Army Black Knights Fall Short Against Tulane

WEST POINT – Despite a late fourth-quarter surge, the Army West Point football team (3-2) was unable to overcome a three-touchdown deficit and ultimately fell, 42-33, to Tulane on Saturday afternoon at Michie Stadium.

Kelvin Hopkins Jr. logged season-highs in both passing and rushing yards after he recorded 170 through the air and 132 on the ground against the Green Wave. The senior quarterback also accounted for three of the Black Knights’ five touchdowns.

Camden Harrison was utilized as the primary receiver in the passing game and reeled in five receptions for a career-best 103 yards.

Defensively, three different Cadets notched double-digit tackles, led by a career-high 12 from Ryan Velez. The senior also recorded his first collegiate sack. Cole Christiansen and Malkelm Morrison added 10 tackles apiece.

The Black Knights took advantage of a Tulane fumble right out of the gate. Arik Smith recovered the ball to give Army possession on Tulane’s side of the field. Hopkins connected with Harrison for a 36-yard pass-and-catch before Connor Slomka rushed into the end zone for a two-yard score.

The Green Wave responded on their ensuing drive with a seven-play, 82-yard, scoring drive, which was the start of a run of 21-unanswered points.

The run came to a close once the Black Knights ate up 8:39 on the clock in the second quarter en route to a Hopkins’ rushing touchdown. It was a 77-yard drive that featured 14 rushes and trimmed the deficit to seven, 21-14.

Army kept things rolling in the second half and scored on its opening drive in 3:29 after compiling 75 yards on seven plays. Hopkins ran for 43 yards on the opening play and later rushed into the end zone for a four-yard touchdown to even the score.

The score did not remain tied for long as the Green Wave put up back-to-back touchdowns to gain a 35-21 advantage with 10:27 left to go in the game.

After a turnover on downs by Army, Tulane once again found pay dirt following a 41-yard touchdown run by Cameron Carroll.

With 3:39 left to play, Hopkins sparked a scoring drive with a 37-yard completion to Brandon Walters. Following a fourth-down 10-yard rush by the quarterback, he linked up with Harrison for an 11-yard touchdown pass to trim the deficit to 15, 42-27.

On Tulane’s ensuing drive, the Green Wave quarterback was sacked and lost the ball. Jabari Moore came charging in and picked it up before scampering 54 yards for the score, making it a 42-33 game.