the gridiron, the matchup served as the kickoff for a broader community showcase, featuring health information kiosks, food trucks, hayrides, and a trunk-or-treat that drew over 1,800 local visitors.

Now in its seventh year, the annual rivalry highlights friendly interservice bragging rights while promoting the military health mission. Though Navy took the win, the true winners were the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, retirees and their families served by each hospital.

"The Army-Navy game is about far more than the scoreboard," said Col. Alex Montgomery, Winn ACH director and commander. "While Navy took the 12-6 win this year, watching our team compete with that level of grit made the event a true victory for both commands. Strong community relationships build long-term readiness, and our players represented Winn ACH with distinction."

Montgomery emphasized that the game serves as a vital bridge to showcase military readiness and health capabilities to the local community, while reinforcing joint-service ties with NH Beaufort and the Chatham County Recreation Department.

On the field, the matchup was a seesaw affair, with both teams playing for keeps in front of approximately 100 cheering fans split between the two hospitals. Navy was the first to light up the scoreboard midway through the first half with a kneeling catch in the end zone by Navy Hospitalman Jackharri Woodward, giving Beaufort an early lead.

Both teams traded opportunities before the break. A late first-half drive for Army ended in a fumble recovered by Navy deep in its own waters. Following the turnover, Army adjusted its sight picture and slapped down several Navy passes before torpedoing quarterback Marine Staff Sgt. Tyler Boles at Navy’s 30-yard line.

The sack forced Navy to launch a pass on its next play that Army intercepted, though the play was negated by a pass interference penalty. Pushed to the 40-yard line, Navy attempted another quarterback keep that Army snuffed out, though Navy managed to swim to the Army 20-yard line before time expired in the half.

Army knocked on the end zone door in the opening minutes of the third quarter with steady gains down the field, but an incomplete pass deep in Navy territory turned the ball over on downs.

Army finally answered late in the third quarter. Marching from their own 20-yard line to Navy’s 35, Winn quarterback Sgt. Keith Toney aired out the ball on the scoring play, finding wide receiver Sgt. Seth Thums in the end zone to level the score. Navy delivered the decisive blow with 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter on a two-yard quarterback keep by Boles.

Army mounted a late push, but Navy's defense held. On the game's final play, Navy fired off a long bomb at the horn from the Army 20-yard line, but the ball found no open arms as time expired.

Winn’s coach and Deputy Commander for Administration Lt. Col. Jon Metcalf said despite the loss, the players put their hearts and souls into the Halloween Day game - a spirit he noted will carry over into next year's eighth encounter with Navy.

“I’m extremely proud of the team and the efforts they’ve put into preparing and practicing over the months leading up to the event,” Metcalf said. “We started strong in August, preparing through the heat and humidity of Coastal Georgia, fighting injuries and sicknesses, coming out at the end with a hard-fought team that left it all on the field.”

With the final score settled, local leaders celebrated the joint effort. Chatham County Parks and Recreation project manager James "Corey" Harper confirmed the trunk-or-treat will become an annual tradition.

“I would like to extend our sincere thanks to Winn Army Community Hospital and Naval Hospital Beaufort for partnering for such a wonderful community event at Memorial Stadium,” Harper said. “From the Army static displays and health and wellness expo to the trunk-or-treat, the day offered a fulfilling experience for community members of all ages.”

Planning for the eighth annual Army-Navy flag football championship is already underway."