What’s the secret to Army’s recent success over Air Force in Commander in Chief’s trophy play?
Might be Army defensive coordinator Nate Woody. The Black Knights are 4-1 against the Falcons since Woody arrived at West Point. Army has held Air Force to 40 total points over the five games including limiting the Falcons to a field goal in the last two wins.
Slowing and shutting down Air Force today would be an impressive showing for the Black Knights’ defense. Army is 1.5-point road underdog.
Air Force (2-5) scored 30 or more points in its first six games. The Falcons’ lowest point total was a 24-21 win over Wyoming before the bye. Air Force is averaging 36.6 points per game, ranking 21st in the country. The Falcons lost 34-31 at Navy Oct. 4.
Army (3-4), whose point differential is -1, needs to beat Air Force to have a chance at capturing the CIC trophy when it meets Navy on Dec. 13 in Baltimore.
This is Army’s first trip to Falcon Stadium since 2019.
Sal Interdonato (Black Knight Nation): Air Force 27, Army 21. Can Army slow down Air Force’s high-scoring offense? Will the Black Knights play ball-possession football or be able light up the scoreboard against a Falcons’ defense that allows more than 37 points per game. If one of these three things happen – the Black Knights throw for 150 yards or more, score a defensive or special teams touchdown – Army will win.
Seth Mendelson (Black Knight Nation): Air Force 28, Army 14. Neither team has shown much this season, but the Falcons seem to have the better offense and the better quarterback in Liam Szarka. Army must keep the AF offense off the field and out of the end zone and win the turnover battle. Both are tall tasks.
Cuthbert Hutton (Sidelines Army): Army 27, Air Force 20. Air Forces offense is going to try to track meet their way to a victory, but their porous defense will not be able to stop Army’s ball/control game plan. Expect almost no bells and whistles from Army as a refreshed Cale Hellums and return to starting lineup Hayden Reed grind yards and eat clock. Army finishes with +35min TOP, and gets the win.
