Army won its eighth game of the season yesterday, and that’s good.  But they also played one of their sloppiest games of the season, and they got away with it because they happened to play that game against one of the weakest teams in the FCS Patriot League.  When we look at the stats, the game appears reasonably one-sided. But really, this was a team that the Black Knights should have pummeled relentlessly. That didn’t happen because of a few key mistakes–two fumbles (none lost), a muffed punt, a few missed blocks, and a bunch of poorly defended screen passes late in the game.  

The Black Knights are now 8-2, marking their best start to a season since 1996, and even today, they were without doubt the better team.  Still, this game featured a little bit of all of the things that make Army fans nervous. It was a win, but it was also kind of an unlooked-for throwback to a sloppier, less consistent version of this team.  They’ll need to get that stuff corrected before Colgate comes to town, or they will absolutely get beat next weekend.

Our day started easily enough.  My daughter Hannah and I got away from the house by about 8:15 am, made good time down I-95 to I-287 and then over the Tappan Zee Bridge, and we reached Highland Falls by maybe 9:35.  We decided not to tailgate since it was just the two of us. Instead, we stopped by the Thayer Gate Deli, parked, and had breakfast. I’ll give a strong recommendation to their two-egg breakfast deal.  Not only was it exactly what I needed, but everything they had was extremely reasonably priced.  We both really enjoyed it.  

We killed maybe twenty or twenty-five minutes at the Deli, a luxury available because the deli itself is right outside Thayer Gate, meaning we weren’t gonna have to fight traffic much more to get on-post.  As it happened, the stadium was maybe three-quarters full–a good crowd considering the FCS opponent–but we were still able to get where we needed to go without issue.  That didn’t suck, especially after the mad-house last week.

It was windy when we got out of the car.  Hannah held out her hand and said, “It’s snowing!”

I laughed.  “That’s God’s way of reminding you that West Point sits adjacent to the Sixth Circle of Hell.  Of course it’s freezing. That’s part of the suck.”

We caught the bus over to Herbert Hall, browsed briefly in the gift shop, then walked up to Black Knights Alley.  Pro-tip: avoid Herbert Hall Gift Shop on game days. The place was packed to bursting.

By the time we got near the stadium, the Benny Havens Band was already in full swing.  They sounded the best I’ve ever heard them on Saturday. Hannah and I listened for nearly an hour, and we both had a blast.  Good crowd. She made me record their cover of “Africa”, but the show’s high-point came when the Hellcats came out. Those guys rocked that place for real.

Army got the ball first for the second time in two weeks.  They launched straight into a lethal-looking drive, 16-plays, 67-yards, 10:19 off the clock.  The vast majority of the yardage came on Fullback Dives off some variation of the Midline Option.  Lafayette kept playing the quarterback, so Hopkins handed off six times in a row before QB Cam Thomas came in to run a Keeper on 1st and 10 from the Lafayette 29.  Thomas got 3 yards but fumbled when he got hit. He didn’t lose possession, luckily, but it was not a good sign. Army then drove to 1st and goal from the 6 before a False Start pushed them back five yards. FB Darnell Woolfolk got that yardage back on the next play, but another False Start pushed them back again, and when they tried SB Jordan Asberry on the Rocket Sweep, he lost a yard.  

Army settled for a field goal.

PERFECT. @ArmyWP_Football gets on the board first with a FG. pic.twitter.com/PON4bKz6rv

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) November 10, 2018

I reached out to the crew from AFF and learned that SB Kell Walker was out with a concussion.

Asberry played a good game.  He was Army’s only experienced slotback, and he finished with 5 carries for 47 yards (9.4 yards/carry).  I’m pretty sure the play described above was the only one that went for anything like negative yardage. Asberry is also a good receiver, though he didn’t have a catch in this particular game.  However, it doesn’t seem like those Sweep plays serve his strengths. He’s been dynamic taking option pitches for as long as I’ve seen him play, but somehow, he never seems to turn it up-field strong enough to get the tough yards on the Rocket Sweep.  Not sure why that is, but it’s become a definite trend.

Army held Lafayette to 3-and-out on the next series, but CB Mike Reynolds muffed a long, low, bouncing punt, and the Leopards wound up with possession deep in Army territory.  This let them tie the game before the end of the first quarter and–more importantly–cost the Black Knights a possession in what would soon become a very short game.

JEFFREY KORDENBROCK. @LafColFootball ties this game up after the 43-yarder. pic.twitter.com/AMdFCIwKte

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) November 10, 2018

Army scored twice more before the half to make it 17-3.  Yearling SB Artice Hobbs took a pitch 18 yards, and Cam Thomas came in for a couple of plays, breaking off a long run that was partially negated by a holding penalty.  FB Calen Holt also made an appearance basically as a slotback, taking an 8-yard triple-option pitch for a touchdown. That was probably my favorite play of the game.  We’ll definitely talk about that play on the podcast this week.

Still, this first half established a pattern for the day, and it was mixed.  Army’s offense looked unstoppable, save by their own mistakes. Worse, Lafayette drove the length of the field and posted another field goal before the half, making it 17-6 at the break.  The Leopards ran much more effectively than I thought they would, and though their passing game wasn’t great, it was effective enough to move the chains.

Calen Holt is making it happen on the ground. He rolls into the end zone for another @ArmyWP_Football score. pic.twitter.com/CByWG6EAKP

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) November 10, 2018

The second half was basically more of the same, save that Army’s defense forced fewer punts.  They got the Leopards into 3rd-and-long repeatedly, but as we’ve seen at other times this season, they repeatedly fell prey to passes to running backs.  These weren’t Wheel Routes like we saw against Miami (Ohio), they were screen passes, but they were still going for major yardage, and it was maddening. In the end, Lafayette ran for just 83 yards and threw for just 76, but RB C.J. Amill 4 receptions for 26 yards, and that’s why the game wasn’t the blowout that it could have been.  It’s worth noting, too, that Lafayette committed to running the ball. That wasn’t going to help them win once Army got a big lead, but it did serve to limit Army’s possessions and keep the contest closer than I’d expected it to be.

QB Kelvin Hopkins wound up 4/5 passing for 95 yards with one drop.  Army stayed aggressive with the pass and wound up hitting big plays repeatedly, even late in the game.  They also rushed for 313 yards and 4 touchdowns on 67 carries (5.5 yards/carry).  All of that is great. But they never broke a really long run, and they hurt themselves at times with penalties.  They had 6 for 40 yards, costing themselves at least one touchdown. On defense, the team had 6 tackles for loss with 1 sack but no turnovers.  They over-pursued at times, opening up the Leopard’s screen game.  Lafayette’s game plan was conservative to the point that I’m not sure it gave them a legitimate chance to win, and that contributed significantly to the final score.  Still, the lack of turnovers has to be considered a disappointment.  CB Javhari Bourdeau had one in his hands but dropped it.  That sucked.

And 12 straight Ws here at Michie Stadium.

Home Sweet Home. #GoArmy pic.twitter.com/bqM0QaIvnF

— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) November 10, 2018

With the win, Army looks set to break into the Top 25.  They also maintained one of the longest home winning streaks in all of college football.  But they left some plays on the field, and they have one of the best teams in all of college football coming town, if perhaps not one of the most athletic.  Don’t sleep on the matchup this week, though. Colgate has beaten the scunion out of absolutely everybody, and if the Black Knights aren’t at their very best, the Red Raiders will beat the holy Hell out of them, too.

I’m nervous, and I hate to say it, but yesterday’s game didn’t do a lot to settle my nerves.  Colgate absolutely throttled Lafayette 45-0. Army wasn’t anywhere close at Michie Stadium.

With Veterans Day tomorrow, we’d like to say thank you to those serving and those who have served. ?? #GoArmy pic.twitter.com/9MQEp5hNfI

— U.S. Military Academy at West Point (@WestPoint_USMA) November 10, 2018

Happy Veterans Day, everyone.

Go Army!  Beat Colgate!!!