Watching the Corps of Cadets rush the field after Army’s 35-14 win over Tulane in the AAC championship game stirred up some memories of the 2016 Army-Navy streak-buster game.
Army quarterback Bryson Daily said he wanted to play a ‘second Senior Day” in front of the Corps because cadets were on holiday break for the Black Knights’ last regular-season home game against UTSA. And, the Corps didn’t disappoint. They were engaged all night during freezing conditions.
Daily continued a season that defies description. Four more rushing touchdowns, tying the AAC championship record. Ninth straight multiple touchdown game, something Boise State Heisman hopeful Ashton Jeanty and former Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds (whose 31 rushing touchdowns in a season are the FBS QB record) can’t touch. Tenth consecutive 100-yard rushing game (only game that Daily didn’t rush for 100 was season opener against Lehigh when he was taken out early due to Army’s lead). Daily should have been invited to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist Saturday. Will be interesting to see how many Heisman votes Daily receives.
Been calling for Army fullback Kanye Udoh to carry the ball more at the start of games. Udoh’s number was called on the Black Knights’ second and third plays. He ran for some tough yards inside picking up a first down and opening up the option to bounce a run out like he did for 72 yards in the first quarter. Getting Udoh going early makes the nation’s top rushing offense even harder to slow down and will be crucial against Navy this week.
Trey Gronotte’s fumble fumble on Tulane’s kickoff is one for the “Sauce Team Hall of Fame.” Army head strength and conditioning coach Conor Hughes quote tweeted the highlights with Army football player instead of kicker. Gronotte talked about the play and the work that special teams puts in on tackling drills with defensive coordinator Nate Woody on the Black Knight Nation podcast below.
Thought senior nose tackle and captain Cody Winokur played more snaps in the championship than he did in Army’s first 11 games and coach Jeff Monken confirmed that earlier this week. Can’t say enough about Winokur’s play in his first college start. Army was down it’s top two nose tackle Kody Harris-Miller and Jacob Tuioti due to injury. After a strong start from Tulane’s running game on the opening drive, Winokur helped settle the defense. He finished with a career-high four tackles but the statistics don’t completely tell his impact on the game. Monken said Winokur tipped the pass that was intercepted by linebacker Andon Thomas. The coaching staff voted Winokur the game’s defensive MVP.
Thomas’ breakout season continues as he was once again was at the top of Army’s tackling list. He’s tied or led the Black Knights in tackles in nine of their 12 games.
Army’s defense now has 16 interceptions on the season with six players having multiple picks, including Thomas.
Sophomore center Brady Small and junior safety Casey Larkin, both Jersey guys, made Pro Football Focus College’s conference championship team of the week. Larkin recorded his third INT of the season.
Army’s offensive line should have receive a Game Ball for the way that it was blowing Tulane’s defensive front yards off the ball.
Don’t think senior safety Max DiDomenico’s toughness and leadership gets talked about enough. DiDomenico is playing through some obvious pain and continues to make a difference in Army’s defense.
