Well… that wasn’t pretty but Army can say something they couldn’t last year, they are 1-0.
14 home wins in a ROW!#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/DVk1johPBz
— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) August 31, 2019
The first half started slow, a turnover on downs at the Army 15 yard line set Rice up perfectly.
Rice kicker, Will Harrison however was unable to make a 26 yard field goal.
Two drives later, Army’s offense found their mojo, set up by this reverse to Christian Hayes.
Big pickup for Army, beautiful play. pic.twitter.com/kW8ZfkZfSi
— NCAAF Nation (@NCAAFNation247) August 30, 2019
A few plays later, Kelvin Hopkins would punch it into the end zone to put Army up 7-0.
The Black Knights defense looked great until the drive following the Army touchdown when they gave up a 54 yard touchdown run by Nahshon Ellerbe.
Nahshon Ellerbe is gone for the Rice TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/0uoUzfLAsy
— NCAAF Nation (@NCAAFNation247) August 30, 2019
Rice would miss another field goal right before halftime.
At the break. #GoArmy pic.twitter.com/k3jiO1JT2Y
— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) August 30, 2019
The first half was about as bad as it could get for the offense, they were slow and looked lost at times. The defense was great through the first quarter and the start of the second and then let up a really bad touchdown run.
The second half was just as slow, Army was forced to punt and then on their next possession, fullback Sandon McCoy fumbled after gaining nearly ten yards.
It felt like Rice had all the momentum until the defense stepped up again and forced another punt.
After another Owls punt that downed Army at the four yard line, Kelvin Hopkins and company went to work needing 96 yards for the win. 18 plays later, with 9:21 off the clock, Hopkins found a wide open Kell Walker in the end zone to give the Black Knights the 14-7 lead.
.@ArmyWP_Football takes the lead with a passing TD pic.twitter.com/hPVDIYcoAc
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) August 31, 2019
Needing one last stop, the defense went back to work with 3:58 left on the clock. Rice opened up the drive with a bunch of runs and ended up on the Army side of the 50. It all came down to a fourth and one play from the Army 26 yard line.
Everyone and their mom thought Rice was just going to pound it up the middle but Jaylon McClinton knew it was going to be a pass the entire time.
.@ArmyWP_Football with a BIG 4th down stop to close out the game pic.twitter.com/ZAdo3VZto4
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) August 31, 2019
This game was far from pretty, and there wasn’t anything that makes you extremely excited outside of the teams resiliency.
They didn’t look great in the opener last year and lost to Duke. They didn’t look good tonight but they still got the win, something has to be said for that.
Next week is for real, no more playing around, if they play like they played today Michigan will dominate.
Jeff Monken has a lot of work to do this week.
