The Army Black Knights have had one of their best seasons in program history. They came into the American Athletic Conference championship 10-1, with the only loss coming to one of the hottest teams in the country, Notre Dame. While a berth in the College Football Playoff is unlikely, the team still had plenty to play for. Tulane had been slipping lately, but the Green Wave still boasted one of the league’s best defensive lines. That did not matter on Friday night. Army had five rushing touchdowns in a 35-14 victory.
Army Defeats Tulane To Capture Conference Championship
2-2 for 17 yards. Those were the passing stats for Army quarterback Bryson Daily. The Black Knights dominated the line of scrimmage on offense and were able to win in the way they had all year. They ran the ball and controlled the clock. Long drives kept the defense tired and the opposing offense on the sideline. Once this team has a big lead, it is likely over. Army amassed a 21-0 lead before giving up a touchdown right before the half. They squashed any attempt at a comeback with an 11-play, 75-yard drive that took up 6:31 of game time. The rushing stats are a sight to behold.
- Kanye Udoh: 20 carries, 158 yards, 7.9 yards per rush, one touchdown
- Bryson Daily: 25 carries, 126 yards, 5.0 yards per rush, four touchdowns
- Noah Short: 8 carries, 50 yards, 6.3 yards per rush
It was absolute domination on the ground. Getting over five yards per carry means the offensive line controlled the entire game. For Tulane, quarterback Darian Mensah had a nice day through the air. He went 17-25 for 209 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Receiver Mario Williams was one of the recipients of the touchdown passes and caught six passes for 109 yards. Though the Green Wave played generally well, they simply could not stop the onslaught from the Black Knights.
A Historic Game Upcoming
Every year, the Army vs. Navy game is something people look forward to. The historic rivalry is an American tradition. However, the game usually is not a ranked matchup. Both teams are evenly matched but have not made much noise in the college football landscape. This year’s game will be different. Both teams were ranked at the same time this season for the first time since 1960. The last time both were ranked when they played on the field was 1957. We likely will not see both teams ranked, as the Navy is currently outside the top 25 and not playing this weekend.
Still, the Midshipmen had a good season, only losing to Notre Dame and Tulane. Neither of those losses is anything to be ashamed of. It makes the matchup between these two teams intriguing, even for the casual football fan. The brand of football is different, but in college football, there are more ways for a program to be successful.
Final Thoughts
This will go down as one of the best seasons in Army history. They sit at 11-1 and, with a victory next week over the Midshipmen, could end the year 12-1 with their only loss coming to one of the best teams in the nation. The Black Knights dominated teams at the line of scrimmage and did it again to capture the AAC title.
