PHILADELPHIA (AP) – All that was missing from the patriotic fervor of the traditional rivalry between Army and Navy was competition.

Aaron Polanco threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score, leading Navy to a 42-13 victory over Army on Saturday in the 105th meeting between the service academies.

“This is the game, the biggest game of the year for Navy, no question,” Navy coach Paul Johnson said.

President Bush attended the game for the first time since 2001 at Veterans Stadium, taking part in the coin toss by flipping a commemorative coin sent from the Iraqi city of Fallujah.

Bowl-bound Navy (9-2) hadn’t won nine games since Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach quarterbacked the Midshipmen to a 9-1 record in 1963.

Navy has won five of the last six meetings to tie the overall series at 49-49-7. The Midshipmen have outscored Army 134-31 in the last three games.

Kyle Eckel had a career-high 179 yards rushing and a TD for Navy. Carlton Jones ran for 98 yards and Zac Dahman threw two TDs for Army (2-9).

“I wouldn’t say we’ve won handily,” Eckel said. “I got hit in the ribs and I’m still hurting.”

One of the most storied rivalries in college sports, the game was even more significant this year because of the ongoing war in Iraq. A moment of silence was held before the game for all deployed military forces.

After a scoreless first quarter, Navy found the end zone twice in the next four minutes.

Polanco’s 10-yard TD run gave the Midshipmen a 7-0 lead. A 44-yard run by Eric Roberts gave Navy a first down at Army’s 22. Two plays later, Polanco ran in for his 13th rushing TD this season.

After Army went three-and-out, Navy took over at its 47. One play after Polanco completed a 6-yarder to Jason Tomlinson on a fourth-and-5, Eckel burst up the middle for a 23-yard TD run to make it 14-0.

Josh Smith returned an interception 67 yards, giving Navy a 21-0 lead later in the second quarter. Dahman eluded a sack, started to scramble, stopped and tossed the ball into Smith’s hands.

After a 12-yard TD pass from Polanco to Mick Yokitis put Navy ahead 28-0, Dahman connected with Jeremy Trimble for a 6-yard TD pass to make it 28-7 in the final minute of the first half.

Polanco tossed a 9-yard TD pass to Roberts in the third quarter. Dahman threw an 8-yard TD pass to Aaron Alexander in the fourth. Lamar Owens capped the scoring with a 17-yard TD run.

“They blitzed a lot more in the red zone, but we got penalties and did some stupid stuff and we weren’t able to overcome those mistakes,” Jones said.

Despite finishing with a loss, Army took strides toward rebuilding its program in Ross’ first season. The Black Knights snapped a 19-game losing streak and won consecutive games for the first time since 1997.

Last year, Army suffered the ignominy of being the first Division I-A team to finish 0-13, and it hasn’t had a winning season since 1996. The Black Knights return next year to independent status after seven dreadful seasons in Conference USA. They are a woeful 6-41 over the last four seasons.

Meanwhile, Navy is heading to the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco on Dec. 30 after winning the Commander-In-Chief’s trophy outright for the second consecutive year.

AP-ES-12-04-04 1914EST