Army Bounces Back with Big Win over ACU

Saturday, October 3

West Point, N.Y.

1:30 p.m. ET

Army West Point

Abilene Christian

Photo by: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports

Army Bounces Back with Big Win over ACU

October 03, 2020 | Football

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WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point football team muscled its way past Abilene Christian Saturday by a score of 55-23.

The Black Knights improved to 4-1 after boasting 493 total offensive yards, 441 of which came on the ground.

Jemel Jones shined today with his first-career 100-yard performance and two touchdowns. Tyrell Robinson also posted a 100-yard day for the Black Knights.

Marquel Broughton and Jon Rhattigan led the defensive effort with eight tackles apiece. Rhattigan recorded one tackle for a loss.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Black Knights wasted no time defending their home turf, forcing a turnover on downs on ACU's first offensive possession thanks to a Keeron Henderson sack.
Army took over on the 45-yard line to set up a scoring drive.
Sandon McCoy kicked off the Army scoring plays with a one-yard punch into the end zone to cap a 10-play, 45-yard drive which spanned 5:19.
Five seconds into the second quarter, Landon Salyers sailed one through the uprights for a career-long 43-yard field goal, which gave the Cadets a 10-0 lead.
Nolan Cockrill notched a sack for a loss of 11 yards two minutes later to force Abilene Christian to punt.
Due to a short three-yard punt by ACU, Army gained control on the Wildcats' 16-yard line and scored 16 seconds later after a three-yard rushing touchdown by Jones.
Army kept its foot on the gas with Fabrice Voyne recovering an onside kick on the Army 42-yard line.
Jakobi Buchanan went on to finish the ensuing drive with a three-yard run into the end zone with 10:15 left in the opening half to put the Cadets ahead 23-0.
Abilene Christian put three points on the board thanks to a 31-yard field goal, which cut Army's lead to 23-3.
The Black Knights reached a milestone on the next drive, scoring their first passing touchdown of the year.
Jones connected with Michael Roberts for a 33-yard touchdown. Artice Hobbs IV followed with a two-point conversion to pad Army's lead, 31-3.
The Wildcats scored a touchdown with 4:18 on the clock in the third quarter after a two-yard completion from Peyton Mansell to Kobe Clark.
Army bounced back however with seven more points 1:15 minutes later.
Jones eclipsed 100 rushing yards on the drive which was capped by a 49-yard touchdown run.
Mansell connected with Clark yet again for Abilene Christian's second touchdown of the contest for 45 yards.
Anthony Adkins found the end zone for Army after a three-yard rush to help the Black Knights jump ahead 48-17.
The Wildcats converted once again on a long pass to cut the Cadets' lead to 25 points. Branden Hohenstein had a 61-yard reception for the score.
The Black Knight capped off a successful offensive day with a five-play, 46-yard effort for one final score with 0:37 seconds remaining.
Adkins recorded the final touchdown with a powerful 28-yard dash to secure a 55-23 win for the Cadets.

NOTES

This was the first all-time meeting between the two schools.
Dating back to last season against Hawai'I, Army has scored first in six consecutive games.
The Black Knights have scored a touchdown on their first offensive drive three times this season.
Army had two 100-yard rushers in Jones and Robinson, marking the first time since Oct. 14, 2017 that the Cadets had multiple 100-yard rushers when Ahmad Bradshaw and Kell Walker did so.
Jones is the ninth quarterback to record a 100-yard rushing game in the Jeff Monken era, joining Christian Anderson, Jabari Laws, Kelvin Hopkins, Cam Thomas, Ahmad Bradshaw, AJ Schurr, Chris Carter and Angel Santiago.
Robinson became just the 15th player in program history have a 100-yard game with seven or fewer attempts. He finished with 126 rushing yards on just seven carries, good for an average of 18 yards per carry.
Jones threw for his first career passing touchdown when he connected with Roberts on 33-yard reception. The play paired as Roberts' first receiving touchdown
Salyers was pure on a 43-yard field goal attempt to mark a new career long. He is 3-for-3 on FG attempts this season.
The Black Knights had their first sucessful onside kick attempt since Oct. 21, 2017, when Army recovered one against Temple.
Quinn Maretzki split the uprights on a 40-yard field goal attempt to mark his first career made field goal.
McCoy scored his fifth rushing TD of the season and the 15th of his career. He is 3 TDs shy of moving into 19th all-time.