The Army-Temple series is one of the Black Knights’ longest-running series, and it’s one that has seen no shortage of iconic moments. From Army shocking the Owls to open the 2016 season or Kelvin Hopkins’s last-second heroics the following year, Black Knight fans have many fond memories of games against Temple. However, many forget perhaps the Black Knights’ most remarkable moment in the series. In 1987, a sixth-string quarterback rose from obscurity to lead the Cadets to victory against Temple.
By the time Temple rolled into West Point on Halloween, 1987, for the teams’ first meeting in 43 years, the Cadets had already been through a tumultuous season. Army had used no less than five quarterbacks, by far the most they’d used in a season since they’d started employing the wishbone in 1984. Murphy’s Law then came into play against the Owls when plebe starting QB Bryan McWilliams left the 1987 match-up early with an injury. Sixth-string plebe QB Otto Leone stepped in and delivered a truly magical performance.
Leone ran the ball 18 times for 52 yards, but more importantly, he completed his only pass of the day for a 64-yard touchdown to TE Mark Charrette. This pass, the first of Leone’s career, proved to be the go-ahead points in what became a 17-7 win over Temple. The ECAC named Leone its Rookie of the Week for his efforts.
Leone would play sparingly over the rest of the year, finishing with 23 carries for 59 yards and throwing one other pass, an incompletion. He returned to the bench to begin the 1988 season as well but then found a way to regain the starting job ahead of Army’s second game of that season. Army Head Coach Jim Young named Leone the starter against #17 Washington that week after he helped Army pull away from Holy Cross in the season-opener.
Leone nearly etched himself into Army football immortality. He kept Army within reach of the Huskies, rushing for 71 yards and passing for 91 more, including a 56-yard touchdown to Sean Jordan. Trailing 24-17 with 1:10 left, Leone drove the Cadets to the Washington 33. Unfortunately, Leone then threw a pick-six to seal a 31-17 win for Washington.
After struggling the following week against Northwestern, Bryan McWilliams would take over as the starter permanently against Bucknell. Army famously finished 9-2 that season and earned a berth in the Sun Bowl.
Still, 1988 was Leone’s best season. He ran the ball 55 times for 223 yards and completed ten of his 25 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Leone then faded into obscurity during his Cow and Firstie years, rushing for just 61 more yards and completing a single 40-yard pass from 1989 to 1990.
Although Otto Leone’s name may not be as memorable as Black Knight quarterback greats such as Trent Steelman or Bryson Daily, his performance against Temple exemplifies the program’s “next man up” mentality. Plus, not many programs can say they had a sixth-string quarterback lead them to victory. Otto Leone’s Halloween heroics in 1987 show that one never knows what to expect when Army and Temple meet.
Go Army! Beat Temple!!!
