Army’s Dawson Jones earns American, national honors

Dawson Jones’ clutch, game-winning kick gained the Army sophomore league and national recognition earlier this week.

Jones, who was named the American Conference’s special team player of the week, hit the Black Knights’ first walk-off field goal since the 2022 Army-Navy game in a 20-17 win over Air Force.

The Lou Groza Award also recognized Jones, who made the 27-yarder in the final seconds and converted a 44-yard late in the first half to help the Black Knights go into halftime with a 10-7 lead, as one of its three stars of the week.
 
Red shirt junior quarterback Owen McCown was named the conference’s offensive player of the week. He led UTSA to a 48-26 victory over Tulane on Thursday night in San Antonio. He was 31-of-33 for 370 yards and four touchdowns. McCown completed his first 16 passes, a school record, on the way to a 93.9 percent completion percentage, tied for the second-highest mark in conference history and a UTSA record. McCown threw a pair of TD passes to David Amador II and one apiece to Will Henderson III and Devin McCuin. His completion percentage is the best by an FBS player this season who has completed at least 20 passes.
 
Quinton Hammonds was the league’s defensive player of the week. The sophomore safety made four tackles and recorded two crucial second-half interceptions as the Mean Green defeated previously undefeated Navy, 31-17, on Saturday afternoon. The sophomore caught an interception at midfield as the Midshipmen were driving in the third quarter down seven and then again in the end zone in the fourth quarter when Navy could have cut the North Texas lead to one score.
 
Here is a look at how Army’s 2025 opponents fared last week:
Tarleton State (9-1) – A furious Tarleton State comeback fell a little short and the Texan lost for the first time this season, dropping a 31-28 decision to host Abilene Christian. Victor Gabalis completed 25 of 46 passes for the Texans and threw two touchdown passes. He had one interception. James Paige ran for 76 yards on seven carries for Tarleton State, which dropped to seventh in the FCS poll. Up Next: Bye.
Kansas State (4-5) – The up and down season continues for the Wildcats, who lost to ninth-ranked Texas Tech, 43-20. Avery Johnson threw for 199 yards on 16 for 33 passing for Kansas State. He had one touchdown pass and two interceptions. Johnson also rushed for 88 yards on 15 carries and scored twice.  Up Next: Bye.
North Texas (8-1, 4-1 in the American) – Caleb Hawkins rushed for 197 yards on 33 attempts to help the Mean Green beat Navy, 31-17, and knock the Middies from the ranks of the undefeated. North Texas has scored at least 30 points in each of its eight games this season. Up Next: Bye.
East Carolina (5-3, 3-1 in the American) – The Pirates held Temple quarterback Evan Simon to just 11 completions and 80 yards passing en route resounding 45-14 victory over the host Owls. Yannick Smith caught five passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns for the Pirates. Up Next: Charlotte.
UAB (3-5, 1-3 in the American) – Just two weeks after upsetting conference frontrunner Memphis, the Dragons struggled with host UConn in a non-league game, losing 38-19. Ryder Burton completed 21 of 30 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns for UAB. Brandon Hawkins caught four passes for 89 yards and a touchdown for the Dragons. Up Next: At Rice.  
Charlotte (1-7, 0-5 in the American) – The 49ers did not play last weekend. Up Next: at East Carolina.
Tulane (6-2, 3-1 in the American) – On Thursday night, the Green Wave quarterback Jake Retzlaff was intercepted two times, as UTSA knocked off Tulane, 48-26, for the team’s first loss in the conference. Retzlaff did throw for 194 yards and a touchdown and ran for 63 yards on seven carries and another touchdown for the Green Wave. Up Next: At Memphis (Friday night).
Air Force (2-6) – Sophomore quarterback Liam Szarka could not do enough to get a victory for the Falcons against arch-rival Army. Szarka did throw for 161 yards on 13-for-17 passing. But he was intercepted twice and fumbled once in the 20-17 loss to the Black Knights. It was the third straight time Air Force has lost to Army. Up Next: at San Jose State.
Temple (5-4, 3-2 in the American) – Evan Simon finally had a tough game. The senior quarterback for Temple was held to just 80 passing yards and threw his first interception of the year in a 45-14 loss to visiting East Carolina. Up Next: at Army.
Tulsa (2-6, 0-5 in the American) – The Golden Hurricane did not play last weekend. Up Next: at Florida Atlantic.
UTSA (4-4, 2-2 in the American) – The Roadrunners won their 22nd consecutive home game, blasting Tulane 48-26, on Thursday night. Quarterback Owen McCown completed his first 16 passes, a school record, and finished with 379 passing yards and four touchdowns. He completed 31 passes in the game. Tyan Milton had six tackles, an interception and a fumble for UTSAUp Next: at South Florida (Thursday night).
Navy (7-1, 5-1 in the American) – Navy quarterback Blake Horvath was held to just 80 passing yards on eight-for-14 passing as the Middies lost to host North Texas, 31-17. Horvath ran for 112 yards on 19 carries for the Middies, who suffered their first loss of the year. Eli Heidenreich caught six passes for 68 yards for Navy. Up Next: At Notre Dame.