Army’s Ground Game Dominates FAU 24-7 in AAC Matchup

In a dominant display of ground control and strategic plays, the Army Black Knights debuted in the American Athletic Conference with a 24-7 win over the Florida Atlantic Owls at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida. Led by a formidable rushing attack and timely trickery, Army improved to 2-0 (1-0 AAC), frustrating the Owls in a game where possession and momentum swung in the Black Knights’ favor.

Army’s quarterback, Bryson Daily, added an unexpected wrinkle to the Black Knights’ run-heavy offense with a surprise 44-yard touchdown pass to Casey Reynolds, catching the FAU defense off guard in the first half. This early success through the air complemented Army’s typically dominant ground game, led by Noah Short, who surpassed his career rushing totals by halftime and finished with 160 yards.

The Black Knights controlled the tempo from the outset. Kanye Udoh’s 8-yard touchdown run capped an 82-yard opening drive, setting the tone for Army’s relentless running attack. The Owls, who dropped to 0-2 (0-1 AAC), struggled to mount a response and were largely stifled by Army’s disciplined defense.

FAU’s lone bright spot came just before halftime, when quarterback Cam Fancher capitalized on an Army fumble, connecting with Omari Hayes to trim the deficit to 14-7. However, that was as close as the Owls would get.

Army’s resilience was on full display as they opened the second half with a field goal and continued to grind down FAU’s defense with time-consuming drives. A pivotal moment came in the fourth quarter after Army’s Max DiDomenico intercepted a pass, setting up a grueling 15-play, 96-yard drive. The Black Knights seemingly missed an opportunity for a second passing touchdown when Daily’s throw was dropped in the end zone on a third-and-12. However, on the next play, Army caught FAU off guard with a perfectly executed fake field goal. Holder Matthew Rhodes raced around the left end for a 23-yard touchdown run, extending Army’s lead to 24-7.

DiDomenico’s defensive heroics continued, as he made a crucial stop on Fancher during a 4th-and-goal attempt from the 1-yard line. That defensive stand sealed the win for Army, who then drained the remaining 8:44 off the clock with another methodical drive, finishing with a staggering 38 minutes and 39 seconds in time of possession.

Army’s physical dominance was evident in the rushing stats, amassing 405 yards on the ground, with Daily contributing 117 yards on 18 carries. Meanwhile, FAU’s offense faltered, managing just 42 rushing yards and relying heavily on Fancher’s 193 passing yards.

This victory marked an important milestone for the Black Knights, who are in just their second season as a conference member since playing in Conference USA from 1998-2004. Now part of the AAC, Army aims to build on this success as they compete alongside historic rivals like Navy. For Florida Atlantic, the early struggles of the 2024 season continue as they search for answers moving forward.

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