We previewed the meeting of the latest edition of America’s Game, on Saturday, December 13th, between the Army Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen. We now dive a little deeper into each program and the three keys to success. In what will be a game where every yard will count quite literally with these offenses we start with one of the most prolific in the country, the Black Knights.
Army
Army has been like a ‘Cinderella’ of the college football season as they finished as the AAC Champions in their inaugural season. With this, head coach Jeff Monken understands the next game, Navy, is the most important. When speaking on Sirius XM with the ‘College Sports’ crew, Monken stated “It’s been a good year. But it’s not a great year at Army unless we beat them.” which further validates the importance of this game.
Daily Occurrence
For the Black Knights to be successful on Saturday they will need to rely on many factors in the game. These factors, or as we call them “Keys to success”, start with the engine on offense in West Point, quarterback Bryson Daily. Daily has led Army to a historic season for Army and can lead them to history not seen by any service academy.
The Black Knights will continue to ride Daily against the Midshipmen. In last weekend’s AAC Championship game, Daily broke the conference rushing touchdown with his 29th on the season. This has now tied Daily with Boise State star, and Heisman Candidate, Ashton Jeanty for most in FBS. It is also worth noting that Daily has accomplished this in two fewer games than Jeanty. In addition, with one more rushing score, Daily will become just the sixth player in NCAA history to rush for 30 or more touchdowns in a season.
The number one key for success for Army has been a ‘Daily Occurrence” since the season began, run with Bryson Daily.
Tricky, Tricky
As mentioned, this offense can become quite dull at times, yet Monken and the Black Knights will, from time to time, pull a play out of their back pocket. Trick plays are a key for Army as this is The Game. How can a triple option run trick play?
On a few occasions in 2024, Army has tricked its opponents yet it has been through special teams. In game one, versus Lehigh, we saw ST coordinator, Sean Saturnio {AFCA Assistant Coach of The Year}, run a fake punt which resulted in a 35-yard scamper down the sideline and first down. This would set up a touchdown and capture early momentum in the game. Army didn’t waste time as they were back to their tricks in week two, at FAU, this time on a field goal attempt. Holder Matthew Rhodes would take the snap down the left sideline for a 23-yard touchdown run which extended the Army lead to 24-7 at the time.
This will be a key to watch as the Army has run these types of plays with perfection in 2024. Will we see more trick plays? We will soon find out.
Get Pressure / A SackFul
We have spoken about the offense and special teams yet not the defense. This key, sacking the quarterback and applying pressure, maybe the most vital key for the game for Army. While the season would start slow for sacks, none in the first three games, Army is now getting a sackful seemingly weekly.
On September 9th, against Temple, we would see this defense explode for seven sacks against the Owls. In fact, each of these was recorded by different players making it the first occurrence since at least 1996 for the Army. This also marked the most in a game since 2018 when Army had 10 sacks against Houston. Since 1996, the Black Knights have only logged six performances of six or more sacks i,n a game.
We saw Army get pressure and sacks on November 2nd, against Air Force, as they would again log six sacks. Only this time, we saw two from Kody Harris Miller and 1.5 from Elo Modozie. This effort from the defense would garner their history as this is the most sacks in a Service Academy game since 1996. Since 1996, the Army has a total of 19 games with 5 or more sacks.
Navy
We now switch over to the Midshipmen of Navy and analyze three keys to success. With a somewhat similar offense, the Midshipmen will have to find additional ways to create advantages. We start with how to stop this Army offense and yet also start fast in the game.
Defend A Fast Start / Start Fast
When you look around the nation there are not many programs that outscore their opponents like Army. To further this point, the Black Knights have outscored their opponents 385-180, including 21-75 in the first halves of games. This key will start early as the Navy defense will look to shut an offense, in Army, that has begun the season by scoring an opening drive touchdown in the first seven games. In addition, Army became the 3rd team in the last 20 seasons of FBS football to score a touchdown on each of its first 3 possessions through 4 games.
Navy will need to defend a prolific offense yet also start fast when they have the ball. The Midshipmen offense is nothing to scoff at as they have scored on the first play of a drive 5 times in its 11 games this season. These scores are the 3rd most in FBS and will be something to watch in how this offense attacks the Army defense.
Horvath
Much like Army, the Navy offense starts, and stops, with its quarterback play. While in the case of the Midshipmen, Blake Horvath Jr, this offense has some air behind it. In 2024, Horvath has thrown 11 touchdowns which ties him for 3rd all-time in school history. With two games remaining, we could see history made as he trails Alton Grizzard, with 12 in 1990, and, Ricky Dobbs, who, in 2010, threw 13 on the season.
In addition to Harvath being able to beat you through the air, he is just as effective on the ground. With 105 yards, Blake will become the first Navy player since 2019 to rush for 1,000 yards. In that season, we saw Malcolm Perry rush for 2,017 yards making Horvath the first player since Perry to rush and throw for 1,000 or more yards. Horvath has 1,154 yards making the most for any Navy player since Will Worth threw for 1,397 yards in the 2016 season.
For Navy to walk away with the Commanders In Cheif Trophy they will need stellar play from Horvath.
Points Off Turnovers
Some stats tell the deeper story in football. In the case of Navy, points off turnovers speak volumes in 2024. The Midshipmen have 8 wins in the season and in these wins, they have outscored the opposition 94-7 in points off turnovers. Navy will need to turn over an Army team that enters the weekend with 11 fumbles on the season losing only 4.
On the contrary, in the three losses for Navy, this stat line has not been as kind. In these games, Navy has been outscored 48-0 in which will need to be corrected with two games remaining. This key will be one the statbook will show in clear view, can Navy take advantage of their season’s trends in a positive way?
As we embark on the 125th edition of Army and Navy we now have a deeper understanding of not only how these teams compete, but, the keys for each to win the greatest game in college football.
