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For Immediate Release
RallyPoint and The Sons of the American Legion Radio Report Present
Military Academy Football Preview: Week of August 31-Sept. 1
White Plains, N.Y., August 30 -- For America's three military academies, Labor Day weekend signifies the official beginning of the 2018 college football season. There is reason for optimism -- to varying degrees -- for everyone affiliated with the teams from Army, Navy and Air Force.
With support from RallyPoint, here is a preview of the three opening weekend games.
ARMY @ Duke, Fri., Aug. 31, 7 p.m. EDT (TV: ESPNU (Internet streaming only))
The Black Knights of West Point are coming off their best season in two decades. Army finished 2017 with a 10-3 record, victory over both Navy and Air Force (securing possession of the Commander-In-Chief's trophy for the first time since 1996) and culminated with a 42-35 comeback triumph over San Diego State in the Armed Forces Bowl. The cadets matched the academy record for wins in a season, posted a second-straight winning season (for the first time in 27 years), led the nation in rushing (avg. of 362.3 yards per game), and accomplished the most important objective: defeating Navy for the second straight year, a 14-13 win in surreal circumstances as snow fell throughout the 118th Army-Navy game.
For 2018, Army has some significant challenges -- especially on offense. Quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw -- who rushed for an all-time academy single-season record of 1,746 yards and 14 touchdowns -- has graduated, and fifth-year Head Coach Jeff Monken has selected junior Kelvin Hopkins Jr. to lead the triple-option offense. Quarterback is the key position in the triple option and not every QB can master the self-discipline to delay committing to the type of play -- run, pitch or pass -- until the last possible moment.
Hopkins, who last year ignited a game-tying touchdown drive with some exciting pass completions in the last 1:31 of regulation against Temple in a game that Army won in overtime, brings a stronger throwing arm to the position, but he will be judged on his ability to run, and to successfully handoff or pitch to returning stellar fullbacks Darnell Woolfolk (812 running yards), Andy Davidson (627), Connor Slomka and Calen Holt as well as speedsters Kell Walker (629) and Jordan Asberry.
Most importantly, Hopkins will face his greatest test in trying to maintain possession of the pigskin. Army had only five fumbles in 805 offensive plays last year -- 785 rushes, 20 passes -- and that type of ball control will be essential if the Black Knights intend to have another winning season. Maintaining possession could be further challenged by an offensive line that returns only Bryce Holland among the five starters.
Defense is much more stable with eight of the 11 starters returning. James Nachtigal (103 tackles), Cole Christiansen (84 tackles) and Ken Brinson (38 tackles) give the Black Knights veteran leadership at linebacker. Safety James Gibson (45 tackles) and cornerback Elijah Riley help anchor the secondary.
Duke (7-6 last year) is coming off a rollercoaster 2017 season that began with four straight wins, followed with six straight losses (including a 21-16 loss to Army at West Point on Nov. 11), and ended with three straight victories including a triumph in the Quick Lane Bowl to finish the campaign. QB Daniel Jones has played in 25 games for the Blue Devils and last year established himself as the team's top offensive threat by passing for more than 2,500 yards and running for more than 1,000. Running back Shaun Wilson (818 yards running, 263 yards receiving) is back, but the team's top two receivers have left. Unlike many teams, Duke is quite familiar with the triple option; rival Georgia Tech also uses that offense. Alonzo Saxton II (91 tackles) leads the Duke defense, which might be vulnerable after losing three of its top four tacklers.
*****
NAVY @ Hawaii, Sat., Sept. 1, 11 pm EDT (CBS Sports Network)
For the Midshipmen of Navy, the 2017 season was a bit of a disappointment. Though the Naval cadets finished with a 7-6 record and started by going 5-0, they found themselves on the short end of six of the next seven contests, the last being the crushing 14-13 loss to Army when a field goal attempt with just three seconds on the clock drifted wide left. A 49-7 rout over Virginia in the season ending Military Bowl was a minor consolation prize, but the team from Annapolis, Md. was left to wonder what might have been.
Head coach Ken Niumatalolo, now in his 11th year, hopes to get more discipline from an offense that committed 16 turnovers and was assessed 53 penalties (14 more than 2016).
This year, Navy will shake up its offense. Though the team will continue with its variation of the triple option, it will be closer to Army's style of play with a minimal emphasis on passing. Senior Zach Abbey, who ran for 1,413 yards last year (second all-time in Navy history) and completed 31 of 72 passes for 805 yards, will share the signal-calling duties with junior Malcolm Perry, who started 2017 at slotback and took over at QB when Abbey was injured. Perry was the dominant player in the Army-Navy game, running 30 times for 250 yards without attempting a pass. This year, Perry will start at QB while Abbey is expected to play wide receiver in Saturday's opening contest against Hawaii's Rainbow Warriors.
Senior fullback Anthony Gargiulo gives Perry another option. Senior right tackle Andrew Wood, recognized in a pre-season American Athletic Conference coaches poll, will be counted on to help makes the holes for the running game and give time for the QB to spot passing opportunities.
Defensively, the Midshipmen return only five starters and lose linebacker Micah Thomas, who led Navy in tackles in 2017. Safety Sean Williams, who was second to Thomas in tackles a year ago, anchors the Navy secondary.
It will be a grueling season for the Midshipmen, who will play more regular season games (13 -- if they make it to AAC championship game) and travel more miles (26,495) than any other team in the contiguous 48 states. Keeping Navy fresh and sharp will not be easy. Hawaii, coach Niumatalolo's alma mater, is extremely difficult to beat at home; the Rainbow Warriors last lost a regular season home game in 2008.
Hawaii began its season last week at Colorado, jumping out to a 37-7 lead and cruising with its reserve squad to a 43-34 win. QB Cole McDonald completed 26 of 37 passes for 418 yards and three touchdowns and added 13 rushes for 96 yards and two touchdowns. Frank Holly III and Dayton Furuta added another 103 yards on the ground while Cedric Byrd (11 catches, 181 yards, and 1 touchdown) and John Ursua (7, 123, 2) were the primary recipients of McDonald's passing. On defense, Solomon Matautia logged 10 tackles and Ikem Okeke and Penei Pavihi both added eight.
*****
Stony Brook @ AIR FORCE, St., Sept. 1, 2 pm EDT (ESPN3 -- Internet streaming only)
Coming off a 5-7 season, Air Force struggled throughout the year and lost to both Navy and Army.
Air Force can look to its defense -- which gave up an average of 5.9 yards per rush last year to rank last in the nation -- as the cause of much of its problems. Last year, every defensive starter was new, but this year the Falcons will return seven starters on defense as well as adding 6-foot-1, 330-pound junior nose guard Mosese Fifita. End Jordan Jackson and Linebacker Kyle Johnson looked strong in pre-season camp. Safety Garrett Kauppila, injured for most of 2017, and Kyle Floyd are the foundation for the secondary. Whether the defense can stop the run will be a crucial factor in determining the team's 2018 success.
The offense is led by senior quarterback Arion Worthman, who struggled in his first full year as a starter, completing less than 50 percent of his passes and averaging just 3.8 yards per run. He needs to improve in all facets of his game if the Falcons are to improve. Joey Saucier has emerged as the top candidate to be lead running back, but with little experience he is a wildcard. Tackles Griffin Landrum and Wolfgang Rehbock anchor an athletic offensive line helped the Falcons to rank fourth in rushing in 2017, buit leading rusher Tim McVey has graduated. Ronald Cleveland is Air Force's top reciever, but he suffered from Worthman's lack of accuracy.
Stony Brook may be an FCS team, but the squad from New York's Long Island went 10-3 in 2017 and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Quarterback Joe Carbone (2,470 yards and 23 touchdowns passing in 2017) and tailback Donald Liotine (1,678 yards rushing and 18 TDs in his college career) lead the Seawolves offense. Seven starters return on defense including three -- defensive end John Haggart and linebackers Shayne Lawless and Noah McGinty -- who have started at least 24 games.
RallyPoint and The Sons of the American Legion Radio Report Present
Military Academy Football Preview: Week of August 31-Sept. 1
White Plains, N.Y., August 30 -- For America's three military academies, Labor Day weekend signifies the official beginning of the 2018 college football season. There is reason for optimism -- to varying degrees -- for everyone affiliated with the teams from Army, Navy and Air Force.
With support from RallyPoint, here is a preview of the three opening weekend games.
ARMY @ Duke, Fri., Aug. 31, 7 p.m. EDT (TV: ESPNU (Internet streaming only))
The Black Knights of West Point are coming off their best season in two decades. Army finished 2017 with a 10-3 record, victory over both Navy and Air Force (securing possession of the Commander-In-Chief's trophy for the first time since 1996) and culminated with a 42-35 comeback triumph over San Diego State in the Armed Forces Bowl. The cadets matched the academy record for wins in a season, posted a second-straight winning season (for the first time in 27 years), led the nation in rushing (avg. of 362.3 yards per game), and accomplished the most important objective: defeating Navy for the second straight year, a 14-13 win in surreal circumstances as snow fell throughout the 118th Army-Navy game.
For 2018, Army has some significant challenges -- especially on offense. Quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw -- who rushed for an all-time academy single-season record of 1,746 yards and 14 touchdowns -- has graduated, and fifth-year Head Coach Jeff Monken has selected junior Kelvin Hopkins Jr. to lead the triple-option offense. Quarterback is the key position in the triple option and not every QB can master the self-discipline to delay committing to the type of play -- run, pitch or pass -- until the last possible moment.
Hopkins, who last year ignited a game-tying touchdown drive with some exciting pass completions in the last 1:31 of regulation against Temple in a game that Army won in overtime, brings a stronger throwing arm to the position, but he will be judged on his ability to run, and to successfully handoff or pitch to returning stellar fullbacks Darnell Woolfolk (812 running yards), Andy Davidson (627), Connor Slomka and Calen Holt as well as speedsters Kell Walker (629) and Jordan Asberry.
Most importantly, Hopkins will face his greatest test in trying to maintain possession of the pigskin. Army had only five fumbles in 805 offensive plays last year -- 785 rushes, 20 passes -- and that type of ball control will be essential if the Black Knights intend to have another winning season. Maintaining possession could be further challenged by an offensive line that returns only Bryce Holland among the five starters.
Defense is much more stable with eight of the 11 starters returning. James Nachtigal (103 tackles), Cole Christiansen (84 tackles) and Ken Brinson (38 tackles) give the Black Knights veteran leadership at linebacker. Safety James Gibson (45 tackles) and cornerback Elijah Riley help anchor the secondary.
Duke (7-6 last year) is coming off a rollercoaster 2017 season that began with four straight wins, followed with six straight losses (including a 21-16 loss to Army at West Point on Nov. 11), and ended with three straight victories including a triumph in the Quick Lane Bowl to finish the campaign. QB Daniel Jones has played in 25 games for the Blue Devils and last year established himself as the team's top offensive threat by passing for more than 2,500 yards and running for more than 1,000. Running back Shaun Wilson (818 yards running, 263 yards receiving) is back, but the team's top two receivers have left. Unlike many teams, Duke is quite familiar with the triple option; rival Georgia Tech also uses that offense. Alonzo Saxton II (91 tackles) leads the Duke defense, which might be vulnerable after losing three of its top four tacklers.
*****
NAVY @ Hawaii, Sat., Sept. 1, 11 pm EDT (CBS Sports Network)
For the Midshipmen of Navy, the 2017 season was a bit of a disappointment. Though the Naval cadets finished with a 7-6 record and started by going 5-0, they found themselves on the short end of six of the next seven contests, the last being the crushing 14-13 loss to Army when a field goal attempt with just three seconds on the clock drifted wide left. A 49-7 rout over Virginia in the season ending Military Bowl was a minor consolation prize, but the team from Annapolis, Md. was left to wonder what might have been.
Head coach Ken Niumatalolo, now in his 11th year, hopes to get more discipline from an offense that committed 16 turnovers and was assessed 53 penalties (14 more than 2016).
This year, Navy will shake up its offense. Though the team will continue with its variation of the triple option, it will be closer to Army's style of play with a minimal emphasis on passing. Senior Zach Abbey, who ran for 1,413 yards last year (second all-time in Navy history) and completed 31 of 72 passes for 805 yards, will share the signal-calling duties with junior Malcolm Perry, who started 2017 at slotback and took over at QB when Abbey was injured. Perry was the dominant player in the Army-Navy game, running 30 times for 250 yards without attempting a pass. This year, Perry will start at QB while Abbey is expected to play wide receiver in Saturday's opening contest against Hawaii's Rainbow Warriors.
Senior fullback Anthony Gargiulo gives Perry another option. Senior right tackle Andrew Wood, recognized in a pre-season American Athletic Conference coaches poll, will be counted on to help makes the holes for the running game and give time for the QB to spot passing opportunities.
Defensively, the Midshipmen return only five starters and lose linebacker Micah Thomas, who led Navy in tackles in 2017. Safety Sean Williams, who was second to Thomas in tackles a year ago, anchors the Navy secondary.
It will be a grueling season for the Midshipmen, who will play more regular season games (13 -- if they make it to AAC championship game) and travel more miles (26,495) than any other team in the contiguous 48 states. Keeping Navy fresh and sharp will not be easy. Hawaii, coach Niumatalolo's alma mater, is extremely difficult to beat at home; the Rainbow Warriors last lost a regular season home game in 2008.
Hawaii began its season last week at Colorado, jumping out to a 37-7 lead and cruising with its reserve squad to a 43-34 win. QB Cole McDonald completed 26 of 37 passes for 418 yards and three touchdowns and added 13 rushes for 96 yards and two touchdowns. Frank Holly III and Dayton Furuta added another 103 yards on the ground while Cedric Byrd (11 catches, 181 yards, and 1 touchdown) and John Ursua (7, 123, 2) were the primary recipients of McDonald's passing. On defense, Solomon Matautia logged 10 tackles and Ikem Okeke and Penei Pavihi both added eight.
*****
Stony Brook @ AIR FORCE, St., Sept. 1, 2 pm EDT (ESPN3 -- Internet streaming only)
Coming off a 5-7 season, Air Force struggled throughout the year and lost to both Navy and Army.
Air Force can look to its defense -- which gave up an average of 5.9 yards per rush last year to rank last in the nation -- as the cause of much of its problems. Last year, every defensive starter was new, but this year the Falcons will return seven starters on defense as well as adding 6-foot-1, 330-pound junior nose guard Mosese Fifita. End Jordan Jackson and Linebacker Kyle Johnson looked strong in pre-season camp. Safety Garrett Kauppila, injured for most of 2017, and Kyle Floyd are the foundation for the secondary. Whether the defense can stop the run will be a crucial factor in determining the team's 2018 success.
The offense is led by senior quarterback Arion Worthman, who struggled in his first full year as a starter, completing less than 50 percent of his passes and averaging just 3.8 yards per run. He needs to improve in all facets of his game if the Falcons are to improve. Joey Saucier has emerged as the top candidate to be lead running back, but with little experience he is a wildcard. Tackles Griffin Landrum and Wolfgang Rehbock anchor an athletic offensive line helped the Falcons to rank fourth in rushing in 2017, buit leading rusher Tim McVey has graduated. Ronald Cleveland is Air Force's top reciever, but he suffered from Worthman's lack of accuracy.
Stony Brook may be an FCS team, but the squad from New York's Long Island went 10-3 in 2017 and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Quarterback Joe Carbone (2,470 yards and 23 touchdowns passing in 2017) and tailback Donald Liotine (1,678 yards rushing and 18 TDs in his college career) lead the Seawolves offense. Seven starters return on defense including three -- defensive end John Haggart and linebackers Shayne Lawless and Noah McGinty -- who have started at least 24 games.
United States Military Academy (USMA West Point)
United States Naval Academy (USNA)
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