The Black Knights get to stay at home for the second week in a row to open the season as they take on Buffalo at West Point. After a dominating 64-6 win over Fordham in the opener, hopes are high that Army can match – or better – the success of 2016. The next step towards that goal is taking down the Bulls. Here are the three keys to this one:
Keep running the ball
It is pretty crazy just how well the Black Knights ran the ball in the opener against Fordham. It is important to note that the Rams are a top tier FCS squad and that this was not just a team of scrubs that the Black Knights rolled over. Army put up 513 yards rushing against Fordham and looked in midseason form when it came to running the triple-option attack and controlling the game.
Yes, Army returned its top five rushers from a year ago, but to be that dominant on offense in the first game is still a shock. All you have to do is look over some of the other upsets and near misses on the opening weekend (Liberty over Baylor) to see that there is no such thing as a sure then when a program hasn’t played a game for eight months. Buffalo was good last week as they lost to Minnesota by 10, but they are not ready for this Army buzz saw.
Finish the game strong
One of the mantras of this Army team is to win every fourth quarter in 2017. It is a lofty goal, but it is a good one as the team that wins the final period more often than not has a shot at winning the game. It also fits well with the triple-option attack that Army runs as that type of offense is all about wearing down an opponent with its barrage of runs and schemes out of the same formation.
Last season though, the Black Knights fell flat in the fourth quarter when facing the Bulls. Army was up by 14 points entering the final period of the game, but conceded the next 17 points (including a field goal in overtime) to lose a heartbreaker 23-20. It is to the Black Knights credit that they were able to recover from this and build a successful season, but there is payback to be had here as long as Army finishes strong.
Don’t get caught looking ahead
When the Army schedule for 2017 was announced it was Week 3 – along with the Navy game – that had players and fans most excited. Next weekend the Black Knights will pack up and head to the Horseshoe to take on Ohio State on its own field. It is the sort of game college football players dream about, especially those in Academy programs who only get opportunities against Power 5 schools like the Buckeyes on a limited basis.
As a result, it is easy to look at this clash with Buffalo as a trap game. This is where the coaches and senior players on the Army team have to be leaders and keep everyone focused on the task at hand. It is the Buffalo game more so than the Ohio State clash that will help Army reach bowl eligibility and a win here is vital to that goal.
