Daily’s Record-Setting Day Leads Football Over East Carolina, 45-28

Saturday, October 19

West Point, N.Y.

12:00 PM

Army West Point

7-0 , 6-0

East Carolina

3-4 , 1-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

East Carolina

Army West Point

Daily’s Record-Setting Day Leads Football Over East Carolina, 45-28

October 19, 2024 | Football

Box Score Jeff Monken Transcript Offensive Players Transcript Defensive Players Transcript Photo Gallery

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- The Army Black Knights (7-0, 6-0 AAC) continued their undefeated season, dominating the East Carolina Pirates (3-4, 1-2), 45-28 on a picturesque October day at a sold-out Michie Stadium.

QB Bryson Daily had a record-setting day, breaking two single-season program records, most rushing touchdowns in a season, and most touchdowns responsible for in a season.

Daily scored six touchdowns, five on the ground and one passing, the first six touchdown accounted for game by an Army player since Elmer Oliphant's six-touchdown day in 1916.

Daily totaled 171 rushing yards on 31 carries (5.5 avg.), while also passing 7-for-10 for 147 yards. His five rushing touchdowns tied the program record for most in a single game, the most recent occurrence being Kelvin Hopkins Jr in 2018.

When he scored his 24th touchdown of the season, he broke Army's single-season touchdown responsible for record with five regular season games to go, which was 23 TDs held by Leamon Hall, 1977 and Kelvin Hopkins Jr., 2018.

With his fourth rushing touchdown of the game and his then18th of the year, Daily broke the record for most rushing scores in a single season breaking Carlton Jones' (2004), Trent Steelman's (2012) and Kelvin Hopkins Jr.'s (2018) mark of 17.

The Black Knights came out of the gates strong as Army's defense forced a three-and-out on the first possession. On Army's first offensive play from scrimmage, QB Bryson Daily connected with his go-to receiver Casey Reynolds for a gain of 37 down the middle of the East Carolina defense.

Army finished off the drive five plays later as Daily found slot back Miles Stewart for a 13-yard touchdown reception in the right corner of the end zone as Army's streak of scoring on all its first drives this season continued. It was Stewart's first career reception and first career offensive score.

On East Carolina's second drive, the Black Knight defense again forced a three-and-out.

Army's offensive faced a third-and-nine as Daily found slot back Noah Short for a gain of 29 down the middle of the defense getting down near midfield. Army faced a fourth-and-one on the drive which Daily was able to convert by way of a three-yard run.

At the end of the first quarter, Army led 7-0, driving and facing a fourth down from the ECU 17.

On the first play of the second quarter, K Trey Gronotte booted in a 32-yard field goal, to extend the Army lead, 10-0 as he remained perfect on kicks this season. On the drive, Army marched 14 plays, 64 yards and took 8:38 off the clock.

Gronotte's kickoff left the Pirates on their own 13-yard line where Army's defense was able to force another three-and-out, as the defense forced a punt on each of the first three series of the game.

On the ensuing drive, Daily continued to find success through the air finding Short again, this time for a gain of 14 yards. Daily finished the drive himself with an impressive spin move on his way to a 15-yard touchdown run as the Black Knights went up 17-0.

Army's defense continued to excel forcing the Pirates into a fourth-and-one at their own 31-yard line in which LB Eric Ford batted down the pass from ECU quarterback Katin Houser.

On the first play following the turnover, Daily broke free for a 31-yard touchdown run, his sixth multi-rushing touchdown game of the season and his fifth straight game doing so, as the Black Knights raced out to a 24-0 first-half lead.

The Black Knight defense once again stifled the Pirates' drive, forcing a second consecutive turnover on downs and allowing only four yards on the drive.

For the first time in the game, ECU's defense managed to halt Army's offensive momentum by forcing a three-and-out, leading to a Black Knight punt.

A holding penalty on third down pushed the Pirates back, resulting in a third-and-eight situation. ECU QB Katin Houser then completed an eight-yard pass, marking the Pirates' first third-down conversion of the game.

A personal foul by the Black Knights allowed ECU to advance to their 45-yard line with 1:30 remaining in the half. ECU continued to move the ball, reaching a first-and-10 at Army's 40-yard line. However, their momentum was halted when cornerback Justin Weaver snagged his first career interception, giving Army's offense the ball at their own 16-yard line with less than a minute remaining in the half.

Army entered the locker room, leading 24-0, only allowing 95 yards to East Carolina.

In the second half, sophomore RB Kanye Udoh joined the fun, breaking off a 42-yard run down at the one-yard line. Daily, then capitalized, finishing the drive off, scoring his third rushing touchdown of the game, breaking Army's single-season touchdown responsible for record.

On the Pirates' first offensive drive of the half, the Army defense forced a third-and-11 at the ECU 48-yard line, however, Houser completed a 53-yard strike to WR Chase Sowell in the end zone to put the Pirates on the scoreboard, cutting the deficit to 31-7.

Senior Tyrell Robinson, making his season debut, received his first offensive touch in the third quarter, a 23-yard rush. The Black Knights continued their momentum, driving down to the red zone. On first and goal, Daily ran three yards into the end zone, scoring his fourth rushing touchdown of the game and breaking yet another Army record for most rushing touchdowns in a season, surpassing the mark of 17.

Army's defense continued to roll as they did not allow ECU to get into Army's territory in for the remainder of the third quarter, starting the fourth quarter with a 38-7 lead.

East Carolina was able to score two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but Army never wavered in controlling the game, hanging on to a 45-28 victory.

After a bye week, Army will be back in action at Michie on Saturday, November 2nd vs. service academy rival, Air Force.

GAME NOTES:

Carrying the Flag: Senior SB Tyrell Robinson led the team out with the Black Flag.

DIVISION OF THE GAME: Army honored the 7th Infantry Division with a logo decal on the players helmets and coaches' headsets. The 7th Infantry Division is an active duty infantry division of the United States Army based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord charged with sustaining the combat readiness of two Stryker brigade combat teams (BCT), a combat aviation brigade, and a Division Artillery Unit, as well as participating in several yearly partnered exercises and operations in support of U.S. Army Pacific and the Indo-Pacific region.

Army's 11-game winning streak is still the longest active winning streak nationally.
The 11-game winning streak is the longest under Jeff Monken, also winning 10 straight from 2018-19.
Army's 7-0 start is only its third since 1950 (1950, 1996, and 2024).
Army has scored 40+ points in four consecutive games (Temple, Tulsa, and UAB) for the first time since 1945.
Army has not trailed in a game at any point this season. Army and Indiana are the only teams that have not played from behind in 2024.
Army has eclipsed 400 yards of total offense in all seven games this season, the second most in a season since 2000 (2011, 2013, 2016, 2017). Army's high in a season is 8 such games coming in the 2012 season.
Army has scored a touchdown on its opening drive in all seven games. The Black Knights are the only team in the nation that has scored a touchdown on every opening drive this year.
Daily's six touchdowns responsible today were the most in a game by an Army player since Elmer Oliphant's six-touchdown day in 1916.
Daily (17 rushing touchdowns / 7 passing) broke the Army single-season touchdown responsible for record, surpassing the mark held by (Leamon Hall, 1977 and Kelvin Hopkins Jr., 2018).
Daily logged his sixth consecutive 100-yard rushing performance, breaking Trent
Steelman's record (2012) for the most consecutive games eclipsing 100 yards on the ground.
Daily's five rushing touchdowns were tied for the most in a game in Army history.
Daily has rushed for at least four touchdowns in back-to-back games.
Daily has four 3+ rushing touchdown games this season (Rice, Temple, UAB and East Carolina) tied with only Boise State's Ashton Jeanty.
Daily's 19 rushing touchdowns are the most in the country. The previous leader, Boise State's Ashton Jeanty (17) was idle this week.
Daily has thrown a touchdown pass in each of the last three games.
Daily has scored a rushing touchdown in five consecutive games, all of which multi-touchdown performances.
SB Miles Stewart scored his first career offensive touchdown, a 13-yard TD reception from Daily in the first quarter.
RB Kanye Udoh rushed for 102 yards on 19 attempts (5.4 avg.), his third 100-yard game of the year.
CB Justin Weaver logged his first career interception, Army's ninth INT of the season.