I don’t even know what to say about that game.  The Black Knights started the best quarterback off their scout team, half their starting skill position players were plebes or yearlings, they’d rotated everyone on the roster into the game by the end of the third quarter, and they still absolutely destroyed Mercer from start to finish.  I mean, yeah, the actual third-string guys took a series to settle down, but there was virtually no drop-off in performance once they got going.  Army steamrolled an inferior opponent from start to finish.

You love to see it, honestly.

What’s weird is that it didn’t feel like Mercer played badly in any way.  From their first drive, it was clear that the Bears had a solid gameplan, a strong outside running game, and a quarterback who looked poised and accurate with the ball in his hands.  QB Harrison Frost is clearly a playmaker.  He finished 14/22 passing (63.6%), scrambled effectively, and took just one sack.  However, he was under duress all day, he never hit a long downfield pass, and at the end of the day, he threw for just 94 yards with 3 interceptions.

The Bears seemed competitive on every play, especially in the early going, but then I looked up, and the score was 21-3 heading into halftime.  Army hadn’t broken any long runs, but they’d been relentless on both sides of the ball, running with power on offense while the defense forced two punts, two interceptions, and a field goal in the red zone on the first of just two Mercer trips there all game.

The strangest thing about this game, considering the final score, was that the Black Knights finished with less than 300 yards rushing.  That’s on QB Cade Ballard and SB Tyrell Robinson.  Ballard hit Robinson in stride deep on his only pass of the day, and Army’s best plebe took it to the house.  Robinson’s first career touchdown put Army on top, 7-3.  After that, Army had good starting field position pretty much every time they got the ball.  FB Sandon McCoy scored the next two touchdowns, followed by one from FB Cade Barnard, followed by another from McCoy, and that was pretty much that.  CB Jabari Moore scored on a pick-six late in the third, and then the benches emptied as the back-ups started coming in.  Firstie SB Jordan Blackmon capped Armys’ scoring with his first career touchdown, putting the Black Knights up, 49-3.  

What more can you ask?

First career TD treatment for Jordan Blackman.#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/1IcwLz2WXb

— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) October 24, 2020

As has been the case every week this year, Army’s defense played magnificently.  Mercer came in with a plan, but the Black Knights stopped a very efficient first drive for a field goal, and after that, I guess DC Nate Woody and company had seen all the Bears’ tricks.  Mercer finished with just 226 yards of total offense, having punted 4 times and given up 3 interceptions.  Reserve LB Spencer Jones tied LB Jon Rhattigan for the lead in tackles with 7 apiece, though Rhattigan also had a pick.  DB Jabari Moore also made his second house call off a turnover this season, and DB Cameron Jones registered his first pick of the season as well.  In all, Army’s defense held Mercer to just 6/13 on third down, though the Bears rushed for 113 yards on 33 carries — mostly during that strong first possession.   Even so, the Black Knights’ defense outscored Mercer 6-3.  That’s crazy enough, but this is the second time that Army’s defense has outscored an opponent this year!

Presumably, the Black Knights’ offense could’ve hit 300 yards rushing had Moore not taken his interception all the way to the house.  But oh man, that play was a beauty!  For that matter, Rhattigan nearly took his pick to the house as well.  Alas, arguably the worst play of the day came when K Landon Salyers missed the ensuing field goal attempt from 39 yards as time expired in the half.  Thankfully, WR Reikan Donaldson made up for that miscue on special teams with an outstanding punt block late in the second quarter.

Top shots from an eventful first half. #GoArmy pic.twitter.com/4mP1Ncwv9U

— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) October 24, 2020

QB Tyhier Tyler led all rushers with 10 carries for 77 yards.  Plebe FB Tyson Riley came second with 9 for 48, having gotten most of the grunt work late in the game.  A host of guys followed.  In all, 13 guys carried the ball for the Black Knights.  They rushed for 297 yards on 63 carries (4.7 yards/carry).  Not their best performance on a per-carry basis, perhaps, but they kept the chains moving consistently.  Army went 8/14 on third down and 4/4 on fourth down, and they somehow managed to keep all their drives relatively short.  That’s crazy, too, but here we are.

 

Beat Air Force!

Army has a bye this week, followed by Air Force at Michie Stadium.  The Zoomies somehow lost to San Jose State yesterday on the road, having given up two fumbles lost and an interception.  In fact, Air Force put up just 6 points total, which is honestly hard to believe given how good they looked against Navy. 

But who knows?  Maybe we can’t actually tell all that much from watching just one game.

On to the next one. pic.twitter.com/6UqkzBdwTr

— Air Force Football (@AF_Football) October 25, 2020

Regardless, Army has played a full half-season with consistent stats, taken a Top 10 team deep into the fourth quarter, beaten everybody else badly, earned and accepted a bowl berth, and generally taken care of business all season long.  

I expect Coach Jeff Monken will have his guys ready, but what do I know? 

First team in 2020 to be offered and accept a bowl bid‼️

We're going bowling to the @IndyBowl ???#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/mnuCE8Yg4X

— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) October 24, 2020

Thank you to the @IndyBowl for extending a bowl bid to the Army football team‼️

We will see you in Shreveport, La.#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/ofGNJAmH2e

— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) October 24, 2020

CBS has coverage for Army-Air Force on the main network, though kickoff is early, starting at 11:30 am.  I guess that means we won’t get Ben Holden and Ross Tucker on the call, which is a shame.  It’d be nice to get coverage for one of the biggest games of the year from the guys who actually know the team.  Either way, though, I’m excited.

Go Army!  Beat Air Force!!!