Black Knights Earn Third Straight Win; Top UTSA, 28-16

Saturday, October 17

San Antonio, TX

1:30 p.m. ET

Army West Point

5-1

UTSA

3-3 , 1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

ARMY

UTSA

Black Knights Earn Third Straight Win; Top UTSA, 28-16

October 17, 2020 | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Game Highlights Postgame Notes

SAN ANTONIO – The Army West Point football team earned its third straight victory with a 28-16 triumph over UTSA in the Alamodome Saturday afternoon. The win puts Army at 5-1 on the season, while the Roadrunners dropped to 3-3.

Freshman quarterback Cade Ballard made his first career start for the Black Knights and finished with one touchdown.

Sophomore Tyhier Tyler made his Army debut under center, finishing with a touchdown and 95 yards on 19 carries.

Army got on the board first, as Anthony Adkins broke free for a 66-yard touchdown run, the Black Knights' longest play of the season and a career-long rush for the sophomore out of Hodgenville, Ky. Kicker Landon Salyers connected on an extra point to make it 7-0, Black Knights.

UTSA pulled within four as kicker Hunter Duplessis booted a 50-yard field goal to make it a 7-3 ballgame with 14:48 left in the second quarter.

The Black Knights finished off a 13-play, 74-yard drive that ate up 6 minutes and 27 seconds with a five-yard touchdown rush from Jakobi Buchanan. With the Salyers extra point, Army took a 14-3 lead with 5:06 left in the first half.

UTSA answered with a nearly five-minute drive of its own, however, as Lowell Narcisse connected on a one-yard screen pass to Zakhari Franklin with 11 seconds left in the half. Duplessis' extra point made it a 14-10 Army lead heading into the half.

Tyler scored his first career touchdown with 4:04 left in the third quarter, a 37-yard rush to put the Black Knights up, 21-10.

A minute into the fourth quarter, UTSA scored its second touchdown of the day, as quarterback Frank Harris entered in place of the injured Narcisse, tossing an 11-yard touchdown reception to Franklin. The extra point, however, was blocked by Ryan Duran and the Black Knights led 21-16 with 14:06 left in the game.

Army answered right back, however, as a 53-yard reception by Camden Harrison, plus a roughing the passer call set up first and goal from UTSA's five-yard line. Ballard completed the four-play drive with a five-yard touchdown run, the first of his career. After Salyers' extra point, the Black Knights led, 28-16.

With 10:15 left in the game, the Black Knights' defense made a goal-line stand. On fourth and goal from the 10-yard line for the Roadrunners, Marquel Broughton forced quarterback Harris out at the three yard line, and UTSA turned the ball over on downs.

Army took 6 minutes and 28 seconds off the clock on its ensuing drive before Tyler fumbled the ball near midfield, which proved to be the lone turnover of the contest. UTSA went on to face a fourth and four at the Army 22 yard line, but Broughton once again made a big play. The sophomore defensive back flew in to record the pass breakup and seal the victory for the Black Knights.

NOTES

Jeff Monken recorded his 45th win at Army, which passes Bob Sutton (1991-99) for fourth on the program's all-time wins list.
Adkins finished with a career-high 101 rushing yards, joining Buchanan, Jemel Jones and Tyrell Robinson to rush for 100+ yards.
Ballard was 1-of-3 passing with his completion going for 53 yards on the connection with Camden Harrison, which is Army's longest passing play of the season. He also had his first career rushing touchdown.
This is 16th season where Army has had four different players have a 100-yard rushing game. Four of those seasons have occurred in the Monken era.
Tyler finished the contest with 95 rushing yards on 19 attempts and a touchdown.
The win ends Army's six-game skid in away/neutral games. The Black Knights' last win on the road came last year against UTSA in the Alamodome on Sept. 14, 2019.
Harrison has had at least one reception in the last nine contests he's played in for the Cadets.
This marked the second consecutive game where Army had a quarterback make his first career start. Ballard was the starting signal caller for the Cadets. Last week, QB Jemel Jones notched his first start under center.
Army's defense held the Roadrunners to 16 points, marking the fourth time this season that the unit has limited its opponent to fewer than 20 points. On the season Army holding its opponents to 13.2 points per game.
This marked the fourth time this season that the Cadets picked up 300+ rushing yards. Army is averaging 310 rushing yards per game.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Black Knights return home to Michie Stadium to host Mercer on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 12 p.m. ET. The game will be televised live on CBS Sports Network.