It was another successful campaign for the Army Black Knights on Thursday as Army took down Temple 42-14. Led by quarterback Bryson Daily. Daily’s performance was a nice follow up to his amazing performance last week against Rice, rushing for three touchdowns and 152 yards while also contributing 54 yards through the air. The Black Knights extended their undefeated record to 4-0 and now share the longest active winning streak in FBS with Missouri, both teams boasting an eight-game streak.
Army’s ability to score quickly and effectively on their opening drives has been a key element of their success this season, and Thursday night was no different. For the fourth straight game, Army managed to score touchdowns on their first two drives. The first came courtesy of Noah Short, who broke through Temple’s defense on a 61-yard run off the triple option, showing the precision and efficiency of Army’s offensive scheme. Short, who was originally a wide receiver last year had made the move to running back this season, many saw this as a slight concern for Short considering the Army running back room was already held down securely with both Tyrell Robinson and Kanye Udoh sharing reps last season, but Short has been able to make an exceptional difference.
The second touchdown was part of an 11-play, all-ground possession, Bryson Daily then connected with Short for a 27-yard pass that set them up at the Temple 8-yard line, before Daily finished the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run. This combination of explosive plays and consistent ground gains has made Army’s offense difficult to stop, particularly for defenses unaccustomed to the speed and complexity of the triple option.
Temple, on the other hand, had a difficult night on both sides of the ball. The Owls’ defense struggled to contain Army’s ground game, allowing 417 rushing yards. Their offense fared no better, managing only -5 rushing yards on the night, as Army’s defense dominated the line of scrimmage. Temple quarterback Evan Simon did provide some sparks late in the game, throwing for 224 yards and two touchdowns, including a 29-yard pass to Dante Wright and a 54-yard catch-and-run by Daniel Evert, but by then the game was largely out of reach.
One of the standout moments of the game came early in the second half, when Army received the ball and executed a 75-yard drive that culminated in Daily’s second touchdown, a 9-yard run. During the drive, Daily had one had his own highlight reel worthy play, a 36-yard run in which he hurdled a Temple defender. This drive extended Army’s lead to 21-0 and set the tone for the rest of the half, where they continued to dominate both in possession and execution.
Running back Kanye Udoh also played a significant role in Army’s offensive success, rushing for 128 yards on 14 carries, including a 28-yard touchdown run that extended Army’s lead to 28-0 in the third quarter. Udoh’s contributions complemented Daily’s performance, as the Black Knights effectively spread the ball among several rushers, including, Jake Rendina, Dwayne Coleman, and Samari Howard. This helped keep Temple’s defense off balance throughout the game.
Temple’s offensive struggles were shown clearly by Army’s relentless pass rush. Simon, Temple’s quarterback, was sacked seven times, and Army’s defense pressured him consistently, forcing hurried throws and limiting Temple’s ability to establish any rhythm on offense. While Simon did manage to throw for two late touchdowns, his overall performance was hindered by Army’s defensive front, which also forced an interception and kept Temple’s running game in check.
Army’s dominance on both sides of the ball was reflected in the final statistics. The Black Knights outgained Temple 489 to 219 in total yards, with Temple’s rushing attack completely shut down. Army’s ability to control the clock and maintain possession, holding the ball for nearly 36 minutes compared to Temple’s 24, was another key factor in their victory. The Black Knights ran 63 plays to Temple’s 52, with most of their damage done on the ground, with a breakthrough average of 7.8 yards per play.
While Temple’s late offensive surge brought the score to a more respectable 28-14, Army quickly responded with another touchdown, effectively ending any hopes of a comeback. After Daily’s third touchdown run, Army’s backup quarterback Dewayne Coleman entered the game and threw a touchdown pass to Cam Schurr, capping off Army’s scoring at 42 points.
For Temple, the loss marked their fourth of the season, dropping them to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the American Athletic Conference. Simon’s 224-yard passing performance and Wright’s 98 receiving yards were bright spots in an otherwise difficult night for the Owls. However, their inability to establish a running game or protect Simon in the pocket ultimately killed their chances of staying competitive against a disciplined and well-coached Army team.
Army’s victory keeps them tied atop the AAC standings with bitter rival Navy and continues their impressive winning streak, which has now reached eight games dating back to last season. The Black Knights’ success this year has been largely built on their ability to control the tempo of the game with their rushing attack and their suffocating defensive line, a formula that has made them one of the most dominant teams in the conference.
Looking ahead, Army’s focus will be on maintaining their perfect record and continuing their march toward a potential conference championship. With their offense firing on all cylinders and their defense consistently delivering dominant performances, the Black Knights appear poised to make a serious run at the AAC title and perhaps even more. With this being Army’s first season in the AAC, all eyes have definitely been shifted to the Black Knights after the team was ranked fifth in the conferences preseason rankings.
As for Temple, the loss underscores the challenges they face in a rebuilding season. While Simon and Wright showed flashes of potential, the Owls will need to address their issues on the offensive line and find ways to generate more consistency on both sides of the ball if they hope to turn their season around. The road ahead won’t get any easier for Temple, but if they can build on the positives from Thursday’s game, there may still be opportunities for growth and improvement.
Army’s 42-14 win over Temple was a dominating and convincing performance that highlighted the strengths of their classic triple-option offense and their punishing defense. Bryson Daily’s senior leadership and athleticism, combined with Army’s ability to control the game on the ground, proved too much for Temple to handle. With their undefeated record intact and their winning streak extended, Army looks ready to continue their dominance in the AAC as they travel to Tulsa next weekend, while Temple will need to regroup and refocus as they look to salvage their season.