With the Navy on a bye week, fans of service academy football turned their attention to Army and Air Force, as both teams were engaged in hard-fought battles against conference adversaries on Saturday. Army looked to hand American Athletic Conference (AAC) opponent North Texas its first loss of the season, while Air Force hoped to win their first Mountain West Conference (MW) game against a tough Boise State team.
Unfortunately for both schools, they came up on the losing end of their respective fights. This is far from the end of the campaign for both academies, as their offenses erased deficits and, by doing so, made both contests interesting for the home side fans. Mistakes on offense and defensive struggles proved just too much for Army and Air Force to overcome in Saturday’s games.
Army Falls Again in Overtime
Down throughout much of this weekend’s matchup, Army put up a valiant fight that ultimately forced overtime. In the end, the North Texas squad wanted the win more, as they closed out a 45-38 victory in front of 28,446 fans at Michie Stadium in West Point. The Mean Green controlled the first half of this AAC showdown, building a 21-7 lead, but Army clawed back to force overtime before falling in heartbreaking fashion. The Black Knights drop to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play, while North Texas remains perfect through four games.
The Mean Green leaned on its ground game, with running back Caleb Hawkins rushing 13 times for 99 yards and four touchdowns, including the overtime game-winner, while Makenzie McGill II added 101 yards and a score on 19 carries. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker was efficient through the air, completing 26 of 36 passes for 249 yards and a touchdown without throwing an interception.
Army countered behind the dual-threat play of Dewayne Coleman, who ran for 117 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries while also throwing for 101 yards and two scores. Briggs Bartosh sparked the Black Knights with 99 rushing yards on eight attempts, highlighted by a 75-yard touchdown. Brady Anderson provided a late surge with a 68-yard touchdown reception that helped force overtime.
North Texas opened the game with a 15-play march, capped by running back Hawkins’ four-yard rushing touchdown. An Army fumble on their first possession of the game opened the door for another North Texas touchdown, this time on running back McGill’s six-yard touchdown run.
Down 14-0, Army fumbled again on its next possession. This set up another Mean Green scoring drive, with running back Hawkins carrying the ball into the endzone at 1:24 of the first quarter.
The Black Knights finally answered the offensive onslaught of North Texas at 1:14. Sophomore running back Bartosh broke through the middle and ran for an electric 75-yard touchdown. This big play helped reenergize the home fans.
At the start of the second quarter, trailing 21-7, Army finally stopped the North Texas offense, forcing the Mean Green to turn the ball over on downs. The Black Knights couldn’t do anything with this break, as quarterback Hellums was picked off by defensive back Da’Veawn Armstead on 3rd & 9 at the Army 35-yard line.
On their next possession, quarterback Mestemaker connected with wide receiver Wyatt Young on a six-yard touchdown pass. This put the Mean Green up 28-7 at the 6:35 mark of the second quarter.
A 13-play scoring drive resulted in Dewayne Coleman connecting with junior slotback Samari Howard on a 17-yard touchdown pass. North Texas had possession of the ball as time expired in the second quarter. At the half, the Mean Green led 28-14.
Army got the ball back first in the second half of the competition. The Black Knights put together a series of short runs that set up a monster 37-yard rushing touchdown by junior running back Hayden Reed.
On a 12-play scoring drive, the Army defense forced North Texas to settle for a field goal. Kali Nguma’s 35-yard field goal at 6:25 was good to increase his team’s lead to 31-21 in the third.
Army’s next possession started with just over six minutes left in the third and ended with a touchdown at 11:27 in the fourth quarter. This 17-play drive, which saw Army’s offense hold onto the ball for just under ten minutes, resulted in Coleman punching the ball into the endzone on a five-yard run. The Black Knights were back in the game as they cut North Texas’ lead to three points, 31-28, at the 11:27 mark of the fourth quarter.
On their next possession, North Texas put together a scoring drive in which running back Hawkins again showed off his wheels. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound freshman scored on a 21-yard touchdown run at 9:03. With the Mean Green leading 38-28, the two teams exchanged turnovers on downs.
Army got within three points of their opponent again, thanks to an Anderson touchdown reception. Coleman connected with his sophomore receiver on a 68-yard pass. The Black Knights’ defense came up big on North Texas’ next possession. Senior inside linebacker and team captain, Kalib Fortner, recovered a McGill fumble on 1st & 10 at the Army 47-yard line. This turnover led to a 15-play possession that ended with Army tying up the game at 38 on Dawson Jones’ field goal. The kicker’s attempt from 23 yards out was good with nine seconds remaining in regulation. After receiving the kickoff, Mean Green quarterback Mestemaker took a knee as time expired in the fourth quarter.
Overtime at West Point swung quickly in North Texas’ favor. The Mean Green struck first when Hawkins powered in for a three-yard touchdown run. On Army’s ensuing possession, quarterback Dewayne Coleman went down with an apparent leg injury on the second play, forcing Cale Hellums back under center. The Black Knights advanced as far as the North Texas 9-yard line, but a fourth-down pass fell incomplete, sealing a 45-38 victory for the Mean Green.
After a short turnaround, Army returns this Thursday night, September 25th, against East Carolina. The Pirates have a record of 2-2, falling this past weekend to nationally ranked BYU by a score of 34-13. This week’s matchup is East Carolina’s first game in AAC play. Kickoff from Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET (aired on ESPN).
East Carolina enters this home matchup behind the steady play of senior quarterback Katin Houser, who has thrown for 1,258 yards and five touchdowns through the first four games of the season. The Pirates’ ground attack is led by running back London Montgomery, who has chipped in 151 rushing yards and two scores on 36 carries. Houser’s favorite targets include Brock Spalding, the team’s leading receiver with 285 yards and one touchdown, along with big-play threats Yannick Smith (282 yards for two touchdowns) and Anthony Smith (25 receptions for 265 yards), who have each delivered standout performances in recent weeks.
Defensively, the Pirates lean on sophomore defensive back Ja’Marley Riddle, who leads the unit with 20 tackles and has been a consistent presence in the secondary. With a balanced offense and an improving defense, the Pirates will look to feed off their home crowd as they take on an Army team still regrouping after its overtime loss to North Texas. For the Black Knights to come away with a win, they will need to control the tempo with their rushing attack, limit Houser’s rhythm in the passing game, and avoid costly turnovers at critical moments of the contest.
Boise State’s Scoring Barrage Thwarts Air Force Comeback Bid
Air Force fell short in their pursuit of win number one in MW play this weekend. Boise State’s offense seemed to be unstoppable in Colorado Springs, and no player shined brighter than running back Dylan Riley. The junior put together a career day, piling up 171 yards on the ground with four rushing touchdowns, only to add a highlight-reel 75-yard scoring grab to seal his five-touchdown performance. Quarterback Maddux Madsen complemented Riley’s workhorse effort by throwing for 276 yards and two touchdowns, guiding an attack that racked up nearly 600 total yards against Air Force’s defense.
For the Falcons, sophomore quarterback Liam Szarka showcased his versatility, throwing for 246 yards and two scores while also rushing for 110 yards and a touchdown. Fullback Dylan Carson pounded out 109 yards with a short-yardage score, and wideout Cade Harris gave the passing game a spark with eight catches for 177 yards. Despite the balanced effort, Air Force struggled to contain Boise State’s firepower in a 49–37 defeat that left Riley and the Broncos as the clear headline story of the night. Air Force’s record dropped to 1-2 on the season, 0-2 in conference play, while Boise State improved to 2-1.
After Boise State went three-and-out on the opening drive of the game, Air Force marched down the field and scored on Carson’s two-yard rushing touchdown. Leading up to his touchdown run, Carson had an explosive 64-yard run. The Broncos answered on their next possession with a Riley four-yard touchdown run at 7:09 of the first quarter.
The Falcons were forced to punt on their next possession. Boise State got the ball back and put together a five-play scoring drive in which Riley got his second rushing touchdown, a 34-yarder. Down 14-7, Air Force’s next possession took the game into the second quarter. A five-play possession ended in a turnover on downs when Carson got stuffed by the Broncos’ defense on 4th & 2 at the Boise State 48-yard line.
Madsen connected with tight end Matt Lauter on a three-yard touchdown pass at the 10:25 mark of the second to put Boise State up 21-7. Air Force struck back on their next possession when junior fullback Kemper Hodges punched the ball into the endzone on a three-yard touchdown run, cutting the Broncos’ lead to one score.
Air Force and Boise State exchanged punts on the next two possessions. Freshman defensive back Max Mustell came up big for the Falcons when he picked off Madsen on 3rd & Goal at the Air Force 15-yard line with eight seconds left in the half. At halftime, the Broncos led 21-14.
The Falcons got the ball back first in the second half, and made this possession count. Szarka hit one of his favorite receivers, Harris, with a 74-yard pass that set the quarterback up for a one-yard rushing touchdown on the next play.
Boise State regained the lead on its next possession, a four-play drive that included two huge plays for the offense. Madsen attacked through the air, completing a 31-yard pass to Latrell Caples. On the next play, running back Malik Sherrod scored on a 40-yard touchdown run that put the Broncos ahead 28-21.
Air Force had to settle for a field goal on their next possession, a 25-yard kick by Jacob Medina. Broncos’ running back Riley showed off another skill he brings to the offense when he caught a 75-yard touchdown pass from Madsen at the 0:58 second mark of the third quarter. Boise State then led 35-24.
On the first four possessions of the fourth quarter, each team scored two touchdowns apiece. Air Force struck first in the quarter on a Szarka 12-yard strike of a pass to wide receiver Quin Smith at 9:44. Next, Boise State set up an eight-play scoring drive that culminated in Riley’s eight-yard touchdown run at 5:18. At 2:26 of the fourth quarter, Szarka hit Bruin Fleischmann for a five-yard touchdown pass. With the Broncos up 42-37, Riley again quieted the home fans with his legs. The 5-foot-10, 190-pounder broke free from Air Force defenders and rushed for a 43-yard touchdown. With 2:08 left in regulation, the Falcons now trailed 49-37.
The final dagger came when sophomore safety Ty Benefield picked off Szarka with 55 seconds left in the game. With the score 49-37, Boise State took a knee for the final two plays of the contest.
On Saturday, Sept. 27, the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors will visit Air Force for a 4:00 PM ET showdown at Falcon Stadium (streaming on YouTube TV). Hawaii is 3-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play on the season. This past weekend, the Rainbow Warriors lost to MW rival Fresno State 23-21.
The Rainbow Warriors head to Colorado Springs looking for consistency on offense behind freshman quarterback Micah Alejado, who has shown flashes of playmaking ability early in the season. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder is 73-for-117 with 586 yards through the air and three touchdowns. He has rushed for another 51 yards on the season. Running back Landon Sims provides balance on the ground, rushing for 184 yards on 46 carries. He is also a passing target for Alejado, having caught 20 balls this season for 158 yards and one receiving touchdown. Junior wide receiver Pofele Ashlock remains the most dependable target in the passing game, racking up 303 yards on 34 catches for three touchdowns. On defense, veterans like defensive backs Peter Manuma and Virdel Edwards II will be critical in slowing down Air Force’s methodical rushing attack and keeping the game within reach.
For Air Force, the offensive formula doesn’t change. The Falcons will look to grind down opponents with their signature flexbone triple-option ground game, led by Szarka and Carson. The question is whether Hawaii’s defense can hold up for four quarters against a rush-heavy attack hungry for an MW victory. After giving up 49 points to Boise State, defensive coordinator Brian Knorr certainly has his work cut out for him. Adjustments must be made across the Falcons’ defense to ensure there are no repeats of this past weekend’s embarrassing performance.
Navy Prepares for Rice
The Rice Owls will travel to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis on Saturday, Sept. 27 to play Navy at 3:30 PM ET (streaming on Fubo). Rice currently sits in third place in the AAC behind North Texas and Navy, with a record of 3-1 and 1-0 in conference play. The Owls are coming off a Thursday night win, 28-17, over fellow AAC school Charlotte.
Rice enters its matchup with Navy riding the play of several emerging standouts on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Chase Jenkins has shown command of head coach Scott Abell’s gun triple-option offense. The redshirt sophomore is 35-for-48 through the air with 269 yards and two touchdowns. A dual-threat signal caller, the 6-foot, 191-pounder has three touchdowns on 215 rushing yards. Running backs Quinton Jackson and Daelen Alexander provide a reliable one-two punch on the ground. Jackson has 293 yards and two touchdowns on 58 carries, while Alexander has racked up 222 yards with two touchdowns. Wide receiver Drayden Dickmann leads the receiving corps as Jenkins’ top target. The redshirt freshman has amassed 123 yards on 15 receptions for one touchdown.
Rice’s defense leans on veteran linebacker Andrew Awe, who paces the team in tackles with 28. Defensive end Michael Daley has applied steady pressure up front through four games. The 6-foot, 237-pound BYU transfer has been very active in negative-play situations, such as tackles for loss and sacks. With playmakers established on both sides, Rice will look to carry its balanced attack into Annapolis, where Navy’s defense and methodical ground game will test whether the Owls can translate their early-season momentum into a second conference win.
The Road Ahead
Army has a quick turnaround with a Thursday night trip to East Carolina, a matchup that will test whether the Black Knights can rebound after their second overtime loss of the young season. Air Force is home again, looking to clean up defensive miscues against a Hawaii team eager to make some noise in conference play. Navy, fresh off the bye, faces a surging Rice squad in Annapolis, setting up a crucial early-season showdown for two of the top three teams in the AAC.
