Whatever you want to call it, Army fell behind 21-0 for the second time in five days.
For the second straight game, the Black Knights’ defense had trouble keeping up with a fast-paced, no-huddle offense. East Carolina drove the ball downfield with ease on its first three possessions – all touchdowns. Katin Houser threw a great deep ball to Anthony Smith for a 40-yard touchdown to Anthony Smith, catching Army in double coverage on the second score. The Pirates dialed up a great call on a 20-yard pop pass to tight end Jayvontay Conner, catching inside linebackers Kalib Fortner and Andon Thomas off guard, for the third touchdown.
Meanwhile, Army’s offense was off schedule and out of passing rhythm pretty much from the jump. Quarterback Dewayne Coleman, making his second start of the season and first since the opener, couldn’t connect with slotback Samari Howard for a pass that was originally ruled a catch and a first down but was correctly overturned as an incompletion with the ball hitting the turf on Army’s second snap. The play was a sign of things to come.
Seemed like Coleman was running into a wall with every carry. He averaged 2.3 per carry.
East Carolina was loading the box, daring Army to throw. The Black Knights had their chances in the passing game. Coleman had fullback Hayden Reed open for potential touchdowns on two plays in the same first quarter drive. Reed dropped both passes. But, to be fair, the first pass was thrown behind Reed and the second was thrown a tad late.
Noah Short had a 20-yard pass erased for stepping out of bounds before he caught the ball. Short made a great effort on a 4th-and-12 catch but was a half yard short.
Bad doesn’t begin to describe Army’s lack of success on third and fourth down. The Black Knights were 2-for-16 (12.5 percent) on third down and 4-for-9 (44 percent). On seven of the third downs, Army needed to gain six yards or more to convert.
Know Army offensive coordinator Cody Worley said he didn’t want to play musical quarterbacks but if the Black Knights were going to run quarterback power on 4th-and-short plays, maybe Cale Hellums should have been the one running. Coleman was stuffed twice for a one-yard loss on 4th-and-1.
The double-reverse pass play call was a head scratcher. Army’s defense just produced a fourth-down stop on East Carolina’s opening drive. Guess the Black Knights were trying to catch East Carolina by surprise but Coleman was well-covered on the throwback.
Jeff Monken said the coaching staff recognized staff that East Carolina changed its holder when it lined up for 49-yard field goal in the fourth quarter but couldn’t communicate it on the field fast from for Army to change its play call. Kyler Pearson, East Carolina’s No. 2 holder, raced 32 yards for a touchdown on a fake in the fourth quarter.
This game didn’t provide many answers at quarterback. Cale Hellums entered midway through the fourth quarter and led a drive that ended on downs at East Carolina’s 17 with 1:15 left.
Positives: James Wagenseller’s punting was one of the few bright spots. After not punting against North Texas Saturday, Wagenseller unleashed a career-best 71-yard punt, which got a great roll, and was downed by long snapper Owen Walter at ECU’s 1-yard line. Can’t do it any better than that.
Army’s defense turned ECU away three times in the red zone, including two turnovers. Safety Steve Nnadozie, starting for the injured Collin Matteson, intercepted his first career pass. Senior edge rusher Eric Ford batted away a pitch and recovered the fumble late in the second quarter. Army didn’t cash either turnover into points.
Doesn’t matter, but…: Why did Army go for 2 after scoring its only touchdown on the opening drive on the second half to make it 21-6?
