Army West Point Athletics
Army Shuts Down Middle Tennessee State in Opener
September 05, 2020 | Football
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point football team held nothing back today in its 42-0 home opening victory against Middle Tennessee State.Â
Â
It was the Black Knights' first home opening shutout since blanking Colgate on Sept. 11, 1993, by a 30-0 score.Â
Â
The defense stood strong in the contest intercepting two passes and forcing a pair of fumbles. Army scored three times thanks to defensive turnovers.Â
Â
Captain Sandon McCoy led the Black Knights' offense with three rushing touchdowns. Tyrell Robinson made his collegiate debut in today's contest and led both sides with 94 rushing yards.Â
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
Â
It was the Black Knights' first home opening shutout since blanking Colgate on Sept. 11, 1993, by a 30-0 score.Â
Â
The defense stood strong in the contest intercepting two passes and forcing a pair of fumbles. Army scored three times thanks to defensive turnovers.Â
Â
Captain Sandon McCoy led the Black Knights' offense with three rushing touchdowns. Tyrell Robinson made his collegiate debut in today's contest and led both sides with 94 rushing yards.Â
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Black Knights pressed the Blue Raiders early on, scoring off a turnover in the first quarter to go ahead 7-0.Â
- Cedric Cunningham forced a Middle Tennessee State fumble two minutes into the game at the opponent's 44-yard line. Jon Rhattigan recovered the ball to set up the first Army touchdown of the season.Â
- McCoy punched the ball through on a one-yard run to cap a nine play, 43-yard 4:00 drive.Â
- After putting up another defensive stop, the Black Knights took over for the next nine minutes.Â
- McCoy notched his second touchdown of the day at the 14:06 mark of the second quarter thanks to a two-yard conversion.Â
- The Cadets were poised for a field goal attempt at 7:56, but a roughing the kicker call by the Blue Raiders enabled another Army touchdown by McCoy.Â
- Army led 21-0 at the half and all of its drives in the first 30 minutes of the game resulted in rushing touchdowns.Â
- The Black Knights didn't slow down in the second half and scored back-to-back touchdowns in a 4:15 span.
- Christian Anderson scored his first of the year off a 24-yard rush to cap a seven play, 71-yard drive.Â
- The Cadets' defense caused another turnover which resulted in an Army touchdown at 6:33 in the third quarter.Â
- Rhattigan intercepted a pass for a 43-yard pick six to help Army to a 35-0 advantage.Â
- The Black Knights continued to control the pace of the game well into the fourth quarter thanks to a 99-yard march up the field in a 12:26 minute span.Â
- Anthony Adkins charged up the Army sideline, shedding would be tacklers for a 22-yard touchdown carry to increase Army's lead to 42-0.Â
- Head Coach Jeff Monken is 6-1 in home-openers at West Point and has won five straight.
- The last time Army blanked its opponent on its home-opener was on Sept. 11, 1993, when the Black Knights topped Colgate, 30-0.
- This was Army's first shutout at Michie Stadium since it blanked Fordham, 55-0, on Oct. 29, 2011.
- Dating back to last season, Army's last 11 drives that did not result in the end of regulation at Michie Stadium have resulted in touchdowns.
- The Black Knights' defensive unit limited the Blue Raiders to 184 yards of total offense.
- The Cadets have seen 142 minutes and 17 seconds of action since their last punt at Michie Stadium. Army's last punt on its home turf occurred at the 7:17 mark of the third quarter against UMass on Nov. 9, 2019.
- The Cadets only had two offensive plays go for negative yardage, both of which were losses of just one yard.
- McCoy recorded his fourth career multi-touchdown game, finding the endzone three times in the first half.
- McCoy tied his career high, scoring his third rushing score of the afternoon at the 7:14 mark of the second quarter.
- Rhattigan's 43-yard pick-six was Army's first since Max Regan took an interception 48 yards to the house at Rice on Oct. 7, 2017.
- Cunningham registered his first career forced fumble in addition to leading the team with seven tackles (5 solo).Â
- Freshman RB Tyrell Robinson led all rushers with 94 yards in his collegiate debut on nine carries. He had a long rush of 37 yards on the first drive of the second half.
- The Black Knights continue their homestand at Michie Stadium on Sept. 12 with a 1:30 p.m. game against Louisiana Monroe.Â
Players Mentioned
Army Navy Cross Country Star Meet
Wednesday, October 15
This Week in Army Football: Tulane
Tuesday, October 14
Women's Army Rugby v. Davenport University (11-OCT-25)
Sunday, October 12
Army vs. Charlotte Game Highlights
Saturday, October 11