Army looks to take step toward Commander-in-Chief's Trophy
By Pat Graham, The Associated Press
Army Black Knights quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw (17) flips the ball to a teammate against the Air Force Falcons during the first half at Michie Stadium, Nov. 5, 2017. (Danny Wild/USA TODAY Sports)
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — Air Force will take to the sky early against Army with four scheduled flyovers before kickoff. That just might be the extent of any sort of air game, too.
The plan for the Falcons (4-4) and the Black Knights (6-2) on Saturday figures to be pretty basic: Run, run and run some more . Both teams average more than 350 yards rushing, with airing it out typically a last-gasp resort.
Here’s a little extra motivation for the players from West Point: Army has lost 10 of the last 11 games to its fellow service academy. But the Black Knights did have the benefit of a bye week to prepare for Air Force and its vaunted triple-option offense.
“There’s plenty that’s different with what Air Force does compared to the seven opponents that we’ve faced prior, so the extra days were nice for us to get a game plan and preparation in,” Army coach Jeff Monken said. “Every year this is a big game.”
Indeed, for what’s at stake: The Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, which is presented annually to the service academy with the best record in the round-robin competition. The Falcons can’t win the title outright after losing at Navy 48-45 on Oct. 7. But, as the defending champs, Air Force still has a chance to retain it. It starts with beating Army and then rooting for the Black Knights against Navy on Dec. 9.
For now, their Falcons’ focus is only on the task at hand — holding off an Army team that’s captured four straight for its longest winning streak since 2005.
“They have quality players and one heck of a football team,” Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said.
The measure of respect runs deep the other way, too. Still, Air Force does stands in the way of something Army extremely covets.
“We’d like to get (the trophy) back,” said Monken, whose team is looking for its first CIC Trophy since 1996. “I think as the coach you feel a sense of responsibility to do that. I know what a big deal it is to this institution, just as it is to the others. I can’t do it myself. The players are the ones that have to do it.”
Here are things to know in a series the Falcons lead 36-14-1:
ARMY RUN: Army is 9-2 over its last 11 games, with the two losses coming earlier this season on the road — against then-No. 8 Ohio State and Tulane. It’s the team’s best 11-game stretch since 1996. The Black Knights haven’t won at Falcon Stadium since 2005. “It’s going to be a 15-round slug-out, a tooth-and-nail fight to the wire,” Army quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw said.
ARMY WORKHORSE: Fullback Darnell Woolfolk missed three games after Army’s loss atOhio State, but he’s rounding back to form. The bruising 235-pound junior had a career-high 132 yards rushing against Temple to surpass the 1,000-yard mark for his career. He’s averaging 6.1 yards per carry. “The part that’s really, really clear: They’re an outstanding running team, with superb balance,” Calhoun said.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME: The Falcons get to sleep in their own beds quite a bit this month by playing three of their final four games at home. To Calhoun, though, that’s hardly a luxury. “It’s not even close to being comfortable,” Calhoun said. “Whatever the opposite of comfortable is would be a little more descriptive.”
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President Donald Trump is presented with a jersey by Ahmad Bradshaw, right, and John Voit, center, during a ceremony to present the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the U.S. Military Academy football team in the Rose Garden of the White House, Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Washington. (Evan Vucci/AP)
President Barack Obama holds up a ring that was presented to him by the United States Naval Academy Football Team in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, April 27, 2016, during a ceremony to present the team with the 2015 Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds watches, front right. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
President Barack Obama holds up a football and jersey with his name on it during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, May 7, 2015, where the president honored the U.S. Air Force Academy football team with the Commander-in-Chief Trophy. Defensive Back Christian Spears, left, and quarterback Kale Pearson, left, flank the president. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Holding his new Navy football jersey, President Barack Obama stands between Navy football team co-captains Matt Aiken right, and Cody Peterson, left, for photographs during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Friday, April 18, 2014, where he awarded the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the United States Naval Academy football team. Navy finished the 2013 campaign with a 9-4 record, won the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy for the ninth time in the last 11 years. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
President Barack Obama holds a Navy football team helmet in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, April 12, 2013, after presenting the Commander-in-Chief Trophy to the United States Naval Academy football team. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo watches at right. The helmet bears a "44" sticker for President Obama being the 44th president and a "Rafi" sticker as a salute to injured third-string quarterback Ralph Montalvo.. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
President Barack Obama strikes the Heisman pose after he awards the Commander-in-Chief Trophy to the Air Force Academy football team in the East Room at the White House in Washington, Monday, April 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Air Force Academy's defensive back Reggie Rembert presents President Barack Obama with a personalized jersey as head coach Troy Calhoun, right, and running back Jared Tew, top left, look on during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Monday, April 18, 2011, presenting the 2010 Commander-in-Chief Trophy to the Air Force Academy football team. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
President Barack Obama is presented with a Naval Academy football jersey by Osei Asante from Houston, Texas, as he honored the 2009 Naval Academy football team with Commander in Chief trophy,Monday, May 3, 2010, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
President Barack Obama poses with an autographed helmet given to him in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 21, 2009, during a ceremony where he presented the Commander in Chief trophy to the U.S. Naval Academy football team. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Bush poses for a photo in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Monday, April 14, 2008, with the U.S. Naval Academy football team after presenting the team with the Commander-In-Chief trophy. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Bush poses for photos as he presents the Commander-In-Chief trophy to the U.S. Naval Academy football team in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Monday, April 2, 2007. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Bush poses with members of the U.S. Naval Academy football team during a ceremony presenting the Commander in Chief trophy in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 25, 2006. Third from right is head coach Paul Johnson. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Bush, center, poses for a photograph with members of the U.S. Naval Academy football team after the presentation of the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy in Rose Garden at the White House Wednesday, April 20, 2005 in Washington. Bush hailed the Naval Academy football team for winning the commander-in-chief's trophy, the first time since 1981. The trophy goes each year to the team with the best record in games among the three service academies. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
President Bush acts like he is going to throw a football given to him by team members as he participates, Monday, April 19, 2004, in a presentation of the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the United States Naval Academy football team in the East Room of the White House. Other are indentified. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
Air Force Academy football team wide receiver Bryan Blew gives President Bush a Falcon jersey during a visit to the East Room of the White House, Friday, May 16, 2003. It is the sixth straight year the Air Force Academy, in Colorado Springs, Colo., has won the commander in chief's trophy which is awarded to the military service academy with the best record against the other two service academies. Head Football Coach Fisher DeBerry applauds at right. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
President Bush receives an Air Force football jersey from cadet Zack Johnson of Junction City, Ore., during the presentation of the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the the U.S. Air Force Academy football team in the Rose Garden, at the White House Friday, May 17, 2002. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
ARION’S PLAY: Last season, Air Force QB Arion Worthman made his first career start at Army and went six of nine through the air for 195 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 63 yards. Contrast that to last week at Colorado State, when he had 117 yards rushing — and another 64 through the air — as he ran the option to near perfection. “He has improved, same as our team has,” Calhoun said. “We need to make more improvement.”
RECORD IN SIGHT: Senior kicker Luke Strebel has 240 career points and needs 13 more break the school’s all-time scoring mark shared by quarterbacks Beau Morgan (1994-96) and Dee Dowis (1986-89). “Pretty level headed guy,” Calhoun said of Strebel. “Takes a lot of pride in his work.”
AP Sports Writer John Kekis contributed to this report from West Point, New York.
Driscoll, who served in the Army and deployed to Iraq with the 10th Mountain Division, brings a background in venture capital and private equity firms.
