November 03, 2022

Army, Air Force face off Saturday on gridiron

By John Chuhran
News
Army, Air Force face off Saturday on gridiron
(Cooper Neill / Texas Rangers)

Matchup is second of the 2022 Commander’s Cup between the three military institutions.

It’s time for round two of the struggle for college football’s 2022 Commander-In-Chief’s (CIC) Trophy.

On Saturday (12 PM EDT kickoff, CBS TV network nationwide), the Black Knights of West Point (3-4) will take on the Air Force Falcons (5-3) in the second annual Lockheed Martin Commanders’ Classic presented by USAA. When the game at Globe Life Field ends, we may know who will display the trophy in 2023.

The annual round-robin competition between Air Force, Army, and Navy began last month when Air Force squeaked by the Midshipmen, 13-10. Now all that stands in the way of the Falcons claiming their first possession of the trophy since 2016 is a triumph over the Black Knights. But don’t expect a walkover – CIC games are rarely lopsided affairs. If the Falcons lose, Army could then win the CIC Trophy by defeating Navy on Dec. 10. If either Air Force or Army wins the trophy outright, that team will also earn the coveted right to visit the White House and formally accept the trophy from the President of the United States.

Because all three military academies have high academic requirements and require graduates to fulfill a five-year military service obligation, the student-athletes at these institutions tend to be a little smaller and perhaps have a fraction less speed or strength than those at traditional NCAA football powerhouses. But they also tend to have attributes that enable them to stand tall, adapt and fight opponents in a manner that usually keeps scores close.

The military academies play “old-school” football – a run-oriented offense called the triple option. The quarterback usually takes the snap, swings out, starts to run and watches the play unfold. He waits until the last moment before deciding whether to keep the ball, pitch it to another back, or pass it.

Every player must execute his job properly for this type of attack to succeed, and even then the gains will  usually average a mere 3.5 to 4.5 yards per play. It is a relentless, physical assault that will wear down those without the mental toughness to endure and to continue to execute while experiencing pain and fatigue. The players must work as a team, but must also be ready to seize an opportunity to make extraordinary individual effort. And it is for all of these reasons that leadership at the military academies regard football as one of the best learning environments any student athlete will ever know.

The CIC Trophy symbolizes the determination and effort needed to win on the battlefield, a place where losing carries a heavy price. And the coaches, the players, all the cadets and all past graduates know how important the CIC competition is.

In the first 50 years of CIC Trophy games, Air Force has won the trophy 20 times followed by Navy (16) and Army (nine). It has been shared five times, including last year.  But the last time the Falcons claimed the 170-pound monument was in 2016, and the group from Colorado Springs wants to display the trophy again next year. With a victory over the Black Knights, they will have achieved that goal so Army, currently in possession of the trophy after winning outright in 2020 and retaining possession last year after each school won one game, will have it onsite for Saturday’s game. Everyone involved knows that victory will not be easy.

“You’ve got two really fine institutions,” said Air Force Head Coach Troy Calhoun, now in his 16th year at Colorado Springs. “The contributions and commitment these young men and young women make to serve and to sacrifice is extraordinary. And this is not only a game, it is more – it captivates in the sense that you know the commitment that these men and women have made to serve and go fight for our country. Those who go to an Academy never take these games for granted. You can feel the spirit and the respect that these teams have for each other and that makes the battle that much tougher.

“Playing the game at a neutral site with several military bases within a six-hour drive means that the crowd will be excited have a lot of military members and veterans watching. And in Texas, there’s a strong sense of respect for servicemembers and patriotism, and that’s a plus. In many ways, it is much like a bowl game.”

Army Head Coach Jeff Monken also recognizes the special nature of CIC Trophy games.

“The CIC Trophy is perhaps the most important source of tangible pride that we’ve got,” said Monken, now in his ninth season leading the Black Knights. “It’s a source of pride for our program, our institution, our branch of service. We come out fighting as hard as we can in every one of these (CIC) games to get our hands on that trophy.

“This is all about seeing two teams who are going to play as hard as they can for the pride of their programs and their schools and their branches of service. For everybody that comes to this game, it’s a way to honor our men and women who serve and really to just enjoy a great, pure football game, which it will be. It will be a hard-fought battle and, hopefully, an Army victory.”

What to watch for? Army is coming off a 1-4 start, but has won its last two contests by at least 24 points, so the Black Knights seem to have found a way to win again. Three games ago, Army lost to 14th-ranked Wake Forest and several key players – including starting signal caller Tyhier Tyler and the team’s top running back, Tyrell Robinson – missed the next game with injuries. Tyler saw limited action in the most recent game, but Robinson was still missing. Replacement quarterback Jemel Jones has done a fine job leading the offense while running for 209 yards and five touchdowns in the two wins. Tyson Riley, injured against Georgia Southern, came back to run for 90 yards and a TD in the last win against University of Louisiana-Monroe. Jakobi Buchanon (45 yards and a TD) and Ay’jaun Marshall (49 yards) added variety to Army’s running attack.

Stocked with seniors, Air Force has a powerful offense. For the third year in a row, the Falcons top the nation in rushing (336.3 yards per game, the institution’s highest average since 1991). Leading the rushing attack is senior Brad Roberts, who ranks ninth in the nation with an average of 117.9 ypg. He has run for more than 100 yards in six of the Falcons eight games, giving him a Falcon-record 15 for his college career and has 947 ground yards and 13 TDs for the year. John Lee Eldridge III (574 yards) also shares the running game with quarterback Haaziq Daniels (358 yards on the ground, 27 of 57 passing for 579 yards in the air). Daniels’ favorite target is David Cormier who has seven receptions for 248 yards and three TDs.  

The coaches have played each other enough to know what to expect from the opposite sideline.

“Any time you play an Academy game, there are a few less ‘innings’ in terms of possessions you get,” Calhoun said. “You may have to be more selective in what you do both offensively and defensively. There has to be more discipline in your game plan because of that. Up front, on both sides of the ball, how well you play blocks – that’s imperative with your defensive front. With your offensive front, you’ve got to bend your ankles, bend your knees, bend your hips and play with a little bit better pad level. That’s something we need to do.”

“We’ve become accustomed to winning a lot more games early in the year,” Monken said, “but that’s just part of it – you’ve got to go play, you’ve got to go execute. So that’s what we’re focusing on – trying to prepare our team and execute our assignments and fundamentals at a really high level. We’re going to need to because these games are bloodbaths. It’s down to the wire almost every year, including the game last year in overtime. We’re going to have to be ready and play our very best.”

  • News