Dewayne Coleman pumped up the Gold offense as they took the field after Andre Miller’s field-goal block.
Coleman and the offense had roughly three minutes to drive down the field for the win. And, plays started happening. Fullback A.J. Williams broke off a 21-yard run. Coleman completed a 31-yard pass down the sideline to tight end Will Montesi, who made an incredible catch. A short completion to Kurt Thompson and another pass to Montesi in the flat brought the Gold inside the 5-yard line. Williams took over, scoring on a short touchdown run with 13 left for a 17-14 victory over Team Black.
“I was just taking it one play at a time and having confidence in that next play and trying to make something happen.
“AJ was running the ball great,” Coleman said. “Montesi made a great catch over there. When we got to the goal line, coach (Mike) Viti wanted to do a bootleg play and roll out. I was like, ‘MOB (Army’s offensive line), you want to do a bootleg or you want to run it in.’ I was like, ‘Let’s run it in with AJ. That was a fun drive right there.”
Scrimmage recap: Coleman connected with Lloyd Benson, who was wide open, on a 61-yard touchdown pass in the first half. Starting quarterback Bryson Daily finished the game’s only drive with a touchdown pass to Noah Short. Didn’t track carries but fullback Jake Rendina definitely more than 10 physical runs including a 1-yard TD run late in the first half. Linebacker Andon Thomas recovered a fumble. Jack Bousum, Trey Sofia, Gavin Shields and Chance Keith had sacks, per Army Athletic Communications. Kickers struggled. Trey Gronotte hit the right post on a short try and had a 24-yarder blocked. Avain Smith missed from 41 yards out.
The first-team offense for the Black team was QB Bryson Daily, FB Jake Rendina, SB Noah Short, SB Sabastian Shannon, TE Teddy Williams, WR Tobi Olawole, LT Boobie Law, LG Bill Katsigiannis, C Brady Small, RG Paolo Gennarelli. RT David Hoyt
The first-team defense for the Gold team was DE Trey Sofia, NT Cody Winokur, DE Andre Miller, LB Eric Ford, LB Kalib Fortner, LB Andon Thomas, LB/DB Casey Larkin, CB Donovan Platt, S Max DiDomenico, S Aaron Bibbins
Among the players that did not play were RB Kanye Udoh, RB Tyrell Robinson, NT Kyle Lewis, LB Elo Modozie, RB Miles Stewart, OL Will Jeffcoat, DL Jack Latore, OL Tanner Bivins.
Coach Jeff Monken said Udoh injured his ankle early in the spring and “they held him out.” Monken said Robinson “is not ready to go yet” after a postseason procedure and hasn’t practiced in the spring. “We’ll bring him back as the summer goes along and hopefully we are going to have him ready to go as we start the season in the fall.”
Notes: Former Army quarterback Joe Gerena had a closer look to watch his son, Brett, a junior linebacker play his final Black and Gold game, as one of five honorary captains. Jason Frazier, Chad Jenkins, Derick McNally and Brian Zickefoose were also selected for the honor. Monken chose the honorary captains who were all part of the first Conference USA team for Army as the Black Knights prepare for their first season in the American Athletic Conference this fall. Monken said more than 100 recruits attended the game. A.J. Williams said some sleep on Will Montesi and that the tight end has one of the best hands on the team.
