{"id":38799,"date":"2017-11-03T18:38:21","date_gmt":"2017-11-03T18:38:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/11\/03\/army-looks-to-take-step-toward-commander-in-chiefs-trophy\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:16:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:16:30","slug":"army-looks-to-take-step-toward-commander-in-chiefs-trophy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/off-duty\/military-sports\/2017\/11\/03\/army-looks-to-take-step-toward-commander-in-chiefs-trophy\/","title":{"rendered":"Army looks to take step toward Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. \u2014 Air Force will take to the sky early against Army with four scheduled flyovers before kickoff. That just might be the extent of any sort of air game, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plan for the Falcons (4-4) and the Black Knights (6-2) on Saturday figures to be pretty basic: Run, run and run some more . Both teams average more than 350 yards rushing, with airing it out typically a last-gasp resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a little extra motivation for the players from West Point: Army has lost 10 of the last 11 games to its fellow service academy. But the Black Knights did have the benefit of a bye week to prepare for Air Force and its vaunted triple-option offense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s plenty that\u2019s different with what Air Force does compared to the seven opponents that we\u2019ve faced prior, so the extra days were nice for us to get a game plan and preparation in,\u201d Army coach Jeff Monken said. \u201cEvery year this is a big game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, for what\u2019s at stake: The Commander-in-Chief\u2019s Trophy, which is presented annually to the service academy with the best record in the round-robin competition. The Falcons can\u2019t win the title outright after losing at Navy 48-45 on Oct. 7. But, as the defending champs, Air Force still has a chance to retain it. It starts with beating Army and then rooting for the Black Knights against Navy on Dec. 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For now, their Falcons\u2019 focus is only on the task at hand \u2014 holding off an Army team that\u2019s captured four straight for its longest winning streak since 2005.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey have quality players and one heck of a football team,\u201d Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The measure of respect runs deep the other way, too. Still, Air Force does stands in the way of something Army extremely covets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019d like to get (the trophy) back,\u201d said Monken, whose team is looking for its first CIC Trophy since 1996. \u201cI think as the coach you feel a sense of responsibility to do that. I know what a big deal it is to this institution, just as it is to the others. I can\u2019t do it myself. The players are the ones that have to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Academy football six-pack: Army-Air Force spirit spot, run attack, Navy-Temple, more<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are things to know in a series the Falcons lead 36-14-1:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ARMY RUN:<\/b> Army is 9-2 over its last 11 games, with the two losses coming earlier this season on the road \u2014 against then-No. 8 Ohio State and Tulane. It\u2019s the team\u2019s best 11-game stretch since 1996. The Black Knights haven\u2019t won at Falcon Stadium since 2005. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a 15-round slug-out, a tooth-and-nail fight to the wire,\u201d Army quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ARMY WORKHORSE: <\/b>Fullback Darnell Woolfolk missed three games after Army\u2019s loss at <\/b>Ohio State, but he\u2019s rounding back to form. The bruising 235-pound junior had a career-high 132 yards rushing against Temple to surpass the 1,000-yard mark for his career. He\u2019s averaging 6.1 yards per carry. \u201cThe part that\u2019s really, really clear: They\u2019re an outstanding running team, with superb balance,\u201d Calhoun said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: <\/b>The Falcons get to sleep in their own beds quite a bit this month by playing three of their final four games at home. To Calhoun, though, that\u2019s hardly a luxury. \u201cIt\u2019s not even close to being comfortable,\u201d Calhoun said. \u201cWhatever the opposite of comfortable is would be a little more descriptive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n