Army West Point Athletics
Football Heads to Rice Saturday
October 22, 2015 | Football
WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Army West Point football team will travel to Houston, Texas to take on the Rice Owls on Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 12:00 p.m. ET and the contest with Fox Sports Regional on the broadcast and the Army Sports Network on the radio call.
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On the broadcast call will be Mark Followill with Brian Baldinger providing the color commentary and Lesley McCaslin on the sideline. Rich Demarco will provide the play-by-play on the radio broadcast with Dean Darling with the color commentary and Tony Morrino on the sideline.
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"I'm proud of our team for having their backs to the wall, coming from behind at halftime, which is something we hadn't been able to do, and finding a way to get a win last weekend," said head coach Jeff Monken. "I'm proud of those guys and it's a really good springboard going into this week, which is a tough Rice team. They've won a bunch of games at home in the last few years under Coach Bailiff, he does a terrific job. He was an outstanding coach at Texas State before going to Rice and has really got that program in great position to be a contender for their conference championship and to be a bowl team each year. He's done all of those things. We know it's going to be a challenge for us, they have some outstanding players. I think having the confidence to just find the way to win a football game helps us going into this week."
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The Black Knights are coming off of a 21-14 win over Bucknell at Michie Stadium last weekend. Rice enters the game with a record of 3-3, competing to a 2-1 mark in Conference USA action.
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"They do a good job with all their skill players," added Monken. "They are probably a little like us in that we have several guys who have played the b-back position and several guys at slot back. We have a philosophy that doesn't change all that much depending on who is in the game. I think they are very much the same, I don't know they have a different philosophy. All three of their running backs have each had a game with 100 yards, they have a couple of receivers with several starts and a tight end who has started a bunch of games for them. They do a really good job running the ball effectively.
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"They have a lot of run-throw options with screen passes out on the perimeter, which may look like run plays, but a lot of those are run-pass options. They do a really good job with it and are a well-coached football team. You see the progress they have made since Coach Bailiff got there eight years ago and they are a completely different football team and have improved each year since he arrived."
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Quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw leads the team in rushing, netting a total of 354 yards on the ground, with an average carry of 3.9 per rush and 59 yards per game. Fellow quarterback A.J. Schurr is close behind, netting 267 yards on the season with an average rush of 3.6 yards and 44.5 per contest. Aaron Kemper has gained 255 yards on the ground on the season, averaging 6.1 per rush, while captain Matt Giachinta chips in 33.86 per game. The Black Knights have scored 17 rushing touchdowns and five passing TDs on the season. Defensively, Andrew King paces the Cadets, recording 55 total tackles, 33 solo and 22 assisted, in addition to 12.5 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks. Captain Jeremy Timpf boasts 49 total tackles, 26 solo and 23 assisted, in addition to 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.
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ARMY-RICE HISTORY
Rice leads the all-time series with the Black Knights at 3-1-1 since the first meeting back in 1958. The series is tied at 1-1 when the two schools meet in Houston and Army last played at Rice in 2008. The Owls have won the last two meetings.
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ABOUT THE OWLS
Rice, a member of Conference USA, enters this Saturday's contest with a 3-3 mark overall and a 2-1 record in league play. The Owls have earned wins over Wagner (56-16), North Texas (38-24) and FAU (27-16). Their losses have come against Texas (42-28), Baylor (70-17) and Western Kentucky (49-10). The Owls are averaging 29.3 points per game and 437 yards per game of total offense. Darik Dillard leads the ground game with 71 rushes for 322 yards. He averages 53.7 yards per contest. Samuel Stewart is second with 282 rushing yards and has score three times. Quarterback Driphus Jackson has completed 92-of-148 yards for 1,121 yards with nine touchdowns and four interceptions. He has also rushed for two scores. Dennis Parks owns 25 catches for 381 yards, while Zach Wright has hauled in 18 catches for 252 yards and two scores. Defensively, Rice allows 37.8 points per game and 278.2 yards of total offense. Alex Lyons shows a team-best 32 tackles as five players have 20 or more total tackles on the season. Brian Womac is the team leader in tackles for loss with nine for 35 yards. Rice has two interceptions on the season, both by Zach Espinosa, while they have nine sacks and five fumble recoveries as a team.
ARMY FOOTBALL CELEBRATES 125 YEARS
In celebration of 125 years of Army football, the Army Athletic Association will countdown the top 10 moments in program history.
This past Wednesday, moment number eight was announced – Peel Chronister's two interceptions and defended two-point conversion helps Army to a 31-29 win over Illinois in the Peach Bowl (1985).
Each Wednesday we will reveal one moment as we countdown the top 10. The top moment will be revealed on Wednesday, Dec. 9, prior to the 2015 Army-Navy Game presented by USAA.
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On the broadcast call will be Mark Followill with Brian Baldinger providing the color commentary and Lesley McCaslin on the sideline. Rich Demarco will provide the play-by-play on the radio broadcast with Dean Darling with the color commentary and Tony Morrino on the sideline.
Â
"I'm proud of our team for having their backs to the wall, coming from behind at halftime, which is something we hadn't been able to do, and finding a way to get a win last weekend," said head coach Jeff Monken. "I'm proud of those guys and it's a really good springboard going into this week, which is a tough Rice team. They've won a bunch of games at home in the last few years under Coach Bailiff, he does a terrific job. He was an outstanding coach at Texas State before going to Rice and has really got that program in great position to be a contender for their conference championship and to be a bowl team each year. He's done all of those things. We know it's going to be a challenge for us, they have some outstanding players. I think having the confidence to just find the way to win a football game helps us going into this week."
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The Black Knights are coming off of a 21-14 win over Bucknell at Michie Stadium last weekend. Rice enters the game with a record of 3-3, competing to a 2-1 mark in Conference USA action.
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"They do a good job with all their skill players," added Monken. "They are probably a little like us in that we have several guys who have played the b-back position and several guys at slot back. We have a philosophy that doesn't change all that much depending on who is in the game. I think they are very much the same, I don't know they have a different philosophy. All three of their running backs have each had a game with 100 yards, they have a couple of receivers with several starts and a tight end who has started a bunch of games for them. They do a really good job running the ball effectively.
Â
"They have a lot of run-throw options with screen passes out on the perimeter, which may look like run plays, but a lot of those are run-pass options. They do a really good job with it and are a well-coached football team. You see the progress they have made since Coach Bailiff got there eight years ago and they are a completely different football team and have improved each year since he arrived."
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Quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw leads the team in rushing, netting a total of 354 yards on the ground, with an average carry of 3.9 per rush and 59 yards per game. Fellow quarterback A.J. Schurr is close behind, netting 267 yards on the season with an average rush of 3.6 yards and 44.5 per contest. Aaron Kemper has gained 255 yards on the ground on the season, averaging 6.1 per rush, while captain Matt Giachinta chips in 33.86 per game. The Black Knights have scored 17 rushing touchdowns and five passing TDs on the season. Defensively, Andrew King paces the Cadets, recording 55 total tackles, 33 solo and 22 assisted, in addition to 12.5 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks. Captain Jeremy Timpf boasts 49 total tackles, 26 solo and 23 assisted, in addition to 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.
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ARMY-RICE HISTORY
Rice leads the all-time series with the Black Knights at 3-1-1 since the first meeting back in 1958. The series is tied at 1-1 when the two schools meet in Houston and Army last played at Rice in 2008. The Owls have won the last two meetings.
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ABOUT THE OWLS
Rice, a member of Conference USA, enters this Saturday's contest with a 3-3 mark overall and a 2-1 record in league play. The Owls have earned wins over Wagner (56-16), North Texas (38-24) and FAU (27-16). Their losses have come against Texas (42-28), Baylor (70-17) and Western Kentucky (49-10). The Owls are averaging 29.3 points per game and 437 yards per game of total offense. Darik Dillard leads the ground game with 71 rushes for 322 yards. He averages 53.7 yards per contest. Samuel Stewart is second with 282 rushing yards and has score three times. Quarterback Driphus Jackson has completed 92-of-148 yards for 1,121 yards with nine touchdowns and four interceptions. He has also rushed for two scores. Dennis Parks owns 25 catches for 381 yards, while Zach Wright has hauled in 18 catches for 252 yards and two scores. Defensively, Rice allows 37.8 points per game and 278.2 yards of total offense. Alex Lyons shows a team-best 32 tackles as five players have 20 or more total tackles on the season. Brian Womac is the team leader in tackles for loss with nine for 35 yards. Rice has two interceptions on the season, both by Zach Espinosa, while they have nine sacks and five fumble recoveries as a team.
ARMY FOOTBALL CELEBRATES 125 YEARS
In celebration of 125 years of Army football, the Army Athletic Association will countdown the top 10 moments in program history.
This past Wednesday, moment number eight was announced – Peel Chronister's two interceptions and defended two-point conversion helps Army to a 31-29 win over Illinois in the Peach Bowl (1985).
Each Wednesday we will reveal one moment as we countdown the top 10. The top moment will be revealed on Wednesday, Dec. 9, prior to the 2015 Army-Navy Game presented by USAA.
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Players Mentioned
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