{"id":20624,"date":"2017-10-06T17:15:10","date_gmt":"2017-10-06T17:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/10\/06\/army-seeking-first-road-win-travels-to-rice\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:12:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:12:43","slug":"army-seeking-first-road-win-travels-to-rice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/off-duty\/military-sports\/2017\/10\/06\/army-seeking-first-road-win-travels-to-rice\/","title":{"rendered":"Army seeking first road win, travels to Rice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

HOUSTON \u2014 The road hasn\u2019t been kind to Army in two tries so far this season. Coach Jeff Monken is intent on changing that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019d like to win a road game. We haven\u2019t done that this year,\u201d Monken said. \u201cI talked to the guys about that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Black Knights (3-2) have won all three of their games at home, including a comeback 35-21 victory last week<\/a> over winless UTEP on a windswept day at Michie Stadium. Next up is Rice (1-4), which is coming off a 42-10 loss at Pittsburgh<\/a> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Panthers did what the Owls have become accustomed to, scoring on their first three possessions to quickly take control of the game. Rice registered only 14 first downs and was forced to punt seven times as Pitt held the ball for nearly 10 minutes longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe only had two three-and-outs on the day, but a lot of our issues have been self-inflicted wounds,\u201d Rice coach David Bailiff said. \u201cIt\u2019s a receiver with a procedure penalty. That\u2019s focus. It\u2019s a running back on the wrong side of the quarterback. That\u2019s focus issues. We have to continue to work on focusing during the tough times. You can\u2019t have those times of breakdowns that are self-inflicted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Army\u2019s triple option continues to purr behind senior quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw and its hard-running fullbacks. The Black Knights rank third nationally in rushing, averaging 363.6 yards and 6.2 per carry. The latter figure is tops among the three service academies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019re relentless offensively,\u201d Bailiff said. \u201cThey\u2019re averaging 33 minutes a game (possession time). So our offense, when we have the ball, has got to score points because you don\u2019t have the ball a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other things to know when Army visits Rice on Saturday:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SPUTTERING OWLS<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rice has scored more than one touchdown just once this season and has been unable to execute the ball-control style Bailiff strives for and Army thrives on. The Owls have been outscored 59-3 in the first quarter and 55-14 in the second. Against Pitt, Rice QB Jackson Tyner hit Austin Walter for a 70-yard touchdown. Take away that score and Tyner finished 14 of 31 for 152 yards with three interceptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you watch us, if we catch the ball for 10 yards, we\u2019re tackled at 10 yards,\u201d Bailiff said. \u201cIt\u2019s the same with the running backs. We\u2019re not getting a lot of yards after contact. We\u2019ve got to start getting those. We\u2019ve got to pick up those yards that everybody in the country is getting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECRET WEAPON<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Army failed to complete a pass in two of its first four games, but things have suddenly changed for the better. Bradshaw completed 3 of 5 throws for 80 yards against UTEP, including a 42-yard TD to Jordan Asberry. It was Bradshaw\u2019s first scoring pass of the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FULLBACKS GALORE<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Army\u2019s array of fullbacks includes Darnell Woolfolk, Andy Davidson, Calen Holt, and Connor Slomka, and they, along with Bradshaw, make the triple option go. Woolfolk is the starter, but he sat out the past two games with an injury and won\u2019t play Saturday. Davidson, Holt and Slomka have picked up the slack. Each scored against UTEP and they have combined to rush for 596 yards on 103 carries, an average of 5.8 yards a carry.<\/p>\n\n\n\t