Army West Point Athletics
Game Notes: Armed Forces Bowl Next Task For Army
December 17, 2018 | Football
WEST POINT, N.Y. -Â The Black Knights bring their eight-game winning streak into the 2018 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Saturday.
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The game is slated for a 2:30 p.m. CT kick and Army will be looking for its fourth consecutive bowl win, including its third straight in the Armed Forces Bowl. The contest will air live on ESPN with Chris Cotter, Jim Mora, Emmanuel Acho, and Quint Kessenich on the call. The game can also be heard on the Army Sports Network through the TuneIn app or goarmywestpoint.com.
HOW TO FOLLOW
TELEVISION • ESPN
RADIO • Army Sports Network
GAME NOTES • Army Notes •  Houston Notes
LIVE STATS • GoArmyWestPoint.com
TWITTER • @ArmyWP_Football
THE OPENING KICKOFF
• The Black Knights completed their third-straight victory over arch-rival Navy during their last outing on Dec. 8 in Philadelphia. Army defeated the Mids 17-10 in that game.
• That victory extended Army's winning streak to eight consecutive games as it hasn't lost since a 28-21 overtime decision at then ranked No. 5 Oklahoma on Sept. 22.
• Since the start of the 2017 season, the Cadets have won 20 of their last 25 games for a .800 winning percentage and are 20-3 over the last two seasons when kicking off prior to 7 p.m. Eastern with a 10-0 mark in 2018.
• During its game against the Mids, Army racked up 222 rushing yards compared to just 127 for its opposition. The Black Knights also forced four Navy turnovers which proved critical down the stretch.
• In the last three years the Black Knights are undefeated (14-0) when they don't lose the football. Over Coach Jeff Monken's tenure (five years), Army is 16-3 in that situation.
• Since their opener, the Cadets' running game has averaged 307.9 rushing yards and has scored 38 of their 45 offensive touchdowns during that 11-game stretch via the ground game.
• After leading the nation in rushing just a year ago, the Black Knights are back in the Top-5 in that category after averaging 296.3 yards (second nationally) over their last 12 contests.
• Darnell Woolfolk and Kelvin Hopkins Jr. are leading the team with 885 and 847 yards rushing, respectively. Woolfolk its tops on the team with 14 rushing scores, while Hopkins Jr. has picked up 12 TDs via the run after earning two against Navy.
• Despite going 1-of-3 on fourth downs during its last outing, Army has typically been strong in that situation going perfect on seven different occasions this season. The Black Knights are currently 31-of-36 on fourth down conversions in 2018 and lead the nation with a 86.1 conversion rate.
• The Black Knights' defense has been stellar in stopping the run game. So far this season, Army has held five opponents to under 100 yards rushing, including four of its last seven opponents (San Jose State, Miami (OH), Eastern Michigan, and Lafayette).
• For that feat, the Cadets are 12th nationally in rushing defense allowing only 108.2 yards per game.
• The Army defense has also been one of the nation's best when it comes to defending on third down situations. The Cadets are currently third in the country in that category, allowing only 31 conversions in 116 attempts (26.7 percent).
ARMY-HOUSTON HISTORY
• This will be the eighth all-time meeting between these two programs.
• The Cougars currently lead the series 5-2 with Houston winning the teams' last matchup 35-21 on Sept. 18, 2004.
• Only one game in the series has been decided by single digits and that was a 31-30 Houston triumph on Sept. 16, 2000.
• Army won the first meeting at Houston with a 38-28 victory, but the Cougars rebounded the following year with a 26-14 win at Michie Stadium.
• The Black Knights and Cougars had one common opponent during the 2018 season in Navy. Both teams defeated the Mids with Houston earning a 49-36 victory and Army a 17-10 win.
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ABOUT THE COUGARS
• Houston sits with an 8-4 overall record and wrapped up American Athletic Conference play with a mark of 5-3.
• The Cougars posted seven wins in their opening eight games to become nationally ranked midway through the season. Unfortunately, since its 57-36 victory vs. South Florida, Houston has lost three of its last four games heading into the game.
• Most recently Houston dropped a 52-31 decision at Memphis in which the Tigers accounted for more than 600 yards of total offense, including 401 rushing with six rushing TDs, and scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.
• The Cougars, who were 5-1 at home this season, have struggled on the road. Houston's last road victory was a 49-36 triumph at Navy on Oct. 20. The Cougars are currently 3-3 away from TDECU Stadium.
• Houston has a powerful offensive game, averaging 46.4 points per outing, which has it ranked fourth nationally. Its 528.6 yards of total offense per game has them sitting at sixth in the country as well.
• The Cougars are also in the country's top-20 for passing and rushing offense. Houston is averaging 300.9 passing yards and 227.7 rushing yards for 14th and 19th in the nation, respectively.
• Leading the Cougars' ground game has been Patrick Carr, who's racked up 816 rushing yards and five scores.
• D'Eriq King, Mulbah Car, and Terence Williams have also been important in the Cougars' running game, registering 674, 325 and 228 yards, respectively. King has added a team-best 14 touchdowns as well.
• King is Houston's main play caller. He has gone 219-of-345 so far this season with 2,982 yards and 36 touchdowns. Most recently though freshman Clayton Tune had to step into the quarterback role filling in for the injured King, who was out against Memphis during their last outing. Tune has gone 38-of-85 so far on the season with 565 yards and seven touchdown throws.
• There have been three main receiving targets for the Cougars in Marquez Stevenson, Keith Corbin, and Courtney Lark. Leading the way has been Stevenson who has accumulated 947 yards and nine scores, but Corbin and Lark have followed closely behind with 669 yards (10 TDs) and 509 yards (five TDs), respectively.
• On the defensive side of the ball it's been Austin Robinson. The senior has 116 total tackles on the year, including a team-best 70 solo shots. He, along with teammate and Consensus All-American Ed Oliver, has accumulated double-digit tackles for loss on the year with Oliver earning 14.5 tackles for a loss of 58 yards.
• Robinson has compiled six sacks this season, which is also tops on the team. Gleson Sprewell has posted a team-best three interceptions for 71 yards to add to Houston's strong defensive corps.
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The game is slated for a 2:30 p.m. CT kick and Army will be looking for its fourth consecutive bowl win, including its third straight in the Armed Forces Bowl. The contest will air live on ESPN with Chris Cotter, Jim Mora, Emmanuel Acho, and Quint Kessenich on the call. The game can also be heard on the Army Sports Network through the TuneIn app or goarmywestpoint.com.
TELEVISION • ESPN
RADIO • Army Sports Network
GAME NOTES • Army Notes •  Houston Notes
LIVE STATS • GoArmyWestPoint.com
TWITTER • @ArmyWP_Football
THE OPENING KICKOFF
• The Black Knights completed their third-straight victory over arch-rival Navy during their last outing on Dec. 8 in Philadelphia. Army defeated the Mids 17-10 in that game.
• That victory extended Army's winning streak to eight consecutive games as it hasn't lost since a 28-21 overtime decision at then ranked No. 5 Oklahoma on Sept. 22.
• Since the start of the 2017 season, the Cadets have won 20 of their last 25 games for a .800 winning percentage and are 20-3 over the last two seasons when kicking off prior to 7 p.m. Eastern with a 10-0 mark in 2018.
• During its game against the Mids, Army racked up 222 rushing yards compared to just 127 for its opposition. The Black Knights also forced four Navy turnovers which proved critical down the stretch.
• In the last three years the Black Knights are undefeated (14-0) when they don't lose the football. Over Coach Jeff Monken's tenure (five years), Army is 16-3 in that situation.
• Since their opener, the Cadets' running game has averaged 307.9 rushing yards and has scored 38 of their 45 offensive touchdowns during that 11-game stretch via the ground game.
• After leading the nation in rushing just a year ago, the Black Knights are back in the Top-5 in that category after averaging 296.3 yards (second nationally) over their last 12 contests.
• Darnell Woolfolk and Kelvin Hopkins Jr. are leading the team with 885 and 847 yards rushing, respectively. Woolfolk its tops on the team with 14 rushing scores, while Hopkins Jr. has picked up 12 TDs via the run after earning two against Navy.
• Despite going 1-of-3 on fourth downs during its last outing, Army has typically been strong in that situation going perfect on seven different occasions this season. The Black Knights are currently 31-of-36 on fourth down conversions in 2018 and lead the nation with a 86.1 conversion rate.
• The Black Knights' defense has been stellar in stopping the run game. So far this season, Army has held five opponents to under 100 yards rushing, including four of its last seven opponents (San Jose State, Miami (OH), Eastern Michigan, and Lafayette).
• For that feat, the Cadets are 12th nationally in rushing defense allowing only 108.2 yards per game.
• The Army defense has also been one of the nation's best when it comes to defending on third down situations. The Cadets are currently third in the country in that category, allowing only 31 conversions in 116 attempts (26.7 percent).
ARMY-HOUSTON HISTORY
• This will be the eighth all-time meeting between these two programs.
• The Cougars currently lead the series 5-2 with Houston winning the teams' last matchup 35-21 on Sept. 18, 2004.
• Only one game in the series has been decided by single digits and that was a 31-30 Houston triumph on Sept. 16, 2000.
• Army won the first meeting at Houston with a 38-28 victory, but the Cougars rebounded the following year with a 26-14 win at Michie Stadium.
• The Black Knights and Cougars had one common opponent during the 2018 season in Navy. Both teams defeated the Mids with Houston earning a 49-36 victory and Army a 17-10 win.
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ABOUT THE COUGARS
• Houston sits with an 8-4 overall record and wrapped up American Athletic Conference play with a mark of 5-3.
• The Cougars posted seven wins in their opening eight games to become nationally ranked midway through the season. Unfortunately, since its 57-36 victory vs. South Florida, Houston has lost three of its last four games heading into the game.
• Most recently Houston dropped a 52-31 decision at Memphis in which the Tigers accounted for more than 600 yards of total offense, including 401 rushing with six rushing TDs, and scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.
• The Cougars, who were 5-1 at home this season, have struggled on the road. Houston's last road victory was a 49-36 triumph at Navy on Oct. 20. The Cougars are currently 3-3 away from TDECU Stadium.
• Houston has a powerful offensive game, averaging 46.4 points per outing, which has it ranked fourth nationally. Its 528.6 yards of total offense per game has them sitting at sixth in the country as well.
• The Cougars are also in the country's top-20 for passing and rushing offense. Houston is averaging 300.9 passing yards and 227.7 rushing yards for 14th and 19th in the nation, respectively.
• Leading the Cougars' ground game has been Patrick Carr, who's racked up 816 rushing yards and five scores.
• D'Eriq King, Mulbah Car, and Terence Williams have also been important in the Cougars' running game, registering 674, 325 and 228 yards, respectively. King has added a team-best 14 touchdowns as well.
• King is Houston's main play caller. He has gone 219-of-345 so far this season with 2,982 yards and 36 touchdowns. Most recently though freshman Clayton Tune had to step into the quarterback role filling in for the injured King, who was out against Memphis during their last outing. Tune has gone 38-of-85 so far on the season with 565 yards and seven touchdown throws.
• There have been three main receiving targets for the Cougars in Marquez Stevenson, Keith Corbin, and Courtney Lark. Leading the way has been Stevenson who has accumulated 947 yards and nine scores, but Corbin and Lark have followed closely behind with 669 yards (10 TDs) and 509 yards (five TDs), respectively.
• On the defensive side of the ball it's been Austin Robinson. The senior has 116 total tackles on the year, including a team-best 70 solo shots. He, along with teammate and Consensus All-American Ed Oliver, has accumulated double-digit tackles for loss on the year with Oliver earning 14.5 tackles for a loss of 58 yards.
• Robinson has compiled six sacks this season, which is also tops on the team. Gleson Sprewell has posted a team-best three interceptions for 71 yards to add to Houston's strong defensive corps.
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