Army West Point Athletics
Feinstein's Findings: So Close
January 02, 2021 | Football
       So close.
            So close to a remarkable ending to what had already been an extraordinary season. So close to winning 10 games for the third time in four seasons. So close to beating a school from a Power-5 conference for the first time since 2016.
            So close.
            We will always wonder what might have happened if the Independence Bowl hadn't been cancelled and Army had faced a Pacific-12 opponent without a 12-day break after the victory over Air Force. We will always wonder what might have happened on New Year's Eve if eight players who played key roles in Army's 9-2 regular season hadn't been unavailable.Â
            Among those not in uniform: Jon Rhattigan, the team's leading tackler; fullback Jakobi Buchanan, who had become almost unstoppable in short yardage situations; and freshman slotback Tyrell Robinson, who had brought an element of speed to the Army offense not seen in a long time.
            The presence of any ONE of those three players—not to mention the others—might have made the difference in an agonizing 24-21 loss to West Virginia in the Liberty Bowl. What's more, quarterbacks coach Cody Worley had to step in and call plays in the absence of offensive coordinator Brent Davis.
            Army players don't opt out. Army players and coaches don't make excuses either, "No excuse sir," being one of the academy's more coveted mantras.
            Which is why the Black Knights' approach to the Liberty Bowl was the same as it had been all season: we'll play as well as we can and as hard as we can with whomever we have available to play.
            It was apparent from the start on a cold, overcast and often rainy day, that running the ball up the middle was going to be difficult at best, impossible at worst. West Virginia's defensive line was anchored by brothers Darius and Dante Stills, the sons of 10-year NFL player Gary Stills. The only thing good about the Stills brothers, from Army's point-of-view, was that there weren't three of them.
            Army's first two possessions resulted in three-and-outs, with Tyhier Tyler again getting the start at quarterback. West Virginia had taken the opening kickoff and marched to the Army 20-yard-line, but kicker Tyler Sumpter missed a 37-yard-field goal. The field was wet and the wether conditions did not make it an ideal day for kickers.
            West Virginia again drove into Army territory late in the first quarter but—again—the defense came up with a stop, this time on the Army 14. Sumpter came back in and, this time, was good from 31-yards. West Virginia led 3-0.
            That was when Monken decided to go to Christian Anderson, who doesn't have Tyler's speed, but is a better thrower and more confident on the pitch than Tyler. The mover worked, although it took an improbable pass from Anderson to Cole Caterbone to get the offense moving.
            He was pressed into duty because of the many missing players and his second catch of the season was far more important than his first one. On a third-and-five from the Army 31, Anderson dropped, was pressured and threw up a pass that appeared likely to bring more rain. Caterbone had found open space in the West Virginia secondary and he waited patiently for the pass to come down, clutched it and picked up 13-yards and a first down.
            That seemed to spark Army. Anderson then got the pitch game going, something that was much-needed since the Stills brothers and their friends had completely plugged the middle. With Buchanan out, Army's three available fullbacks—Sandon McCoy, Anthony Adkins and Cole Barnard—carried a total of 21 times for 53 yards, well under their averages for the season. In all, even though Tyler had some success: 24 carries for 76 yards and several slotbacks also had moments, the running game struggled for most of the day. In all, Army rushed the ball 59 times for 182 yards, an average of just over three yards a carry and almost 100 yards under its season average.
            And yet, the Black Knights actually appeared to be in control of the game in the third quarter. After Caterbone's catch, they drove to a first down at the Mountaineers 26-yard-line. Tyler, back in the game, fumbled there, but quickly jumped on the ball. In their zeal to steal the ball from them, several West Virginia players ripped and clawed at it, leading to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty call on Vandarius Cowan that put the ball on the 13. From there, Army DID find some room in the middle, leading to a first-and-goal at the two. On second down, Tyler pushed his way in behind the right side of the offensive line and it was 7-3 with 9:37 left in the second quarter.
            No doubt surprised to be trailing, West Virginia pieced together a 77-yard, 13-play drive—most of it in the air. The Black Knight did a good job most of the day bottling up the West Virginia running game, led by All-Big-12 running back Leddy Brown, who, if you listened to the ESPN announcers, was pretty much the second coming of Jim Brown. In all, Brown 2.0 rushed for 65 yards on 20 carries.
            But quarterback Jarrett Doege, kept finding receivers on this drive, capped by a five-yard pass on third down to T.J. Simmons, who was wide open in the left corner of the end zone. That made it 10-7 and it appeared that would be the halftime score when Army's ensuing drive stalled near midfield. West Virginia had used all its time outs when Army had the ball, hoping to have time to extend the lead. After a Zach Harding punt to the 13-yard-line (if there's an unsung hero award voted on for this Army team, Harding should win unanimously) and, with 2:43 left, Doege quickly completed two passes to the Army 29.
            On the next play Malkelm Morrison came from the right side on a delayed blitz. Army's secondary did an excellent job—as it had done on Jahvari Bourdeau's earlier interception—and Morrison got to Doege when he held onto the ball too long trying to find a receiver. Doege lost the ball as he was hit and Ryan Duran jumped on the ball at the WVU seven-yard-line with 1:52 left. Two plays later, Tyler ran left and scored and, suddenly Army had a 14-10 lead at halftime.
            Things got even better after the break. The Black Knights took the kickoff and put together the kind of drive that always puts a smile on the faces of Monken, his coaches and anyone else who knows the Army fight song by heart. Army went 75 yards in 15 plays and took eight minutes off the clock. The fullbacks began to find some space in the middle and Tyler capped the drive with his third touchdown, this one from the two-yard line. Quinn Maretzki's extra point made it 21-10.
            Army was 22 minutes away from a memorable and improbable victory.
            But West Virginia Coach Neal Brown took a gamble—and it worked. Unhappy with Doege's two turnovers in the first half, he brought backup quarterback Austin Kendall into the game. This was a fascinating move. Kendall had transferred from Oklahoma and been the starter in 2019. But Doege beat him out for the job and Kendall had thrown six passes all season—in an early September rout of Eastern Kentucky.
            Now, with his team trailing 21-10, he coolly took his team 80-yards in 10 plays. Twice, the Mountaineers converted on third-and-long. Then, on third-and-ten from the ten, Kendall found Sean Ryan for eight yards to the two. Brown decided to go for it on fourth down and, with the play clock running down, Kendall took the snap and found tight end Mike O'Laughlin wide open to his right. O'Laughlin had lined up left, run all the way right and no one picked him up. The two-point conversion was no good but it was 21-16 going to the fourth quarter.
            Army's offense simply couldn't get anything going: one first down and punt; one first down and punt. The defense had been solid—forcing a three-and-out after the Mountaineers had recovered an onside kick following the O'Laughlin touchdown.
            But with 8:21 left, the West Virginia offense got the one break it needed. It looked as if Army had another stop when Kendall's past to Bryce Ford-Wheaton was incomplete. But the officials called Jabari Moore for pass interference, turning fourth-and-10 and a punt into a first down at the Army 48. There's an old saying in college football: when ACC officials are assigned to your game, hope for the best; prepare for the worst.
            This turned out to be the worst. Two plays later, facing third-and-14 Kendall found  Sam James at the 38 for a first down—barely. Three plays later, he hit Simmons from 20-yards-out to put his team ahead 22-21. A successful reverse to Reese Smith on the two-point conversion made it 24-21 with 5:10 left.
            The game was far from over. Monken went back to Anderson at quarterback and he promptly found Chris Cameron wide open for a 32-yard-gain to the WVU 29. The ideal scenario would be to get into the end zone with as little time remaining as possible. It never happened.
            After McCoy picked up four yards to the 22, Monken went back to Tyler, no doubt looking for more speed and hoping Tyler's nose for the end zone would pay off one more time. But Tyler is still one dimensional. He's going to do one of two things: take off himself or hand to a fullback. He ran twice, once for three yards, then for zero.
            Fourth-and-three. West Virginia had already stopped Army twice on fourth down—the absence of Buchanan noticeable on those plays. Monken decided to send Maretzki in to tie the game. Since becoming the placekicker, Maretzki hadn't missed a kick. This time though, he missed, hooking the ball left of the upright from 39-yards.
            Later, Monken blamed himself for the decision, noting that even if Maretzki had converted it would still have only been a tie game and West Virginia had time on the clock to try to win the game. But without Buchanan and, given Maretzki's reliability, the decision was understandable.Â
            The miss brought back memories of the 1996 Independence Bowl, when the normally good-as-gold J. Parker missed a 31-yarder with a chance to tie Auburn in the final seconds.
            Army wasn't done. The Black Knights used all their time outs and forced a three-and-out. Somehow, Jim Brown II couldn't get 10-yards against a bunch of defenders who will wear Army uniforms, not NFL uniforms, when they graduate.
            Anderson came back for a last-gasp chance. A completion to Caterbone and a run by Anderson got the ball into West Virginia territory. But that was it; Anderson's fourth down pass was intercepted by Josh Chandler-Semedo and it was over: West Virginia-24, Army-21.
            Monken and his guys are required to say, 'no excuse sir,' and it's the right thing to say. I will say this: if Rhattigan had been able to play at linebacker; if Robinson's speed had been part of the offense or if Buchanan's power had been in the backfield, the final score MIGHT have been different.
            Might.
            Regardless, disappointing as the outcome was, this was a season best described each week by my radio partner Joe Beckerle: Improbable. That Army got to play 12 games was a semi-miracle (thank-you Bob Beretta) in itself; that the Black Knights won nine games AND the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy made it a fall that will be memorable for a myriad of reasons but perhaps most for that 16-play, 80-yard drive against Air Force in he dark and the cold at Michie Stadium that brought the CIC back to West Point.
            In all, a year and a team worthy of our cheers. It is now 246 days until Army is scheduled to travel to Atlanta to open the 2021 season against Georgia State. Here's hoping the world will be close to normal again by then. And here's predicting that the Black Knights will bring all their heart and toughness to every single game they play this coming year.
            No excuse sir.
            So close to a remarkable ending to what had already been an extraordinary season. So close to winning 10 games for the third time in four seasons. So close to beating a school from a Power-5 conference for the first time since 2016.
            So close.
            We will always wonder what might have happened if the Independence Bowl hadn't been cancelled and Army had faced a Pacific-12 opponent without a 12-day break after the victory over Air Force. We will always wonder what might have happened on New Year's Eve if eight players who played key roles in Army's 9-2 regular season hadn't been unavailable.Â
            Among those not in uniform: Jon Rhattigan, the team's leading tackler; fullback Jakobi Buchanan, who had become almost unstoppable in short yardage situations; and freshman slotback Tyrell Robinson, who had brought an element of speed to the Army offense not seen in a long time.
            The presence of any ONE of those three players—not to mention the others—might have made the difference in an agonizing 24-21 loss to West Virginia in the Liberty Bowl. What's more, quarterbacks coach Cody Worley had to step in and call plays in the absence of offensive coordinator Brent Davis.
            Army players don't opt out. Army players and coaches don't make excuses either, "No excuse sir," being one of the academy's more coveted mantras.
            Which is why the Black Knights' approach to the Liberty Bowl was the same as it had been all season: we'll play as well as we can and as hard as we can with whomever we have available to play.
            It was apparent from the start on a cold, overcast and often rainy day, that running the ball up the middle was going to be difficult at best, impossible at worst. West Virginia's defensive line was anchored by brothers Darius and Dante Stills, the sons of 10-year NFL player Gary Stills. The only thing good about the Stills brothers, from Army's point-of-view, was that there weren't three of them.
            Army's first two possessions resulted in three-and-outs, with Tyhier Tyler again getting the start at quarterback. West Virginia had taken the opening kickoff and marched to the Army 20-yard-line, but kicker Tyler Sumpter missed a 37-yard-field goal. The field was wet and the wether conditions did not make it an ideal day for kickers.
            West Virginia again drove into Army territory late in the first quarter but—again—the defense came up with a stop, this time on the Army 14. Sumpter came back in and, this time, was good from 31-yards. West Virginia led 3-0.
            That was when Monken decided to go to Christian Anderson, who doesn't have Tyler's speed, but is a better thrower and more confident on the pitch than Tyler. The mover worked, although it took an improbable pass from Anderson to Cole Caterbone to get the offense moving.
            He was pressed into duty because of the many missing players and his second catch of the season was far more important than his first one. On a third-and-five from the Army 31, Anderson dropped, was pressured and threw up a pass that appeared likely to bring more rain. Caterbone had found open space in the West Virginia secondary and he waited patiently for the pass to come down, clutched it and picked up 13-yards and a first down.
            That seemed to spark Army. Anderson then got the pitch game going, something that was much-needed since the Stills brothers and their friends had completely plugged the middle. With Buchanan out, Army's three available fullbacks—Sandon McCoy, Anthony Adkins and Cole Barnard—carried a total of 21 times for 53 yards, well under their averages for the season. In all, even though Tyler had some success: 24 carries for 76 yards and several slotbacks also had moments, the running game struggled for most of the day. In all, Army rushed the ball 59 times for 182 yards, an average of just over three yards a carry and almost 100 yards under its season average.
            And yet, the Black Knights actually appeared to be in control of the game in the third quarter. After Caterbone's catch, they drove to a first down at the Mountaineers 26-yard-line. Tyler, back in the game, fumbled there, but quickly jumped on the ball. In their zeal to steal the ball from them, several West Virginia players ripped and clawed at it, leading to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty call on Vandarius Cowan that put the ball on the 13. From there, Army DID find some room in the middle, leading to a first-and-goal at the two. On second down, Tyler pushed his way in behind the right side of the offensive line and it was 7-3 with 9:37 left in the second quarter.
            No doubt surprised to be trailing, West Virginia pieced together a 77-yard, 13-play drive—most of it in the air. The Black Knight did a good job most of the day bottling up the West Virginia running game, led by All-Big-12 running back Leddy Brown, who, if you listened to the ESPN announcers, was pretty much the second coming of Jim Brown. In all, Brown 2.0 rushed for 65 yards on 20 carries.
            But quarterback Jarrett Doege, kept finding receivers on this drive, capped by a five-yard pass on third down to T.J. Simmons, who was wide open in the left corner of the end zone. That made it 10-7 and it appeared that would be the halftime score when Army's ensuing drive stalled near midfield. West Virginia had used all its time outs when Army had the ball, hoping to have time to extend the lead. After a Zach Harding punt to the 13-yard-line (if there's an unsung hero award voted on for this Army team, Harding should win unanimously) and, with 2:43 left, Doege quickly completed two passes to the Army 29.
            On the next play Malkelm Morrison came from the right side on a delayed blitz. Army's secondary did an excellent job—as it had done on Jahvari Bourdeau's earlier interception—and Morrison got to Doege when he held onto the ball too long trying to find a receiver. Doege lost the ball as he was hit and Ryan Duran jumped on the ball at the WVU seven-yard-line with 1:52 left. Two plays later, Tyler ran left and scored and, suddenly Army had a 14-10 lead at halftime.
            Things got even better after the break. The Black Knights took the kickoff and put together the kind of drive that always puts a smile on the faces of Monken, his coaches and anyone else who knows the Army fight song by heart. Army went 75 yards in 15 plays and took eight minutes off the clock. The fullbacks began to find some space in the middle and Tyler capped the drive with his third touchdown, this one from the two-yard line. Quinn Maretzki's extra point made it 21-10.
            Army was 22 minutes away from a memorable and improbable victory.
            But West Virginia Coach Neal Brown took a gamble—and it worked. Unhappy with Doege's two turnovers in the first half, he brought backup quarterback Austin Kendall into the game. This was a fascinating move. Kendall had transferred from Oklahoma and been the starter in 2019. But Doege beat him out for the job and Kendall had thrown six passes all season—in an early September rout of Eastern Kentucky.
            Now, with his team trailing 21-10, he coolly took his team 80-yards in 10 plays. Twice, the Mountaineers converted on third-and-long. Then, on third-and-ten from the ten, Kendall found Sean Ryan for eight yards to the two. Brown decided to go for it on fourth down and, with the play clock running down, Kendall took the snap and found tight end Mike O'Laughlin wide open to his right. O'Laughlin had lined up left, run all the way right and no one picked him up. The two-point conversion was no good but it was 21-16 going to the fourth quarter.
            Army's offense simply couldn't get anything going: one first down and punt; one first down and punt. The defense had been solid—forcing a three-and-out after the Mountaineers had recovered an onside kick following the O'Laughlin touchdown.
            But with 8:21 left, the West Virginia offense got the one break it needed. It looked as if Army had another stop when Kendall's past to Bryce Ford-Wheaton was incomplete. But the officials called Jabari Moore for pass interference, turning fourth-and-10 and a punt into a first down at the Army 48. There's an old saying in college football: when ACC officials are assigned to your game, hope for the best; prepare for the worst.
            This turned out to be the worst. Two plays later, facing third-and-14 Kendall found  Sam James at the 38 for a first down—barely. Three plays later, he hit Simmons from 20-yards-out to put his team ahead 22-21. A successful reverse to Reese Smith on the two-point conversion made it 24-21 with 5:10 left.
            The game was far from over. Monken went back to Anderson at quarterback and he promptly found Chris Cameron wide open for a 32-yard-gain to the WVU 29. The ideal scenario would be to get into the end zone with as little time remaining as possible. It never happened.
            After McCoy picked up four yards to the 22, Monken went back to Tyler, no doubt looking for more speed and hoping Tyler's nose for the end zone would pay off one more time. But Tyler is still one dimensional. He's going to do one of two things: take off himself or hand to a fullback. He ran twice, once for three yards, then for zero.
            Fourth-and-three. West Virginia had already stopped Army twice on fourth down—the absence of Buchanan noticeable on those plays. Monken decided to send Maretzki in to tie the game. Since becoming the placekicker, Maretzki hadn't missed a kick. This time though, he missed, hooking the ball left of the upright from 39-yards.
            Later, Monken blamed himself for the decision, noting that even if Maretzki had converted it would still have only been a tie game and West Virginia had time on the clock to try to win the game. But without Buchanan and, given Maretzki's reliability, the decision was understandable.Â
            The miss brought back memories of the 1996 Independence Bowl, when the normally good-as-gold J. Parker missed a 31-yarder with a chance to tie Auburn in the final seconds.
            Army wasn't done. The Black Knights used all their time outs and forced a three-and-out. Somehow, Jim Brown II couldn't get 10-yards against a bunch of defenders who will wear Army uniforms, not NFL uniforms, when they graduate.
            Anderson came back for a last-gasp chance. A completion to Caterbone and a run by Anderson got the ball into West Virginia territory. But that was it; Anderson's fourth down pass was intercepted by Josh Chandler-Semedo and it was over: West Virginia-24, Army-21.
            Monken and his guys are required to say, 'no excuse sir,' and it's the right thing to say. I will say this: if Rhattigan had been able to play at linebacker; if Robinson's speed had been part of the offense or if Buchanan's power had been in the backfield, the final score MIGHT have been different.
            Might.
            Regardless, disappointing as the outcome was, this was a season best described each week by my radio partner Joe Beckerle: Improbable. That Army got to play 12 games was a semi-miracle (thank-you Bob Beretta) in itself; that the Black Knights won nine games AND the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy made it a fall that will be memorable for a myriad of reasons but perhaps most for that 16-play, 80-yard drive against Air Force in he dark and the cold at Michie Stadium that brought the CIC back to West Point.
            In all, a year and a team worthy of our cheers. It is now 246 days until Army is scheduled to travel to Atlanta to open the 2021 season against Georgia State. Here's hoping the world will be close to normal again by then. And here's predicting that the Black Knights will bring all their heart and toughness to every single game they play this coming year.
            No excuse sir.
Players Mentioned
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