UTSA wide receiver David Amador II jumps over two Army defenders during Saturday’s game at Michie Stadium. Photo by James C. Garman/Sportspage Magazine
Army Black Knights quarterback Bryson Daily passed for 190 yards, rushed for 147 more including two fourth quarter rushing touchdowns to lead Army past the University of Texas – San Antonio Roadrunners 29-24 in front of a crowd of 22,120 gathered at Michie Stadium in West Point, N.Y. on Saturday afternoon.
The Black Knights won the toss and began the game with a 13 play, 75 yard scoring drive that was capped with a 41-yard strike from Daily to wide receiver Tyrell Robinson for the game’s first touchdown score. After Trey Gronotte’s extra point, Army took the early 7-0 lead with 7:30 left in the first quarter.
The Roadrunners answered with a sustained drive of their own. Quarterback Owen McCown hit wide receivers David Amador II and Willie McCoy, along with tight end Houston Thomas for short passes before hitting Amador for a 26-yard completion to make it 1st-and-goal at the Army 10-yard line. Running back Brandon High Jr. scampered into the end zone on the next play for the touchdown. Tate Sandell’s extra point tied the score 7-7 with 4:45 remaining in the opening frame. UTSA took seven plays to advance 53 yards downfield.
Daily hit wide receiver Casey Reynolds on a deep left pass on the sideline for a 21-yard gain on their next possession. This was followed by a 15-yard rush from Daily, as the Black Knights were methodically marching down the field one play at a time. The first quarter came to a close after running back Jake Rendina rushed up the middle for a one-yard gain to put the ball at the UTSA 28-yard line with the score still tied 7-7. On the third play of the second quarter, 4th-and-3 from the UTSA 22-yard line, Daily rushed on the right side of the line for a one-yard gain, turning the ball over on downs.
Army defensive back Chance Keith breaks up a pass intended for UTSA tight end Patrick Overmyer in the end zone during Saturday’s game at Michie Stadium. Photo by James C. Garman/Sportspage Magazine
The game stalled in the middle of the quarter as both teams went three-and-out on their next possession.
On the following Roadrunner possession, McCown passed to McCoy who bobbled the ball and then dropped it out of bounds. It was originally ruled an incomplete pass. However, upon further review, the officials ruled it a backwards lateral, a fumble that was recovered by UTSA and changing the ruling from incomplete pass to a three-yard loss on a rushing play with 9:24 left in the second quarter.
McCown tried to recover with a deep strike to wide receiver Devin McCuin but overthrew him by seven yards. After completing a short pass on the left side to Amador for five-yards, the Roadrunners ended the drive with their second consecutive three-and-out possession.
On 1st-and-10 from the Army 34-yard line, Daily hit Reynolds at midfield and continued downfield, getting tackled at the UTSA 39-yard line for a 27 yard reception. Three plays later, Daily rushed off the right side for a 14-yard gain and a first down. He was sacked by linebacker Jimmori Robinson on the next play. The drive ended with a 39-yard field goal by Gronotte for the go ahead score. Army led 10-7 with 5:20 left until halftime.
UTSA started their next drive on their 27-yard line and immediately went to work trying to get one more score before halftime. High rushed twice up the middle for 11 yards total. McCown passed deep across the middle for McCuin which bounced off his fingertips and went incomplete at the Army 21-yard line. McCown then hit Amador with consecutive passes, the first one for three yards and the second one for 20 yards to put the ball on the Army 39-yard line. McCown threw for tight end Patrick Overmyer but it sailed over his head on the sidelines at the 21-yard line. McCown rushed up the middle for 20 yards and then threw two passes into the end zone which were both broken up. Sandell made a 33-yard field goal to tie the game 10-10 with 1:39 left on in the half. The Roadrunners took 3:30 off the clock to advance 58 yards in 12 plays.
UTSA Roadrunners quarterback Owen McCown rushes for a long gain during Saturday’s game against the Army Black Knights at Michie Stadium. Photo by James C. Garman/Sportspage Magazine
The Black Knights wasted no time to try to advance downfield with running back Noah Short leading the way. Short rushed for six yards. Daily threw an incomplete pass intended for Short. Then he hit Short deep up the middle for a 29 yard pass completion. But on 1st-and-10 at the UTSA 40-yard line, Short rushed right but fumbled the pitch from Daily. It was recovered by defensive end Christian Clayton at the line of scrimmage.
The Roadrunners had seventy seconds in which to score. McCown rushed up the middle for four yards, then passed short left to wide receiver J.J. Sparkman for a five yard gain. On 3rd-and-1 at the UTSA 49-yard line, the ball was snapped before McCown was ready. It bounced off the quarterback’s chest and landed at his feet. Army linebacker Andon Thomas pounced on it at the UTSA 47-yard line with 22 seconds left on the clock.
Daily went to work running the hurry up offense. Daily rushed up the middle for seven yards and called their second timeout of the half. He then threw incomplete intended for running back Samari Howard. Short rushed to the right for five yards to pick up the first down. This time UTSA called their third and final timeout to stop the clock. Daily then rushed up the middle for 17 yards before sliding down and calling a timeout with one second left. That was enough time for Gronotte to boot a 35-yard field goal as time expired to give the Black Knights the 13-10 halftime lead.
The Roadrunners received the ball when play resumed in the third quarter. Other than an incomplete pass from McCown intended for McCoy, and an eight-yard reception from Thomas, the Roadrunners rushed eight times to get near the red zone. On 4th-and-1, McCown passed to McCuin in the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown reception. After Sandell’s extra point, UTSA led 17-13 with 10:15 left in the third quarter.
Army Black Knights quarterback Bryson Daily looks down field as UTSA Roadrunners linebacker Martavius French tries to contain him during Saturday’s game at Michie Stadium. Photo by James C. Garman/Sportspage Magazine
Starting at their own 25-yard line, the Black Knights ran their long sustained drive in the first possession of the second half. Other than a 28 yard reception by wide receiver Liam Fortner, the 6-1 junior’s first reception of the season, a six-yard pass to Robinson, and an incomplete pass intended for Howard, Army rattled off ten rushing plays between Daily, Short and running back Kanye Udoh. At one point they were on the goal line, but a false start penalty by tight end David Crossan pushed them back to the UTSA 5-yard line. With 4th-and-goal and trailing by four points, Army brought on Gronotte for a 22-yard field goal to make the score 17-16 in favor of the Roadrunners with 1:38 left in the third quarter.
An illegal block in the back by the receiving team gave UTSA the ball on their own 7-yard line when they took over. High rushed for three yards. McCown passed to McCuin for five yards. High rushed up the middle for one yard. Then the quarter came to a close.
There’s something to be said for winning the fourth quarter. Almost instantaneously, the Army’s fortunes turned around starting with the first play of the final frame. On 4th-and-1 from their own 16-yard line, High took the handoff and rushed across the middle for no gain. The Roadrunners turned the ball over on downs deep in their own territory.
The Black Knights pounded the ball on the ground. Daily rushed up the middle for two yards. Short rushed to the right for nine yards. Daily rushed right twice picking up four yards. Then on 3rd-and-goal, the quarterback rushed left following Rendina, his blocking back, and propelled himself forward for a one-yard touchdown run. Instead of bringing out Gronotte for an extra point, Army opted to try a two-point conversion. Reynolds received the ball on an end around play and tried to pass to Daily in the end zone, but Reynolds was hit as he threw it and the ball fell short for an incomplete pass. The score was 22-17 in favor of Army with 12:19 remaining in the contest.
UTSA Roadrunners wide receiver Devin McCuin puts a juke move on Army Black Knights cornerback Jaydan Mayes during the third quarter of Saturday’s game at Michie Stadium. McCuin scored a touchdown on the play. Photo by James C. Garman/Sportspage Magazine
On the next UTSA drive, which began at their own 25-yard line, McCown passed to Thomas for 11 yards. Then High rushed up the middle for five yards. McCown hit Amador for an 11-yard reception up the middle. It looked like this might be another long drive. McCown went deep for another strike to Amador, but the wide receiver tripped and the ball sailed over his head. Meanwhile, safety Collin Matteson jumped the route and intercepted the ball at the Army 13-yard line and returned it 41 yards to the UTSA 46-yard line.
Short rushed up the right side for four yards on the first play from scrimmage for Army. On the second play of the possession, Daily faked a pitch to Short who was running towards the left. The quarterback tucked the ball and ran past the right edge to daylight for a 42 yard touchdown run. Gronotte’s extra point made it 29-17 in favor of the Black Knights with 10:26 left in the ballgame.
The Roadrunners rebounded. High rushed left for seven yards, followed by a McCown pass to Overmyer for eight yards. On 1st-and-10 at the UTSA 40-yard line, McCown passed across the middle to McCuin who caught it at the Army 47-yard line and sprinted to the Army 6-yard line where he was pulled down by Army cornerback Jaydan Mayes. High rushed up the middle for a six-yard touchdown on the next play. Sandell’s extra point made it 29-24 in favor of Army with 9:10 left on the clock.
It was time for the Black Knights to play their opponent and use the clock to their advantage. They ran 13 plays on their next possession, chewing up as much clock as they could. Robinson rushed right for no gain, and then rushed left for one yard. Daily passed to Reynolds for a ten-yard gain and the first down. Short rushed right for no gain. Daily passed to Reynolds for another 23 yard gain. Then Rendina rushed up the middle for no gain. The play was reviewed and the call stood. Rendina did not pick up the first down. Daily rushed left for two yards to pick up the first down, but whatever momentum Army had a few plays earlier seemed to have stopped cold. After UTSA burned through their first two timeouts of the half and the two minute timeout, Army was left with 4th-and-10 on the UTSA 30-yard line. Gronotte came out to kick a 47-yard field goal but missed it wide left. The Roadrunners had 1:56 left to score more than five points to win.
Army Black Knights wide receiver Casey Reynolds hauled in one of his four receptions during Saturday’s game against the UTSA Roadrunners at Michie Stadium. Reynolds led Army with four receptions and 81 yards receiving. Photo by James C. Garman/Sportspage Magazine
McCown rushed up the middle for six yards, then threw an incomplete pass intended for Amador at midfield. McCown passed to Thomas for six yards and were gifted an unsportsmanlike penalty that was assessed to Army cornerback Justin Weaver. It was now 1st-and-10 at the Army 43-yard line with 1:22 left in regulation. McCown stepped back in the pocket and threw a pass to McCuin at the Army 15-yard line. It was deflected off of McCuin’s fingertips and into the arms of Army safety Gavin Shields for the interception and a ten-yard run back to the Army 20-yard line. Two kneel downs by Army and the clock expired. Army won 29-24 in regulation.
Daily went 10-for-17 with 190 yards and one touchdown to lead Army in passing. He was sacked twice. Casey Reynolds pulled down four receptions for 81 yards; Tyrell Robinson grabbed three passes for 46 yards and one touchdown; Noah Short hauled in two for 35 yards; and Liam Fortner caught his only pass of the season for 28 yards. Daily led Army in rushing with 27 carries for 147 yards and two rushing touchdowns; Noah Short carried 14 times for 46 yards; and Kanye Udoh rushed seven times for 15 yards for the Black Knights.
Owen McCown went 17-for-28 with 207 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions and one sack. David Amador II hauled in seven receptions for 75 yards; Houston Thomas pulled in four catches for 33 yards and Devin McCuin caught three receptions for 82 yards and one touchdown. Brandon High carried 16 times for 61 yards and two touchdowns while McCown carried six times for 50 yards for the Roadrunners.
The UTSA Roadrunners finished the season with a 6-6 overall record and 4-4 in conference play. They won all six home games but lost all six road games. The Roadrunners are Bowl eligible and will be awaiting the reveal on Sunday Dec. 8 to see if they have a post-season opponent.
Army is not finished with their season quite yet. With a 10-1 overall record and 8-0 in conference play, they will now host the Tulane Green Wave (9-3 overall, 7-1 conference) for the American Athletic Conference championship on Friday at 8 p.m. ET at Michie Stadium. They will then conclude the season Dec. 14 at the 125th Annual Army-Navy Game against the Navy Midshipmen (8-3 overall, 6-2 conference) in Landover, Md. They are also Bowl eligible and currently ranked in the Top 25.
