Michie Stadium -- West Point, NY
The Miami RedHawks are finally on something of a role. Double that for the Army Black Knights, who host MU Saturday at Mitchie Stadium.
Miami Blasted Kent State in Oxford 31-6 Saturday, Defense and a strong run game were key components as MU won its third game in the last four outings -- all MAC contests.
Defense and rushing have also helped Army, which has won four of five since dropping its opener to Duke.
This is the sixth all-time meeting between the two schools and first since the 2011 campaign. Miami leads the series 3-2 aver coming from behind in the most recent meeting. Army led 21-14 at intermission, but MU outscored the visitors outscore them 21-7 over the final two periods for a 35-28 victory.
ARMY BLACK KNIGHTS (4-2)
>>>> Army has enjoyed a resurgence under head coach Jeff Monken, now in his fifth season. His teams went 4-8 and 2-10 the first two years, but bounced back with 8-5 and 10-3 last season.
>>>> The 2017 campaigned marked Armen’s first 10-win season since 1996. The Black Knights also defeated Navy 14-13 on the way to capturing the Commander-in Chief’s Trophy (which goes to the top military academy team - Air Force, Army or Navy). The 10th win came in the Armed Force Bowl when the Knights successfully converted a two-point try to edge San Diego State last December.
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>>>> Army has just two losses thus far. The Black Knights fell at Duke 34-14 in the 2018 opener and also lost, 28-21 in overtime, at then No. 5 Oklahoma in Week Four.
>>>> One week after losing a toughie at Oklahoma, Army bounced back for a 42-13 win at previously undefeated Buffalo.
>>>> Army last played at home on Sept. 15. Four of the next five games, however, are at Michie Stadium. It ends the season facing Navy Dec. 8 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
>>>> Army, not affiliated with a conference, faces three Mid-American Conference teams in 2018. It has already defeated Buffalo, faces Miami Saturday and travels to Eastern Michigan next week
>>>> Using its option offense, Army is once again among the nation’s rushing leaders. The Black Knight’s 313.5 rushing yards per game trails only Georgia Tech (352.4 ypg) among FBS teams. Only four other programs have more than Army’s 21 rushing TDs.
>>>> Opponents know it will be a long day trying to defend Army’s option offense. The Black Knight’s lead the nation in time of possession (39.0 minutes per game).
>>>> Army has stopped six of seven opponent fourth down tries. On the other side of the ball, Army’s offense leads the nation with a .905 (19 of 21) conversion rate on fourth down.
>>>> Quarterback Kelvin Hopkins leads the Army option attack with 110 rushes totaling 496 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns.
>>>> Other rushing leaders include senior fullback Darnell Woolfolk (5-9, 235), who owns 92 carries for 363 yards and 5 TDs. Connor Slomka has 27 trips totaling 228 yards with 4 scores.
>>>> As a team, the Black Knights average 4.8 yards per rushing attempt.
>>>> Army has 394 rushing attempts and owns 58 pass attempts.
>>>> Hopkins has completed 48.2 of his pass attempts (27 of 56) with three interceptions and four touchdown.
>>>> Kell Walker tops Army receivers with seven catches for a total of 130 yards. C. Harrison owns four catches for 129 yards with one touchdown. Jordan Asberry provided the other two TD receptions from among his four receptions.
>>>> The RedHawks had another big rushing day Saturday, cranking out 295 yards on the ground. That helped them register a season-high 39:06 minutes of possession.
It will be very difficult to “out-possess” an option team like Army, but giving the defense some extended breaks will likely prove helpful -- both physically and mentally.
>>>> Add in 209 passing yards against KSU, and the RedHawks again eclipsed the 500 mark (504) in total offense.
>>>> James Gardner won’t be back, but the RedHawks have benefitted from the return of several other offensive starters -- among them tackle Tommy Doyle, tight end Nate Becker and running back Kenny Young.
>>>> Young earned MAC East Player of the Week honors after registering 90 rushing yards and 47 receiving yards against Kent State.
>>>> The RedHawks defense has been a key contributor in recent weeks. MU notched five sacks last week. They came from five different players.
>>>> For what it worth, the RedHawks are second among MAC teams in defending the run (123.7 ypg). Buffalo, which lost to Army earlier this season, is currently fourth against the run, surrendered 281 yards and 42 points to the Black Knights. At the same time, Army held Buffalo’s potent offense (especially passing the ball) to 13 points, 255 total yards and 152 yards through the air. UB completed just 10 of 24 pass attempts.
>>>> Senior quarterback Gus Ragland is completing 61.6 percent of his passes (130 of 211). He has thrown 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. Over the last four games -- all in conference -- has has produced seven scores against just one interception.
>>>> Although Alonzo Smith and Young, both seniors, are still the rushing workhorses, other players have been getting more touches.
Junior Maurice Thomas has 40 carries for 183 yards with 1 TD. Davion Johnson is up to 33 attempts for 164 yards and a score.
>>>> Jack Sorenson leads RedHawk receivers with 27 catches for 424 yards and a pair of TDs. Becker leads the group in receiving scores (3).