2019 Army/Navy Update – Week Five

The college football season is four weeks old.  We are still about two months away from the 2019 Army/Navy game in Philadelphia.  As we enter week five, let us give you an update on how our two service academies have fared the first four weeks.

The Black Knights

Army began their season with a hard-fought win, at home, against Rice.  The Black Knights defeated the Owls 14-7.  Army scored the game-winning touchdown with just under 4 minutes left.  The Black Knights, in week 2, suffered a set back lost to the Michigan Wolverines.  Army lost 24-21 in double overtime.  The Black Knights had an opportunity to win the game in regulation, but kicker Cole Talley missed the game-winning field goal.  Army fumbled in the second overtime to seal their defeat.  In week 3, Army defeated UTSA 31-13.  The Black Knights turned to backup quarterback Jabari Laws to take command of the offense.

Laws scored a touchdown in the win and led the Black Knights on four additional scoring drives.  In their last game before the bye week, Army defeated FCS opponent Morgan State.  Still, without Kelvin Hopkins, the Knights put up 52 points in the win.  Army put up 6 rushing touchdowns in the win.

Army’s Offense Keeps Moving

The offense is not missing a beat with Hopkins out.  In the bye week look for Hopkins to continue rehab and get back to 100 percent.  The Army defense has been strong this year so far too.  It was thought, with Jay Bateman no longer on the sideline, that the defense would regress.  That is not the case in the first four weeks and they are only going to get stronger as the season moves along.  After the bye week, Army plays host to Tulane.  The Green Wave picked up a monumental win last Thursday against Houston.  Tulane will be riding the momentum wave into their matchup with Army.  Tulane, like Army, has their bye week coming up this week.  Army has an opportunity to go 3-1, maybe 4-0 before they travel to Air Force. 

That will be our next update on the Black Knights.  After Tulane, Army travels to Western Kentucky and Georgia State before returning home against San Jose State.  I like the Black Knights chances in all these games and I like the possibility of being 7-1 or 6-2 heading into their showdown, in Colorado Springs, with Air Force. The Black Knights will do all they can to make sure the 2019 Army/Navy game lives up to the hype.

The Midshipmen        

   Navy started 2019 with a 45-7 win over FCS opponent Holy Cross.  In the win, running back Nelson Smith ran for three touchdowns.  Quarterback Malcolm Perry added a rushing touchdown as well, as the Midshipmen cruised to an opening week win.  Navy had a bye week in week two and then played host to American Conference opponent, East Carolina.  The Midshipmen came away with a 42-10 victory over the Pirates.  Perry accounted for all six touchdowns for Navy.  He ran for 4 touchdowns and threw for two.  Navy had another bye week in week three.

Malcolm Perry is showing us how explosive he is in his senior season.  Perry ran for 250 yards back in the 2017 Army-Navy game.  He is a game-changer and with Perry calling plays, this offense looks explosive.  Perry is taking Navy fans back to what Keenan Reynolds, Ricky Dobbs, and Kaipo-Noa famously did during their 14 game winning streak over Army.  The Navy defense has improved upon last year’s performance.  In 2 games they’ve only given up 8.5 points per game.  It was against lesser competition, but you got to be impressed with the defensive performance. 

Navy’s Big Test

The Midshipmen will be tested this week as they travel to play Memphis on Thursday Night.  This is an American Conference matchup and then Navy hosts Air Force.  After leg 1 of the Commander-in-Chief trophy, the Midshipmen play three conference games against Tulsa, South Florida, and Tulane.  A healthy Malcolm Perry gives Navy a chance in all 5 games.  I feel confident the Midshipmen will beat Air Force and Tulsa.  Add in a toss-up win against South Florida and Navy will be 5-2 heading into the month of November.  Best case, you beat Tulane at home to get bowl eligible. 

Navy fans hope a 6-2 record does not resemble 2017 when they lost their last four games and ended up 6-6.  Navy has slacked off since losing Keenan Reynolds.  Malcolm Perry hopes to lead Navy back to the promised land of winning the Commander-In-Chief Trophy in the 2019 Army/Navy matchup.  If Navy wins their fair share of games, look for the Midshipmen to play in just their second only American Athletic Conference championship game.

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