Feinstein's Findings: Are You Kidding Me?

New York Times bestselling author, John Feinstein, is back for another season with the Black Knights and will report in after each football game during the 2017 season. Feinstein newest book titled, "The First Major,--The Inside Story of the 2016 Ryder Cup," is debuting on Tuesday. Feinstein's weekly report will be posted to GoArmyWestPoint.com following each battle on the gridiron.

Had 'em all the way.

Oh wait, that was last week's lead.

What then do you say about Army's 31-28 overtime victory over Temple on Saturday afternoon?

How about The Michie Miracle?

No, that might be an understatement. Years ago, I wrote a book on Rocco Mediate's near-victory over Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach in the 2008 U.S. Open. Rocco's suggested title was: "Are You ----- Kidding Me?" In the name of civility, we left out the word that missing word, which ended in 'ing,' and went with "Are You Kidding Me."

Rocco's suggested title fits the events of Saturday.

All Army had to do to TIE was drive 79 yards after getting the ball back with 1:31 left in the game and the Owls leading 28-21.

Wait, there's more. Army Coach Jeff Monken, knowing he only had one time out left (more on that later) decided to go with sophomore quarterback Kelvin Hopkins Jr. in place of team captain and leader Ahmad Bradshaw. The thinking was that Hopkins has a stronger arm than Bradshaw. Of course, Hopkins had completed exactly one pass all season when he trotted into the Army huddle with those 91 seconds left.

Jermaine Adams, who caught the tying touchdown pass with one second left—and caught another pass on the drive—had made ONE catch all season.

And then there was Monken's use of his time outs—hang on a little bit longer on that one.

The Black Knights ran on the field just after noon on Saturday on yet another spectacular fall afternoon at West Point having won three in a row and needing just one more win to be bowl eligible for a second straight season.

The weather has been so warm that the leaves are just now starting to turn just a bit. Maybe they will be in bloom for the Duke game in three weeks.

Temple, which won the American Athletic Conference championship a year ago and went 10-4 (one of the losses a shocking opening night loss to Army) arrived in a foul mood. It wasn't just that the Owls were 3-4 under rookie coach Geoff Collins, but they had been beaten a week earlier by Connecticut.

Collins went with quarterback Frank Nutile, a red-shirt junior who had never started a game because starting quarterback Logan Marchi couldn't go due to injury.

In short, this was a classic trap game: an Army team coming off a dramatic 28-27 'had 'em all the way,' win over Eastern Michigan; Temple stumbling into town looking ready to go in the tank.

This though, is college football. Things rarely turn out the way they're supposed to turn out. Ask Clemson about its trip to Syracuse. Or Michigan about its game at home against Michigan State. The list goes on.

Even so, it looked as if the Black Knights were on their way to a pleasant afternoon when they took a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter. First, Darnell Woolfolk, who has run like a man possessed the last two weeks, ran through just about everyone from North Philadelphia for 11 yards and a 7-0 lead with 51 seconds left in the first quarter. Then, after sophomore linebacker Cole Christiansen—who is improving each week in leaps and bounds—blocked an Alex Starzyk punt, the Black Knights needed only two plays: a Bradshaw to Jeff Ejekam pass for 24 yards and another bulldozing run, this one from four yards out by Woolfolk, to make it 14-0.

The Bradshaw-to-Ejekam play was noteworthy because any Army completion this season is noteworthy, but also because it was a harbinger of what was to come.

Unfortunately though, what looked like a stroll in the park, quickly became a slog through mud for the next three hours.

One of the strengths of the Army defense the last two years has been its ability to NOT give up the big play. That wasn't the case Saturday. Temple answered the second Woolfolk score with with an 80-yard drive that was capped by a 50-yard Isaiah Wright touchdown run. After Army's offense sputtered and had to punt, Nutile found Adonis Jennings from 37 yards out and, suddenly, it was 14-14.

No need to panic. After all, the halftime score against UTEP was 14-14 and the Black Knights blew the Miners away in the second half. A week ago it was 14-14 and Army, um, blew Eastern Michigan out—winning by a foot thanks to James (Gibby) Gibson's spectacular tackle on the Eagles' two-point conversion attempt with 49 seconds left.

For a long time in the second half, it looked as if the 14-14 good-luck charm had used up its magic. No one scored in the third quarter, Temple taking away the run most of the time and Army—as usual—struggling to pass. Nyquell Armstead—who finished with 151 yards on 18 carries—broke the tie for Temple with a 43-yard dash early in the fourth. Again, the offense sputtered but the defense came up with a critical stop and forced a punt. The offense, taking over 80 yards away, finally got going, Woolfolk bursting 44 yards for his third touchdown of the day to tie the game again, this time at 21-21 with 5:03 left.

But with Nutile looking more like a four-year starter than a first game starter, the Owls marched methodically downfield, with Armstead making it 28-21 from 21 yards out.

It was near the end of that drive that Monken earned his pay. Knowing that Temple was likely to score and leave almost no time on the clock, he twice called time out, almost certain his team was going to need to score again—whether by field goal or touchdown.

It was touchdown after the Armstead run and Monken then made another gutsy decision, going with Hopkins instead of Bradshaw. Hopkins had completed two passes on the season up until that moment—one to a teammate, one to an opponent.

The drive began with back-to-back incompletions. The sunny day was looking very dark. But Hopkins, channeling Bradshaw, scrambled for 11 yards and a first down. Then came another incompletion and a sack. Monken had to spend his last time out. The clock was under a minute. Army was 73 yards away and out of time outs.

Hopkins found the unsung John Trainor for 15 yards. In his quiet way, Trainor in many ways embodies what this team has become. He rarely touches the ball, but blocks like crazy and when he does get a chance on a pitch or a pass, something good usually happens.

There were still miles—58 yards to be exact—to travel. Kell Walker picked up 12 yards—six on a run, six on a pass. The ball was at the Temple 46. Two more incompletions. But then, back-to-the-wall AGAIN, Hopkins found Walker for 21 yards. There were 11 seconds left and the ball was at the Temple 25. Hopkins found Adams for nine. Six seconds. Time for one more play. TEMPLE called time to make sure everyone knew what to do.

And yet…Hopkins dropped and somehow found Adams in the end zone. Touchdown? Seriously? Yup. There was one second left. When Blake Wilson drilled the extra point, the teams went to overtime.

Out of breath yet?

Army had the ball first, but after picking up a first down, the Black Knights were stopped, Walker being dropped for a loss of four on 3rd-and-three at the Temple eight. Wilson came in and calmly made the field goal from 29 yards.
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For the first time since the second quarter, Army led: 31-28. Would it be enough? After picking up a first down at the Army 15, the Owls stalled. Armstead was stuffed for no gain on third down from the 10.

Onto the field came Aaron Boumerhi to kick a 27-yarder to force a second overtime. Sure enough, he knocked the kick through the uprights.

Except…Monken had called time just before the snap. This was the reverse of a week ago when EMU coach Chris Creighton twice saved his team from disaster with time outs just before the snap. (Note to all: that comment last week about not letting coaches call time with under five seconds on the play clock? Never mind).

Luck, as they say, is the residue of design. Boumerhi had to think it over for a moment and when he lined up again, he hooked the kick, just wide left. Final (at last): Army-31, Temple-28.

Are you ----- kidding me?

Kidding aside, the Black Knight are now 6-2 and, for the second time in history (1984-85) will play in bowl games in back-to-back years, returning to Texas for the Armed Forces Bowl. They now have (FINALLY) a week to rest and, with luck, will get back some of their injured players—notably Rhyan England—for the trip to Air Force.

Those four words, 'trip to Air Force,' have caused a good deal of dread the last 40 years—one Army win (2005) since 1977.

But consider one last stat: Two years ago, Army was 2-10. EIGHT of those losses were by a TOTAL of 40 points. Two came on buzzer-beating field goals, several others on last minute drives or turnovers.

That season feels like 100 years ago now. Saturday was another example. Nope, we aren't kidding. This is real.

Army West Point Athletics

Feinstein's Findings: Are You Kidding Me?

Players Mentioned

Jermaine Adams

Ahmad Bradshaw

Cole Christiansen

Jeff Ejekam

Rhyan England

Kelvin Hopkins Jr.

John Trainor

Kell Walker

Blake Wilson

Darnell Woolfolk

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