Don’t look now, but conference newcomer Army and Navy are at the top of the American Athletic Conference standings.
After just one league game, the two service academies, courtesy of Army’s victory at Florida Atlantic and Navy’s win over Temple, are both 1-0 in league play and 2-0 overall to start the season.
Plus, the academies grabbed two of the three weekly league awards. Navy junior quarterback Blake Horvath was named the AAC’s offensive player of the week after rushing for 122 yards and scoring three touchdowns on 15 carries. He also threw for one score. Army junior slotback Noah Short was named an honorable mention offensive player of the week for his career-high 160 yards on 11 carries against Florida Atlantic.
Not to be outdone, Army’s senior holder, Matthew Rhodes was selected as the league’s special teams player of the week for his 23-yard scramble for a touchdown on a fake field goal attempt against the Owls.
Elijah Herring, a junior linebacker at Memphis, was named the defensive player of the week for his eight tackles, including a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery in the Tigers win over Troy.
All 14 AAC teams were in action last weekend, with 10 of the league’s 14 teams playing non-league opponents. Four of the league’s team beat their non-league foes, while six lost, including South Florida falling to No. 4 ranked Alabama and No. 17 Kansas State knocking off Tulane.
Here’s a look at how Army’s 2024 American Athletic Conference opponents fared in Week Two.
Rice (1-1) – The Owls found an easy opponent in FCS-level Texas Southern, defeating the Tigers, 69-7, behind three touchdowns from Dean Connors and two from Taji Atkins. Rice gained 533 yards in the contest and held Texas Southern to just 87.
Temple (0-2) – The Owls were held to just 35 yards rushing by Navy’s defense in a 38-11 Midshipman victory. Temple quarterback Forest Brock threw two interceptions and was tackled in his own end zone for a first quarter safety.
Tulsa (1-1) – Host Arkansas State scored 21 third-quarter points to stop the Golden Hurricanes, 28-24. Tulsa had taken a 17-7 lead at halftime. Tulsa quarterback Kirk Forest tallied 199 yards in the air with one touchdown on 16-for-28 passing. He had one interception. Arkansas State scored a touchdown on a 77-yard punt return.
UAB (1-1) – Louisiana-Monroe, which beat Army last year on opening day, dominated the visting Blazers, 32-6. The Warhawks returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown and blocked a punt that led to a 28-yard touchdown run. UAB quarterback Jacob Zeno completed 22 passes for 167 yards and had the interception.
North Texas (2-0) – Behind Chandler Morris’ four touchdown passes, the Mean Green defeated visiting Stephen F. Austin, 35-20. Morris finished with 322 yards in the air on 26 for 44 passing. He did throw three interceptions. The Mean Green’s Damashja Harris collected 142 yards, including 80 on a fourth-quarter run to break the game open. DT Sheffield caught six passes for 74 yards and three touchdowns.
East Carolina (2-0) – The Pirates outlasted Old Dominion, 20-14, behind 132 rushing yards and two touchdowns form Rahjai Harris. Andrew Conrad kicked two field goals, including a 50-yarder in the fourth quarter to put East Carolina ahead, 20-14.
UTSA (1-1) – The Roadrunners stumbled on Saturday, losing to Texas State from the Sun Belt Conference, 49-10. The Bobcats quarterback, Jordan McCloud, rand for two scores and passed for two more. UTSA used two quarterbacks, Owen McCown started and had just 35 yards on nine completions. Eddie Lee Marburger started at QB in the second half and threw a touchdown and an interception.
Navy (2-0) – Besides Horvath’s big day against Temple, which included a 62-yard run for a touchdown, the Midshipmen got a strong effort out of Alex Tecza, who ran for a 65-yard score and Eli Heidenreich, who caught four passes, one for a touchdown, and accrued 98 receiving yard in total. Navy’s Jaxson Campbell had an interception in the game. The Middies senior linebacker Colin Ramos had 15 tackles in the game.
