The first conference championship celebration in Army history was taking place at midfield, and Bryson Daily made it clear that it wouldn’t last long. The Black Knights had their sights set on another trophy next week.
“Beat Navy,” Daily said.
He and Army should be a tough opponent for Navy — or anyone else they face.
Daily rushed for four touchdowns, tying the American Athletic Conference championship game record, and No. 24 Army completed a perfect first season in the league with a 35-14 victory over Tulane on Friday night.
Kanye Udoh rushed for 158 yards, including a 72-yard run that set up a Daily touchdown, and added a score of his own. Daily also ran for 126 yards, leading the Black Knights (11-1) to dominate AAC opponents with their powerful, clock-controlling rushing attack throughout the season, then using it perfectly in the championship game.
Army claimed its first conference title in its 134-year history.
Army’s regular season isn’t over, though, as they have one more game to play: a highly anticipated matchup against Navy next Saturday for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.
“Now we’ve got the biggest game of the year coming up in eight days and we’re looking forward to that,” said Army coach Jeff Monken.
Daily had touchdown runs of 5, 3, 4, and 7 yards. The 221-pound quarterback’s four rushing scores brought his total to 29 for the season, breaking the AAC record of 25 set by Navy QB Will Worth in 2016. Daily, the conference player of the year, has scored multiple touchdowns in 10 straight games.
Before joining the AAC, Army had been an independent team since 1890, except for a brief stint in Conference USA from 1998 to 2004. Coach Monken had said earlier this week that Army needed to be in a conference to have a chance at the expanded college football postseason.
As cadets poured onto the field to celebrate with the players, it seemed clear that Army was happy with that decision.
Darian Mensah threw two touchdown passes for Tulane (9-4), which was playing in its third straight AAC championship game and had lost the last two.
The Green Wave had hopes of hosting the championship but lost to Memphis at home on Thanksgiving night, ending their 17-game winning streak in conference play.
Tulane struggled from the start on Friday, missing field goal attempts on their first two drives, fumbling a kickoff, and having a pass intercepted in their own territory on the next two possessions.
In the second half, Tulane barely touched the ball as Army controlled the clock with touchdown drives of 11 and 16 plays.
“When you start slow the way we did, missing two field goals early, you don’t do yourselves any favors,” said Tulane coach Jon Sumrall. “Because once they get a lead, a couple scores, it’s really, really hard to overcome.”
The temperature was 29 degrees at the start of the game, just the third December game in the 101-year history of Michie Stadium, and the cold weather called for a strong running game, which Army excelled at. Army came into the game leading the nation with 312.5 rushing yards per game.
The Black Knights gained 335 yards on the ground and converted 4 of 5 fourth downs.
Daily didn’t attempt a pass until the second half when he kept a scoring drive alive with a 9-yard completion on fourth-and-5.
The Green Wave had been asked about playing in the cold conditions along the Hudson River, and the weather may have played a role in their struggles. On their first drive, they attempted a field goal, but holder Brice Busch dropped the snap on the Army 27-yard line.
Army took advantage, going 72 yards in 11 plays to set up Daily’s 5-yard touchdown. Tulane moved inside the Army 20 on their second drive but missed another field goal attempt, this time from 38 yards.
Daily’s 4-yard run made the score 21-0 before Tulane finally got on the board with a 42-yard touchdown pass from Mensah to Mario Williams with 44 seconds left in the first half.
Army regained control in the second half, opening the third quarter with a 6 and a half-minute drive.
