Boca Raton, Fla. – Rarely, very rarely, does a holder play a pivotal role in a college football game.
On Saturday, Matthew Rhodes, who is listed as a 6-foot-4 senior punter from Auburn, Ala. in Army’s media guide, set up to hold on a 40-yard field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter of the Black Knights inaugural American Athletic Conference game against Florida Atlantic.
But, instead of placing the ball down for kicker Trey Gronotte’s attempt, Rhodes picked the football up and rambled down the left side of the field for a 23-yard touchdown run. The play put Army ahead by a pivotal three scores, 24-7, and ultimately gave the Black Knights, now 2-0 on the season, a victory by the same score over the Owls at sun-baked and oppressively-hot FAU Stadium before 23,810 fans.
Two games into the season, Rhodes’ play is just another example of the Army coaching staff’s willingness to think outside the box to win a football game this year. Last week, the Black Knights successfully completed a 35-yard run for a first down on a fake punt on Army’s opening drive that led to their first touchdown in a 42-7 victory over Lehigh. This week, it was Rhodes’ run for a score that ultimately made a big difference.
“I was not sure if we were going to use it,” said Rhodes, who chose Army over Navy and also was offered a baseball scholarship to play at West Point. “It was a great feeling to be out there with the guys and getting the job done.”
For Army coach Jeff Monken giving the ball to Rhodes, who said he was a third-string quarterback in high school, was a no-brainer. Monken explained after the game that a field goal would have put the Black Knights up by 13 points, less than a two-touchdown lead, while a touchdown would give Army a three-touchdown lead and possibly force the Owls to become more desperate in their play calling as they try to fight back late in the game.
“It is still a two-score game, 10 or 13 points,” said Monken, who noted that special teams coach Sean Saturnio has constantly practiced that fake play with his players. “Scoring seven there and making it a 17-point lead means it is no longer a two-score game. We have been holding that for an opportune time and that was just the right time to do it. If we did not get the first down on the fake, it is still a two-score game.”
Make no mistake about it, Army controlled nearly all aspects of this game from the beginning to the end. The Black Knights, with junior slotback Noah Short galloping for 160 yards on just 11 carries, registered 405 rushing yards on the day. Bruising senior quarterback Bryson Daily picked up 117 yards on 18 carries, and sophomore fullback Kanye Udoh had 70 yards on 14 carries.
Army’s defense, which entered the season with a lot of questions, was as hot as the FAU Stadium turf. The Black Knights held the Owls to just 42 rushing yards and quarterback Cam Fancher managed just 193 yards on 25 for 37 passing. Army senior safety Max DiDomenico intercepted a Fancher pass, his first of the season and third of his career, in the third quarter to end an FAU drive on the Army 5-yard line.
And, late in the game, the Army defense stopped FAU four times inside the five-yard line to prevent any thought of a late Owls’ comeback.
“I am just really proud of our guys,” said Monken. “Our guys don’t get affected by the elements. It does not phase them or change who they are. They did not allow that to happen today. I think they were very excited to have a chance to play in their first conference game. It was certainly motivation for us.
“I really like our team, they are tough, they play hard for each other and there are no egos. Everybody is just happy to see us have some success and see guys contribute and they are resilient when they have their backs to the wall.”
Udoh put the Black Knights ahead 7-0 on an 8-yard run midway through the first quarter. Daily threw the ball just four times, but his one completion in the game was a 44-yard touchdown pass to wide open senior Casey Reynolds that gave Army a 14-0 lead late in the quarter.
FAU’s only score came late in the second quarter, when the Owls recovered an Udoh fumble at their own 31-yard line and drove the field for a touchdown with only 53 seconds left in the half to cut Army’s lead to 14-7 going into the locker room.
Gronotte’s 35-yard field goal early in the second half put Army ahead 17-7, setting up Monken’s decision on his second field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter.
Daily, who gave a lot of credit to his offensive line for opening some big holes, said Army came to play and to make a point.
“We came in with a plan and we knew they were talented and well-coached,” the co-captain noted. “But, we have some talented guys, too. We came in and played with an edge because we are not sure how people perceive us in this conference, but we are here to play, here to compete and here to win games.”
