Black Knights Outlast Penn, 24-21

Friday, September 13

Philadelphia, PA

7 PM

Army West Point

1-0

Penn

0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Army West Point

Penn

Photo by: Army Athletics

Black Knights Outlast Penn, 24-21

September 13, 2019 | Sprint Football

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – The Army West Point sprint football team opened its 2019 season with a nail-biting 24-21 victory over Penn Friday evening at Franklin Field. The Black Knights (1-0) have won eight consecutive season-openers.

Trailing by just a field goal, Penn (0-1) was threatening in the closing minute of the game. The Quakers brought the ball to the Army 20-yardline, but time expired before they had a chance to tie or win the game.

In addition to managing three turnovers, Army's defense held the Quakers offense to 3-of-5 on its red zone attempts. Ryan Leach was responsible for two of the Black Knights' takeaways with a career-high two interceptions.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

The Black Knights have now won 15 of their last 16 games.
Head Coach Mark West earned his 60th career victory. The 11th-year coach needs just four more victories to tie Bob Thompson (1986-97) for the second most in program history.
Army now leads the all-time series with Penn, 58-7.
Leach now has four career interceptions. He matched his career total entering the night with two.
Gigliotti's 62-yard touchdown catch is the longest reception of his career. It also marks his second career receiving touchdown.
Blessinger led the Army defense with seven tackles, including two for a loss.
Charette's six receptions tied a career high.
Ortman was a perfect 3-for-3 on PAT attempts and 1-for-3 on field goal attempts.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter

After both offenses were held to three-and-outs on their opening drives, Penn running back LaQuan McKever broke free on the first play of the Quakers' second drive. Desmond Young had a touchdown-saving tackle on the play, tripping McKever up from behind. Later in the drive Onorino Tamburri came up with an interception in the red zone.
The Black Knights got the board thanks to a 62-yard catch-and-run from Jake Gigliotti. The play capped off seven-play 97-yard drive to put Army up 7-0 with 2:53 left in the opening quarter.

Second Quarter

On Army's first drive of the second quarter, the Cadets took advantage of great field position with a 51-yard touchdown drive that spanned seven plays. The drive was capped off by a 6-yard pass in the corner of the end zone to John Descisciolo from JC Watson with 11:20 remaining.
Penn responded with a lengthy, clock-eating drive. Over the course of 19 plays, the Quakers marched the ball down to Army's 5-yardline. The Black Knights' defense came up with a huge stop on 4th-and-inches with Tate Blessinger prying the ball out of the would-be receiver's hands with 11 seconds remaining in the half.

Third Quarter

Penn capitalized on an Army fumble on a punt return early in the third quarter. Quakers quarterback Eddie Jenkins took off for a 14-yard touchdown run to get Penn on the board.
The Quakers evened the score with another quarterback keeper from Jenkins on a 4th and 1 play.

Fourth Quarter

Army answered back with a touchdown on the ensuing drive, capped off with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Justin Charette from Ryan Sullivan over the middle of the field with 12:33 remaining in the contest. The score put Army back in command 21-14.
Penn came back on the following drive with Jenkins' third rushing touchdown of the evening to once again even the score.
Army's Seppi Ortman knocked through the go-ahead 21-yard field goal with just under five minutes remaining. The field goal was set up by a 40-yard connection between Sullivan and Tom Williamson. The senior receiver sprawled out making a highlight-reel catch to advance the Black Knights into the red zone.

UP NEXT
The Black Knights host service academy foe Navy at Shea Stadium next Friday, Sept. 20. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.