Army Wins Tough Battle With USTA, 29-24
By John ChuhranCaMMVets Media
West Point, N.Y. – It wasn’t easy and it took a full 60 minutes, but Army delivered when it counted and came away with a satisfying 29-24 over the University of Texas at San Antonio.
With the win, the host Black Knights (10-1, 8-0 in the American Athletic Conference) earned the right to host next Friday night’s AAC Championship game against Tulane (9-3). Kickoff is set for 8 PM at Michie Stadium (TV nationwide on ABC).
Part of Army’s motivation to win on Saturday was that hosting opportunity, since it gives the players more time to study for upcoming final academic examinations. The cadets certainly rose to the occasion, dominating time of possession 40:26 to USTA’s 19:34 and, most importantly, getting two crucial fourth-quarter interceptions to crush potential game-winning USTA (6-6, 4-4) drives.
“I’m proud of our guys,” Army Head Coach Jeff Monken said. “What a hard-fought win. It was just a battle all the way through. The guys, they overcame some adversity. To be down in the fourth quarter like we were, get a score, come up with a couple interceptions that were absolutely huge in the football game, and to get that critical stop at the very end.
“Certainly, we got stopped on three downs. Didn't move the ball at all. Missed a field goal. They had momentum and we were able to come up with that play. I’m proud of our seniors. They’re a great senior class. They have led this team. Four senior captains that have just done a tremendous job. It's great to be able to honor them on Senior Day.”
The game was extremely intense and matched two sets of very comparable linemen. The pounding and drive that the units of both teams put on display was very effective at shutting down the inside running game through the A- and B-gaps, leaving attempts to cut around the perimeter and perimeter the occasional C-gap lunge or draw as the most-effective ways to run the ball. All the inside congestion also helped to open up the Army passing game; Army Quarterback Bryson Daily finished with 10 completions in 17 attempts for 190 yards (the second-highest amount of passing yardage after the 193 he logged against Delaware State last year).
“I think every game you take what the defense gives you,” Daily said. “They were bringing secondary pressure really hard, making it really difficult to run the ball at times. That's why we were able to hit some more passing plays this week. That's always the plan: Just take what they give you. That was the plan this week.” Saturday’s win was Army’s first comeback win of the year. Though the Black Knights were ahead 13-10 at intermission, the Roadrunners received the second-half kickoff and Quarterback Owen McCown launched an effective 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Devin McCuin pulling down a 23-yard pass for a touchdown that gave the visitors a 17-13 lead.
Daily immediately stepped up with an effective execution of Offensive Coordinator Cody Worley’s game plan. Starting on the Army 25, he called 8 running plays and 2 passes to get the ball to the USTA 5, but stout Roadrunners defense and an unfortunate False Start penalty on Army when the Black Knights were on the half yard line forced Monken to call on kicker Trey Gronotte, who came on to deliver his third field goal of the game – the most he has ever scored in a game. That cut the USTA lead to 17-16 with 1:34 left in the third quarter.
Monken was quick to point out the importance that Gronotte – who has been a perfect 45 for 45 in Point After kicks and converted 6 of 7 field goals (missing only a 47-yard attempt in the fourth quarter on Saturday) – has contributed to the success of the Black Knights this season.
“I love to talk about Trey,” Monken said. “Here's a guy, he's worked his entire career at West Point for the opportunity to be the starter and be our kicker. If he were in another school, he might have transferred already, see the writing on the wall. I'm going to go somewhere where I can kick, be the starting kicker. He earned the job this year as the place kicker, the field goal PAT kicker. When our kickoff specialist got hurt, Anderson, he came in and handled those duties well. He's done a really, really good job. So proud of him. He has worked so hard and he's got such a great attitude and a mental toughness about him. That's one of the things I think [Special Teams] Coach Saturnio does so well and I appreciate so much of him as a coach, he coaches those guys like football players. So they are tough. They feel a great sense of responsibility to do their job well. Trey has just been fantastic. “He's a great kid. Hope he'll keep kicking the ball well because I'm sure we're going to need his leg as we go throughout the rest of the games here this coming week and the week to follow, whatever comes after that.”After pulling within a point of UTSA, it was up to the Army defense to stop the Roadrunners and the Black Knights delivered. Perhaps the pivotal play occurred on the first snap from scrimmage of the final stanza. With the Roadrunners in a fourth-and-less than a yard situation on their own 16, they elected to go for it with a run by halfback Brandon High. He tried to break ahead, but linebackers Kalib Fortner and Chance Keith swept in and dropped him for no gain.
By John ChuhranCaMMVets Media
West Point, N.Y. – It wasn’t easy and it took a full 60 minutes, but Army delivered when it counted and came away with a satisfying 29-24 over the University of Texas at San Antonio.
With the win, the host Black Knights (10-1, 8-0 in the American Athletic Conference) earned the right to host next Friday night’s AAC Championship game against Tulane (9-3). Kickoff is set for 8 PM at Michie Stadium (TV nationwide on ABC).
Part of Army’s motivation to win on Saturday was that hosting opportunity, since it gives the players more time to study for upcoming final academic examinations. The cadets certainly rose to the occasion, dominating time of possession 40:26 to USTA’s 19:34 and, most importantly, getting two crucial fourth-quarter interceptions to crush potential game-winning USTA (6-6, 4-4) drives.
“I’m proud of our guys,” Army Head Coach Jeff Monken said. “What a hard-fought win. It was just a battle all the way through. The guys, they overcame some adversity. To be down in the fourth quarter like we were, get a score, come up with a couple interceptions that were absolutely huge in the football game, and to get that critical stop at the very end.
“Certainly, we got stopped on three downs. Didn't move the ball at all. Missed a field goal. They had momentum and we were able to come up with that play. I’m proud of our seniors. They’re a great senior class. They have led this team. Four senior captains that have just done a tremendous job. It's great to be able to honor them on Senior Day.”
The game was extremely intense and matched two sets of very comparable linemen. The pounding and drive that the units of both teams put on display was very effective at shutting down the inside running game through the A- and B-gaps, leaving attempts to cut around the perimeter and perimeter the occasional C-gap lunge or draw as the most-effective ways to run the ball. All the inside congestion also helped to open up the Army passing game; Army Quarterback Bryson Daily finished with 10 completions in 17 attempts for 190 yards (the second-highest amount of passing yardage after the 193 he logged against Delaware State last year).
“I think every game you take what the defense gives you,” Daily said. “They were bringing secondary pressure really hard, making it really difficult to run the ball at times. That's why we were able to hit some more passing plays this week. That's always the plan: Just take what they give you. That was the plan this week.” Saturday’s win was Army’s first comeback win of the year. Though the Black Knights were ahead 13-10 at intermission, the Roadrunners received the second-half kickoff and Quarterback Owen McCown launched an effective 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Devin McCuin pulling down a 23-yard pass for a touchdown that gave the visitors a 17-13 lead.
Daily immediately stepped up with an effective execution of Offensive Coordinator Cody Worley’s game plan. Starting on the Army 25, he called 8 running plays and 2 passes to get the ball to the USTA 5, but stout Roadrunners defense and an unfortunate False Start penalty on Army when the Black Knights were on the half yard line forced Monken to call on kicker Trey Gronotte, who came on to deliver his third field goal of the game – the most he has ever scored in a game. That cut the USTA lead to 17-16 with 1:34 left in the third quarter.
Monken was quick to point out the importance that Gronotte – who has been a perfect 45 for 45 in Point After kicks and converted 6 of 7 field goals (missing only a 47-yard attempt in the fourth quarter on Saturday) – has contributed to the success of the Black Knights this season.
“I love to talk about Trey,” Monken said. “Here's a guy, he's worked his entire career at West Point for the opportunity to be the starter and be our kicker. If he were in another school, he might have transferred already, see the writing on the wall. I'm going to go somewhere where I can kick, be the starting kicker. He earned the job this year as the place kicker, the field goal PAT kicker. When our kickoff specialist got hurt, Anderson, he came in and handled those duties well. He's done a really, really good job. So proud of him. He has worked so hard and he's got such a great attitude and a mental toughness about him. That's one of the things I think [Special Teams] Coach Saturnio does so well and I appreciate so much of him as a coach, he coaches those guys like football players. So they are tough. They feel a great sense of responsibility to do their job well. Trey has just been fantastic. “He's a great kid. Hope he'll keep kicking the ball well because I'm sure we're going to need his leg as we go throughout the rest of the games here this coming week and the week to follow, whatever comes after that.”After pulling within a point of UTSA, it was up to the Army defense to stop the Roadrunners and the Black Knights delivered. Perhaps the pivotal play occurred on the first snap from scrimmage of the final stanza. With the Roadrunners in a fourth-and-less than a yard situation on their own 16, they elected to go for it with a run by halfback Brandon High. He tried to break ahead, but linebackers Kalib Fortner and Chance Keith swept in and dropped him for no gain.
That gave Army the ball on downs on the UTSA 16. Five plays later – in a third-and-goal situation – Daily bulled in from the UTSA 1 to give Army the lead for good, 22-17. A trick reverse on the two-point conversion failed.
Starting in the red zone, the Army offense needed five plays to march 16 yards as Daily punched in his 24th rushing touchdown of the season from one yard out. Army's two-point conversion was unsuccessful, and the Black Knights secured a 22-17 lead.
The Army defense continued to excel. As McCown led the Roadrunners on a steady attack during the ensuing possession, he tried a bit too hard, throwing beyond his receiver and into the hands of Army Safety Collin Matteson on the Army 13. With Max DiDomenico leading the way with some crucial blocks, Matteson ran 41 yards to the UTSA 46 before being tackled.
“Casey [Reynolds] went down, so I came in,” Matteson said. “Something we always kind of pride ourselves on is coming into the play. Your number's called – you step up. There's no drop off there. I came in for that play, was able to go up and make a play. It was awesome. I think the best part about it was afterwards, having all the guys around me, my teammates. All the guys you work super hard with in the off-season, spring ball, fall camp and summer and everything, it kind of accumulates. It's a really cool moment and something I won't ever forget it.”
On the second play of the drive, Daily swept around the right perimeter and charged 42 into the endzone. With Gronotte’s PAT, Army led 29-27. UTSA refused to quit and needed just four plays – the big blow being a 54-yard completion from McCown to Devin McCuin – in 1:16 to cut the lead to 29-24 with 9:10.
Army struggled to advance the ball on its next drive, moving 45 yards on 13 plays before Gronotte’s 47-yard attempt sailed wide left.
But there was just 1:56 left on the clock and though McCown was able to move from the UTSA 30 to the Army 43 in just four plays, he again tried to force the issue with a deep pass. This time Army’s Gavin Shields deflected the ball almost straight up and Safety Casey Larkin grabbed it, falling to the turf to seal the win.
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Starting in the red zone, the Army offense needed five plays to march 16 yards as Daily punched in his 24th rushing touchdown of the season from one yard out. Army's two-point conversion was unsuccessful, and the Black Knights secured a 22-17 lead.
The Army defense continued to excel. As McCown led the Roadrunners on a steady attack during the ensuing possession, he tried a bit too hard, throwing beyond his receiver and into the hands of Army Safety Collin Matteson on the Army 13. With Max DiDomenico leading the way with some crucial blocks, Matteson ran 41 yards to the UTSA 46 before being tackled.
“Casey [Reynolds] went down, so I came in,” Matteson said. “Something we always kind of pride ourselves on is coming into the play. Your number's called – you step up. There's no drop off there. I came in for that play, was able to go up and make a play. It was awesome. I think the best part about it was afterwards, having all the guys around me, my teammates. All the guys you work super hard with in the off-season, spring ball, fall camp and summer and everything, it kind of accumulates. It's a really cool moment and something I won't ever forget it.”
On the second play of the drive, Daily swept around the right perimeter and charged 42 into the endzone. With Gronotte’s PAT, Army led 29-27. UTSA refused to quit and needed just four plays – the big blow being a 54-yard completion from McCown to Devin McCuin – in 1:16 to cut the lead to 29-24 with 9:10.
Army struggled to advance the ball on its next drive, moving 45 yards on 13 plays before Gronotte’s 47-yard attempt sailed wide left.
But there was just 1:56 left on the clock and though McCown was able to move from the UTSA 30 to the Army 43 in just four plays, he again tried to force the issue with a deep pass. This time Army’s Gavin Shields deflected the ball almost straight up and Safety Casey Larkin grabbed it, falling to the turf to seal the win.
(-CaMMVets Media-)