ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Bennett Moehring knew exactly how he was going to celebrate if he kicked the game-winning field goal against Army.

Moehring, a Navy junior, and his holder, Randy Beggs, would fall onto their backs at midfield and make snow angels. Amid a roaring crowd, they would flap their arms and legs as the falling snow chilled their faces. They would feel what it was like to be heroes.

Early this month, the dream nearly came true.

Late in the Army-Navy game — a matchup both service academies obsess about all year — the score was 14-13, with Army ahead and Navy on a drive. Navy advanced to the Army 23-yard line, but penalties pushed the ball back and set up a 48-yard field-goal attempt for Moehring with just a few seconds left. If he made it, he would equal his personal best. He was confident he could do it.

Snow and wind pelted his back. His foot smacked the ball just the way he wanted, and that ball flew straight and straight and straight some more. Until it drifted.