Army Black Knights Football Falls to Troy, 10-9

TROY, AL – In the first ever meeting between Army and Troy, Army fell by a score of 10-9. Army’s defense held Troy to only 72 yards on the ground and 264 total yards for the game. Army outgained Troy in total yards, 357-264 and gained five more first downs, 20 to 15, but ultimately fell shy in the game.

Tyhier Tyler started at quarterback for the Black Knights and he rushed for 100 yards on 27 carries and a TD, to lead the Army offensive attack.

Army received the game’s opening kickoff and marched methodically through the ground picking up 68 rushing yards on 14 plays, soaking up eight minutes and 30 seconds off the first quarter game clock. Tyler rushed seven times for 33 yards on the opening drive.

Army picked up five first downs through the ground before the offense faced a fourth-and-1 on the Troy three yard-line looking to punch in the first score of the game, however Tyler fumbled the snap on an attempted quarterback sneak, resulting in a turnover and a wasted scoring opportunity for the Black Knights offense.

Following the turnover deep into Troy territory, the Army defense responded and forced a quick three and out and began its next offensive drive on the Troy 48 yard-line. Despite being stopped on its opening drive, the Army offense went back to work on its second drive moving inside the Troy 10 yard-line again. Army was faced with a fourth-and -1 again from the seven yard-line in which Tyler converted on a rush for three yards to extend the drive.

Tyler finished off the drive with a three-yard TD run on the first play of the second quarter to give Army a 6-0 advantage. It was his seventh rushing TD of the season, a team-high which also ties his single season high for rushing TDs (2021). K Quinn Maretzki would miss the PAT, his first missed PAT of the season. On the scoring drive, Army went 11 plays for 48 yards and chewed up 5:14 off the clock. Following the Army touchdown drive Army, had logged 25 offensive plays to Troy’s three.

On Army’s third offensive possession, Tyler completed a 36-yard pass down the seam to TE Joshua Lingenfelter, his longest career reception. However, the drive would stall out and Army would punt.

On the first play back on the field for the Army defense following the punt, they would force a turnover when DB Quindrelin Hammonds put a monster hit on Troy’s WR Tez Johnson who fumbled which was recovered by LB Jimmy Ciarlo at the Troy 22 yard-line. On the ensuing play, Army would fumble it right back to Troy when Tyler would run for six yards and fumble in which Troy recovered at its own 16 yard-line.

The Army defense would quickly force a punt and the Black Knights would regain possession. Army would close out the first half with a 16-play, 66-yard drive that took off 6:34 to practically end the first half on a Maretzki 26-yard FG, extending Army’s lead to 9-0 at halftime, the defenses first, first-half shutout of the season. Army’s defense was the highlight of the first half forcing Troy to drive ending results of a punt, punt, fumble lost, and punt on its four first half possessions for 40 total yards on 15 plays. Tyler rushed for 106 yards on 21 carries with a TD in the first half, his fourth career 100-yard rushing performance.

LB Andre Carter logged his first sack since Week 2, bringing down Trojans QB Gunner Watson for a loss of six early in the third quarter. Carter has 3.5 sacks on the year. The sack however, would not initially slow down the Trojans drive as they marched 13 plays for 76 yards on the opening drive of the second half. The Army defense would buckle inside the 10-yard line, with great coverage by DB Jabari Moore on third down, holding Troy to a 21-yard FG by Brooks Buce, to cut the Army lead, 9-3.

DL Kwabena Bonsu sacked Watson on a third-and-six to force another Troy punt under four minutes to go in the third quarter. Bonsu is now up to 2.5 sacks on the season.

Troy would drive to the Army seven yard-line early in the fourth quarter and threaten to score to take the lead, but DB Cameron Jones intercepted Watson to end the Trojans scoring opportunity. It was Jones’ first pick of the season and fifth of his career.

Troy would drive again on its ensuing possession, marching eight plays, 57 yards in which they scored on a three-yard TD pass from Watson to WR Tez Johnson to put Troy ahead, 10-9.

Army would get one more chance to win the game with 2:10 to play. QB Jemel Jones found WR Braheam Murphy for a gain of 16 and then Jones connected with WR Isaiah Alston for a gain of 24 to set Army up in field goal range. Army sent K Quinn Maretzki on for a 42-yard FG attempt to take the lead with 15 seconds remaining, but he missed wide right, and Army fell to Troy 10-9.