ARMY FB Sandon McCoy 3rd Quarter TD in 34-29 loss to San Jose State

Black Knights defeated 34-29 by San Jose State in fourth straight loss of season.

by Joe Archino, SALRADIO

After a two-game road trip, the Army Black Knights returned to Michie Stadium, where they fell to the San Jose State Spartans 34-29, losing their fourth straight contest. 

San Jose State came out firing, finding the end zone on the opening drive of the game. Spartan senior quarterback Josh Love connected with his freshman wideout Isaiah Hamilton on a 19-yard touchdown pass. Led by their own senior quarterback, Army answered right back. Kelvin Hopkins Jr. delivered a 31-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Camden Harrison. After one quarter of play, both teams were tied at seven a piece. 

The Spartans exploded in the second quarter, setting the pace and outscoring Army 16-3. San Jose State freshman kicker Matt Mercurio was perfect, knocking down three field goals for his team. Love also continued to put in work, completing an 18-yard touchdown pass to wideout Kairee Robinson. Army’s lone score of the quarter came from their kicker, Cole Talley, who netted a 41-yard field goal. After coming away with points on all five of their possessions on offense in the first half, the Spartans entered halftime with a 23-10 lead over the Black Knights. 

Army battled back in the third quarter, hitting the field after halftime and driving right down the field. After a 13-play drive that went for 75 yards and chewed up almost seven minutes of game clock, Hopkins found his man in junior running back Sandon McCoy, who reeled in a four-yard touchdown pass. After holding San Jose State scoreless for the entire quarter, the Black Knights cut the deficit to six, trailing 23-17 heading into the final stretch of the contest. 

San Jose State fired first in the fourth quarter. Josh Love continued his stellar play, delivering a 21-yard touchdown pass to senior wideout Bailey Gaither. After Army quarterbacks Kelvin Hopkins Jr. and Jabari Laws went down with undisclosed injuries, the Black Knights turned to junior Christian Anderson, who led a successful scoring drive and used his legs to power the ball into the end zone. Army managed to cut the deficit to eight, but failed on their two-point conversion attempt.

Unwilling to be outdone, San Jose State kicker Matt Mercurio hit his fourth field goal of the game, putting the Spartans up by 11 points. As always, the Black Knights fought until the final whistle. Anderson made his way to the end zone again in the game’s final seconds, but for the second time in the fourth, Army fell short when going for two. In the end, the Spartans walked off the field winners, securing a 34-29 victory over Army. 

Army now 3-5 hit the road next week and will travel to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where the arch rival Air Force Falcons await them.