WEST POINT, NY. – Another weekend has passed and another Army win has come out of it, making that six in a row.
The Army Black Knights dismantled the UAB Blazers in a 44-10 blowout, improving to 6-0 on the season. Led by quarterback Bryson Daily’s stellar performance, the Black Knights continued to showcase their offensive might and defensive discipline, overwhelming a struggling UAB team from start to finish. This game highlighted Army’s ability to control both the ground game and tempo, while UAB’s inconsistencies in execution, both offensively and defensively, sealed their fate.
Offensive Domination from the Start
Bryson Daily was the star of the show, rushing for 136 yards and accounting for five total touchdowns—four on the ground and one through the air. Army wasted no time establishing their dominance, with Daily scoring on a 29-yard rushing touchdown just two minutes into the game, capitalizing on a failed fourth-down conversion attempt by UAB. Army’s early aggression set the tone, as they racked up 20 points in the first quarter alone.
Daily’s mobility was a constant threat to UAB’s defense. His ability to break tackles and turn designed quarterback runs into big gains put relentless pressure on UAB’s defensive front. One key moment came midway through the first quarter when, after UAB trimmed the deficit to 7-3 with a 51-yard field goal, Daily responded with another rushing touchdown to make it 13-3. The tone of the game was already in Army’s favor as they kept UAB on their heels with a relentless ground attack. By the end of the first quarter, Daily had already amassed three rushing touchdowns and 86 yards on the ground
Army’s running back Kanye Udoh also had a strong showing, rushing for 97 yards and adding a touchdown in the second quarter to extend Army’s lead to 27-3. Udoh, along with Daily, formed a formidable one-two punch that made it nearly impossible for UAB to adjust defensively. Army’s offense thrived on long, methodical drives that wore down the Blazers and ate up the clock. By the half, Army had built a commanding 34-3 lead, and the game appeared all but over.
Army’s Defense: The Unsung Heroes
While Daily and the offense garnered much of the attention, Army’s defense was equally crucial in securing the victory. The Black Knights’ defense stymied UAB on several key fourth-down attempts and forced two turnovers that translated into crucial points.
UAB’s quarterback, Jon Kitna, struggled to find rhythm against Army’s disciplined defense, throwing two interceptions—both of which were picked off by Army cornerback Cam Larkin.
The first interception, which came late in the first quarter, set up another Daily rushing touchdown, while the second halted a promising UAB drive right before halftime.
Kitna, despite moments of promise, was under constant duress, thanks to Army’s front seven, led by defensive lineman Evan Ford. Ford, in particular, made one of the game’s biggest plays by sacking Kitna on a fourth-down attempt in the second quarter, killing UAB’s momentum as they were threatening deep in Army territory. UAB’s inability to convert on fourth downs throughout the game underscored their struggles, as they failed to capitalize on key opportunities to swing the momentum in their favor.
Army’s secondary also played a crucial role in limiting UAB’s passing game, despite a strong performance from Blazers wide receiver Kam Shanks, who caught nine passes for 119 yards. Shanks was the lone bright spot for UAB offensively, but his efforts weren’t enough to overcome the mistakes made by Kitna and the rest of the Blazers’ offense.
UAB’s Struggles: Missed Opportunities and Costly Mistakes
For UAB, the loss dropped them to 1-5 on the season, and the frustration continues to mount for first-year head coach Trent Dilfer. Dilfer has struggled to find consistency with his team, particularly on offense.
The Blazers were plagued by missed opportunities, starting with a failed fourth-down conversion on their opening drive, which allowed Army to seize early momentum. The decision to go for it on fourth down set the tone for an aggressive, yet unsuccessful, approach that didn’t pay off.
Kitna’s interceptions were costly, particularly the second one just before halftime. Down 34-3, UAB needed to score before the break to have any hope of a comeback. Instead, Kitna was picked off by Larkin for the second time, halting what was their best drive of the game up until that point. The Blazers were also held in check on the ground, with running back Jermaine Brown Jr. limited to just 44 rushing yards on 12 carries.
The inability to establish the run game made UAB’s offense one-dimensional, allowing Army to focus on pressuring Kitna and shutting down the passing game.
The Blazers’ lone touchdown came late in the fourth quarter, when Kitna connected with wide receiver Amare Thomas for a 17-yard score. By that point, however, the game was long out of reach, and the score served more as a consolation than a sign of improvement.
Army’s Game Plan Advantage
The hallmark of Army’s performance was their execution of a game plan that was simple yet highly effective. Known for their run-heavy offense, Army stuck to their strengths, running the ball a staggering 63 times for 403 yards, compared to just six passing attempts.
Daily’s ability to make plays both as a runner and passer gave Army the balance they needed, even within their run-first system. His 50-yard touchdown pass to Chris Reynolds in the second quarter was the perfect example of how Army keeps defenses guessing, even with a low number of passing attempts.
Controlling time of possession, Army kept the ball for over 36 minutes, wearing down UAB’s defense and keeping their offense off the field. This ball control was essential in preventing any kind of UAB comeback, as the Blazers couldn’t get into any kind of offensive rhythm.
On the defensive side, Army’s physicality and discipline were evident. The Black Knights’ ability to limit UAB to just 10 points despite giving up over 200 passing yards shows how well they managed the red zone. Army’s defense bent at times but rarely broke, and they came up with key plays, like Ford’s sack and Larkin’s interceptions, when they needed them the most.
Looking Ahead
For Army, this victory further solidifies their standing as one of the top teams in the American Athletic Conference.
They’ve now won six straight games to start the season, and their unstoppable triple-option offense, led by Daily, shows no signs of slowing down.
As the Black Knights continue their march toward a possible conference championship, their blend of offensive execution and defensive discipline makes them a formidable opponent for any team in the AAC.
UAB, on the other hand, faces a long road ahead. With only one win on the season, the Blazers must find a way to correct their mistakes and find consistency, particularly at the quarterback position.
Coach Dilfer’s first season has been filled with growing pains, and if the Blazers are to salvage their season, they’ll need to show drastic improvement on both sides of the ball.