Offense Tops Defense in Spring Game
WEST POINT, N .Y. – The Army West Point football team wrapped up spring practice with the Black-Gold Spring Game at Michie Stadium with the offense downing the defense by a 56-38 score.
The Black Knights used an intricate scoring system with the offense gaining points for touchdowns, third down conversions and sustaining a long drive. The defense was rewarded for turnovers and stops on third and fourth downs, as well as sacks and tackles for loss.
The offense got the first touchdown of the game with Aaron Kemper powering into the end zone from 7-yards out make the score 10-2. Highlighting the drive was a 19-yard gain from Nicholas Black on a pitch from Carter.
The defense answered with 4:35 on the clock in the first with Gibby Gibson scooping up a failed pitch from Matthew Kaufmann and returning it for the 29-yard touchdown. The return led to 12 points, which was the amount for a defensive touchdown. Brandon Jackson gave the defense three more points with a interception in the offensive territory.
Darnell Woolfolk had a pair great runs in the beginning of the second quarter. He had a 22-yard gain and the punched it into the end zone from the six yard line. The scoring for the offense continued with Carter hooking up with Edgar Poe in the back corner for six points. The play was set up by a 22-yard toss from Carter to Jeff Ejekam. The Poe touchdown catch made it 37-28 at the half.
The second half featured longer drives by the offense and ate up some clock. One play that didn’t eat up clock was a 61-yard touchdown pass from Carter to Christian Poe, who broke behind the defense and Carter hit him in stride.
Mitchell Howard finished off the scoring in the spring game with a booming 45-yard field goal attempt that sailed right through the uprights and the game finished with the offense on top.
QUOTABLES:
Head Coach Jeff Monken
Thoughts on today’s game and what you saw on the field?
“I thought our guys competed hard and that’s what we wanted to see. There was some really good energy and individual efforts. To start the game when Gibby scooped that ball up and ran it in for a touchdown. I was disappointed to see the offense turn it over but equally excited to see the defense get their hands on the ball. Lots of things we have to work on but it was apparent that there was a lot of guys who made improvements over the course of the spring and that’s a positive.”
Your reaction to having both teams score points to make it an even game?
“That thing that impressed me the most with the guys on offense was the ability to keep drives alive. Converting some third down and fourth downs, specifically in short yardage situations, our defense knows we’re going to run the ball and they are lining up in a defense to stop the run, our guys did a good job of knocking them off the ball and we had some running backs running the ball hard. I thought the defensive guys did a nice job of putting some pressure on the quarterback though we didn’t get to him as often as it looked like we were going to. Some good things on both sides.”
Aaron Kemper
How was it to be out there with the team today?
“It was fun. We have a very versatile group. We have a lot of young guys and some veteran players and we’re all getting better.”
How has the offense improved during the spring?
“As an offense, we definitely got better at passing and we got better at assignments, but we still have a lot of room to improve.”
Gibby Gibson
How did it feel to get out there today after spring practices?
“We worked hard for this moment and it was great to get out there.”
What does it mean to play in front of this crowd and have the honorary captains come back?
“It has a huge impact, we’re all really excited that they are still a part of our program and we loved having them here today.”
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