Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
Mansfield
Sprint Football Defeats Mansfield in Conference Opener, 56-7
September 30, 2011 | Sprint Football
Sept. 30, 2011
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WEST POINT, N.Y. - Army sprint football opened its College Sprint Football League schedule with a 56-7 home victory against Mansfield Friday night to improve to 1-1 on the season. The Black Knights used a balance offensive attack and solid defense to hand the Mountaineers their second loss of the season (1-2).
Army totaled 604 yards of total offense while holding MU to 186. The Black Knights, who relied predominantly on the passing game in their season-opening loss to Navy two weeks ago, spread the ball out, passing for 351 yards while rushing for 253.
Both teams were held scoreless for much of the first quarter until Army junior quarterback Javier Sustaita found junior Cody Nyp for a 14-yard score with under three minutes to go. Sustaita and Nyp would go on to hook up for 130 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Black Knights.
Army would stretch its lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter after Sustaita connected with sophomore Tom Jeffers for his first of two scores on the night. Jeffers ended the evening with five catches for 32 yards.
The Mountaineers would answer on their ensuing drive for their only points of the night. Quarterback Mike Maniscalco rushed for two of his team-leading 33 yards to get into the end zone, which was followed by a good extra point kick by Sixto Huincho to bring MU with seven, 14-7.
Army responded on its next drive, going 65 yards down field in eight plays, including a 34-yard pass play from Sustaita to Nyp, capped by the pair connecting for an eight-yard score.
The Black Knights concluded their first-half scoring with just under five minutes remaining in the second quarter, as Sustaita and Jeffers hooked up for their second TD of the night on a three-yard completion.
After scoring on their opening drive of the second half (Sustaita to Nyp for 29 yards), the Black Knights looked to the run as senior Franklin Yu scored his second touchdown of the season, an eight-yard run to push the Army lead to 42-7.
Junior Tim Meier and sophomore Evan Leake tacked on rushing scores to cap off a 28-point third quarter, extending Army's lead to 56-7, where it would remain for the rest of the game.
Junior Marquis Morris led the Black Knights' ground game with 71 yards, while Sustaita rushed for 66 and passed for 278 and five TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, junior Noah Currie and senior Mike Meier recorded nine tackles apiece to lead the Black Knights, while junior Josh Clevenger and sophomore Thomas White shared the game's lone sack, a 13-yard loss for the Mountaineers late in the fourth quarter.
"Our execution was much better and we played with more intensity," said Army head coach Lt. Col. Mark West. "Those were two things we've focused on the past two weeks since the Navy loss. We increased our physical play which I was happy with.
"Our seniors really stepped up and got the team refocused which I think is a good sign moving forward."
With the win, Army improved to 3-0 against Mansfield and stretched its all-time point difference to 155-15, in favor of the Black Knights.
Army returns to action next Friday when it travels to CSFL foe Princeton. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
