Army football beats Air Force to stay alive in Commander-in-Chief's Trophy hunt
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Army football has salvaged its season with a finish for the ages.
Allowing a game-tying touchdown with under 90 seconds to play, Army drove 65 yards over seven plays – highlighted by a stunning 42-yard pass play from Cale Hellums to Brady Anderson – and gained a 27-yard game-winning field goal from Dawson Jones for a 20-17 victory over Air Force on Saturday, Nov. 1, at Falcon Stadium in Colorado.
The victory keeps alive Army’s bid to recapture the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. A win over Navy on Dec. 13 in Baltimore will return the prize to West Point. Army also needs two wins over its next three games to qualify for a bowl berth.
“It really means the world,” said Army linebacker Andon Thomas. “I think the CIC is the most coveted trophy in college sports.”
This was the first time Army has beaten Air Force three consecutive times since 1976-78. Army has won seven of the last nine meetings.
Typical of recent Army-Air Force games, it was a low-scoring affair with a premium on possessions.
Since Nate Woody took over as Army’s defensive coordinator in 2020, the Black Knights‘ defense has allowed just three Air Force touchdowns over 51 possessions, gaining 14 takeaways and allowing just eight points per game.
Air Force did gain two touchdowns, though, in the final 16 minutes to force the late-game heroics.
It was a shaky start for Army’s offense under junior quarterback Hellums, who was making his first start in a CIC game, as the Black Knights went three plays-and-out for their first two possessions. But Army realized its big-play potential as Briggs Bartosh sprinted off the left side for 38 yards to start the third series and Hellums finally found Noah Short for his first touchdown reception of the season on a 40-yard pass play for a 7-3 lead with five seconds left in the opening quarter.
A field position decision set up Army’s second score. Stalled just past midfield, Army head coach Jeff Monken elected to pin the Falcons deep, and Jabril Williams downed the punt at the 2 yard line. Air Force managed one first down, and Casey Larkin picked off Liam Szarka with a diving grab at the Falcon 40. Again, Army rolled out its unusual formation and a 16-yard sprint to the Falcon 8 yard line by Hellums was erased. Army had to settle for a 44-yard field goal by Jones with 35 seconds left.
Air Force quickly moved the ball on a 13-yard gain and three pass completions down to the Army 23 with 10 seconds left. But Army linebacker Thomas reached behind him to thwart a completion to Harris at the goal line, and Air Force coach Troy Calhoun elected to kick the field goal. But the 40-yard attempt by Reagan Tubbs went wide left and Army headed to half a 10-3 lead.
Army football: Second season still alive
By virtue of the victory, the winner of the Dec. 13 Army-Navy game will take home the coveted Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. Air Force, which already lost to Navy 34-31 in October, could have denied Army its bid to return the trophy to West Point with a victory.
Up next
Army (4-4) will host Temple on Nov. 8 and after an idle week host Tulsa on Nov. 22. The biggest challenge may be the Nov. 29 matchup at Texas-San Antonio, which has a tremendous home record in the Alamodome. The Dec. 13 Navy game would not count toward bowl eligibility because it comes after the Dec. 7 bowl selection date.
kmcmillan@th-record.com
X / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Army football beats Air Force, stays in Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy hunt
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