Army Drops Home Opener to UTSA In OT Thriller

Saturday, September 10

West Point, NY

12:00 PM

Army West Point

0-2 , 0-0

UTSA

1-1 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

UTSA

Army West Point

Sep 10, 2022; West Point, New York, USA; during the first half at Michie Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports

Army Drops Home Opener to UTSA In OT Thriller

September 10, 2022 | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Army West Point football fell in overtime in its home opener, 41-38 against UTSA at Michie Stadium.

In the first quarter, a pair of pass breakups from S Marquel Broughton, the Roadrunners were set up with a fourth and short at the Black Knights 28-yard line, with Army stuffing the run up the middle with Broughton making the stop. UTSA would return the favor on Army's opening possession, forcing a turnover on downs after Tyrell Robinson got the ball across midfield with an 11-yard run.

OLB Andre Carter would wreak havoc on UTSA's next drive, with his sack helping Army force a three and out. Army's big play prowess continued on the next drive, with QB Tyhier Tyler connecting over the middle with RB Ay'Jaun Marshall for a 77-yard touchdown. It was the second linkup between Tyler and Marshall, after the two had a 53-yard touchdown in the first half last week against Coastal Carolina.

QB Cade Ballard came in at quarterback on the Black Knights next drive, moving the chains with a 15-yard completion to Robinson after Buchanan converted a fourth and one from the Black Knights' own territory to keep the drive alive. The Black Knights were unable to score on the drive, with the Roadrunners eventually tying the score at seven with a one-play, one-yard drive following a muffed punt by the Black Knights midway through the second quarter.

The Black Knights were able to drive down quickly on its ensuing drive, with Ballard hitting WR Isaiah Alston for a 48-yard gain and Josh Lingenfelter for 25 yards to set up a first and goal. RB Jakobi Buchanan punched in a 1-yard touchdown run on a pivotal fourth and goal to give Army back its seven-point lead at 14-7. UTSA would find the end zone to tie the score with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Frank Harris to WR Zakhari Franklin.

Getting the ball back with under 90 seconds remaining in the half, Ballard was able to drive down quickly to set up another first and goal, highlighted by a 42-yard completion to RB Braheam Murphy down to the one-yard line. Army went to its goal-to-go connoisseur in Buchanan, who promptly notched his second touchdown of the game and fifth multi-score game of his career as the Black Knights took a 21-14 lead into half.

Receiving the second half kickoff, Army put together its most time-consuming drive of the afternoon with a 12 play, 75-yard drive that took 8:11 off the clock, culminating in a 16-yard rushing touchdown by Tyhier Tyler. After a Roadrunners answer, Army took a 28-21 lead into the final quarter.

After an Army punt, UTSA put together an 11-play touchdown drive to tie the score at 28 with 9:49 remaining. The Roadrunners would continue their second-half scoring run, punching in a one-yard touchdown run to take its first lead of the game with just over seven minutes remaining. On Army's ensuing drive, Alston drew a key pass interference call to set up the Black Knights in opposition territory with less than two minutes remaining. Needing a big play, Ballard was able to connect with Tyrell Robinson for a 42-yard touchdown pass up the seam to tie up the score, 35-35, with 1:03 remaining followed by K Quinn Maretzki's fifth extra point of the contest.

With the Roadrunners getting the ball back with just over a minute remaining, they were able to set up a 41-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the game. UTSA's Jared Sackett's attempt went wide right, sending the game into overtime, the Black Knights first overtime affair since its victory over Air Force last season.

Army opened overtime with possession and struck first by a Quinn Maretzki 28-yard field goal to give Army a three-point lead. Once UTSA gained possession, the Roadrunners were able to strike a seven-yard touchdown pass from Frank Harris to De'Corian Clark to secure the win at West Point, 41-38. UTSA QB Frank Harris finished the contest 32-45 passing, for 359 yards and three TDs.
Game Notes:

Army's quarterback duo of Tyhier Tyler and Cade Ballard combined for 13-18 passing for 307 yards and two TDs (RB Tyrell Robinson also completed a pass, 1-1 for six yards). It was Army's first 300-yard passing game since 11/17/2007 vs. Tulsa.
Tyler picked up right where he left off from last week with RB Ay'Jaun Marshall, connecting for a 77-yard TD midway through the first quarter to strike first.
It was Marshall's third career receiving TD and the TD was tied for the 13th-longest passing play in Army's history.
Tyler (1-1, 77 yards) and Ballard (5-6, 114 yards) combined for 221 passing yards in the first half.
Ballard finished the game 11-15 passing for 221 yards and TD. He also rushed for 66 yards on 16 carries (all career-highs), marking the first 200+ passing performance by an Army QB since Jabari Laws in 2019 (11/2/19, at Air Force, 214 yards).
Ballard connected with RB Tyrell Robinson on a 42-yard TD with 1:03 remaining in the fourth quarter to tie the game, 35-35 and force overtime.
Robinson finished with four receptions for 76 yards and a TD, while also adding 25 yards on the ground on eight carries.
Tyler also ran for his first TD of the season, a 16-yard run in the third quarter to capitalize a 12-play drive in the third quarter, extending Army's lead, 28-14.
It was Tyler's 13^th career rushing TD.
RB Jakobi Buchanan pounded his way to two 1-yard TDs both in the first half, his fifth career multi-TD game and his first multi-TD game since scoring three TDs at Liberty last season (11/27/21). Buchanan finished with 15 carries for 33 yards and two TDs.
Buchanan's 21 career rushing TDs, rank tied for No. 14 in Army history with Pat Uebel (1953-55) Bob Anderson (1957-59), and Angel Santiago (2011-14).
LB Andre Carter exploded for 2.5 sacks, his fifth career multi-sack. His first full sack of the season came for loss of 4 on a third-down to force a UTSA punt in the second quarter.
Carter now has 19.0 career sacks, second most in Army history behind Josh McNary's 28.0 (2007-10).
S Marquel Broughton led the Black Knights' defense with nine tackles (six solo) and had a career best three PDs.
With the loss, Army falls to 13-2 at home since the start of the 2020 season.
Army falls to 4-5 in overtime games in the Jeff Monken era (2014-pres.).