Army football: Black Knights close home slate with win over UConn
WEST POINT – The post-game imagery was unmistakably happy at Michie Stadium on Saturday afternoon, and not a moment too soon in an Army season where the satisfaction hasn’t quite met the preseason hopes.
Family members hugged players on the turf of Blaik Field, many of the women clutching flowers handed out during pregame Senior Day ceremonies. Players who don’t normally linger in the aftermath of a game took extra time to survey the venerable stadium and watch the East stands empty for one final time – on their next visit to Michie, as officers, those stands will be gone and under reconstruction as a field-length, triple-deck structure that will block out some of the inherent beauty of the familiar Hudson Valley backdrop but symbolize the growth of the program that the Class of 2023 helped maintain, posting a 17-3 home mark since 2020. The $145 million project is slated to begin in June and be ready for the start of the 2025 season.
And there were the smiles, something that has been missing of late. Army headed into its showdown with resurgent Connecticut a bit downtrodden, losers of two in a row as the offense sputtered in the second half of road losses to Air Force and Troy.
But the third Saturday of November was different. It was colder than five earlier home contests, but Army made critical plays in all three phases – offense, defense and special teams – pulling away to a satisfying 34-17 victory over the Huskies.
“It means a lot,’’ said All-American end Andre Carter. “We got a win in our first game here (in 2019, vs. Rice). The season hasn't gone the way we want but we got a win today and we're really happy about it.’’
“It sure beats the alternative. We were desperate,’’ said Army head coach Jeff Monken, whose team snapped a two-game losing streak for the third time this season. “I'm glad that they were able to win the last game here at home. .. We've been on the wrong side of some really close games this year and it's been agonizing and tough to swallow. But I can't say enough about the fight in this team.’’
The Army defense made a pair of goal-line stands in the first half to hold UConn to just three points, and added a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions to seal the win. The offense was classic Army: 58 run plays and one incomplete pass.
It took some time to get rolling but Army pulled ahead for good midway through the third quarter, a 75-yard end around dash by Braheam Murphy putting the Black Knights up 20-17. And over the final 18 minutes, Army outgained UConn 156 yards to 52, pulling away on a pair of short touchdown runs (4, 2 yards) by senior quarterback Tyhier Tyler.
“(The win) gives us a lot of momentum going to finish out,’’ Murphy said. “We’re trying to leave our legacy as seniors and just finishing the season strong is our main goal.’’
“Michie Stadium is home,’’ said Tyler, who didn’t have many Division I offers to play football. “Just a lot of good memories, very bittersweet, but I'm glad that we got to finish with a (win). It's Legacy.’’
Army (4-6) plays at Massachusetts (1-10) next Saturday and faces Navy (4-7) on Dec. 10 in Philadelphia, keeping alive hopes of avoiding losing seasons – on Jeff Monken’s watch – in 2014, 2015 and 2019.
Game preview:Final Army home game comes against surging UConn
In a strange turn of tables, UConn ran 17 plays before Army even took a snap, some 31 minutes after kick off, but the Black Knights held the 7-3 lead. Freshman Jabril Williams raced around the left side of the UConn punt protect and blocked George Caratan’s attempt; Miles Stewart picked up the bouncing ball in the end zone for Army’s first TD off a blocked punt since 2017.
UConn’s offense, which has struggled in the red zone, ran four plays inside the Army 7 but true freshman Zion Turner had to throw the ball away on third down and Noe Ruelas booted a 26-yard field goal. On the next series, the Huskies were thwarted inside the Army 5, with two runs halted at the 1 and Turner had his fourth-down fade attempt to Rayonte Brown knocked away by Army captain Marquel Broughton.
“When you look in someone's eyes, you can tell that they want it,’’ Broughton said. “Our defense wanted it today. When it came down to the goal line stands, you’re looking in each other's eyes and you see we're not folding, we're not giving up, we're not giving in.’’
UConn took a 17-7 lead when Victor Rosa took a toss to the left side and raced 43 yards 3:13 before half. Army responded with a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive when backup quarterback Jemel Jones – who stepped in on the third snap after Tyler got some field turf in his eye – scored off the right side from a yard out 18 seconds before half. Quinn Maretzki’s extra point was blocked.
An offsides call on Army negated a fourth down-and-10 situation and kept a nine-play, 70-yard scoring drive alive. Turner got a shove from behind to finish his 1-yard plunge. That would be the end of UConn’s offensive threats on the afternoon, taking only one more snap inside Army territory.
Army dusted off a play at halftime and Murphy ran it to perfection, racing left on an end around while everyone else went right off the snap. Murphy then cut to the middle to complete his 75-yard sprint.
Tyler ripped off a 25-yard gain off a fake pitch, posting his eighth rushing score three snaps later as he followed a bunch of blocks to the left side for a 27-17 lead with 19 seconds left in the third.
Broughton picked off Turner midway through the fourth, coming across from his safety spot and returning 27 yards. Classmate D’Andre Tobias performed the same feat with 3:14 to play.
Notable
Connecticut actually outgained Army, 370-320. … Murphy had seven carries for 124 yards, Tyler 18 for 70. For UConn, Rosa was 12 for 111, Devontae Houston 10-for-83 .… Army senior Cade Ballard made a brief appearance at quarterback. … Army had a slim possession advantage (30:20) … The Huskies were flagged 11 times for 78 yards, Army four for 25. … Celebrated UConn defender Jackson Mitchell made 16 tackles. Broughton had 12 and Max DiDomenico 10 to lead Army. Kwabena Bonsu and Trey Sofia combined for the lone Army sack. … The 2023 Army home debut will be Sept. 9 against Delaware State. The projected 2025 home opener is Sept. 13 against Marist.
Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Army football: Seniors come up huge in win over UConn
