Oct. 29, 2011
Final Stats |
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West Point, N.Y. -
Ever have one of those days when nothing seems to go right? The Fordham University football Rams had what seemed like a week of those days today at Army, falling to the Black Knights 55-0, in Michie Stadium in the first meeting between the two schools since 1949.
When the game was scheduled, the Fordham coaching staff started planning on how to stop the potent Army running game, a wishbone set that is difficult to defend, especially for a team that hasn't seen it in quite a while. What the coaches couldn't plan on was how to play a game in a raging snowstorm, that started before the game and never let up, dumping almost a foot of snow on the field.
"I knew that we were in trouble when I came out for warm ups and saw how hard it was snowing," said head coach Tom Masella. "For us to have a chance today we had to put points on the board. But the weather completely took away our passing game and played to Army's strength, which is running downhill."
The Army offense gained 514 of their 544 total yards of offense on the ground, averaging over eight yards a carry.
The Black Knights jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead, taking the opening kickoff and moving 68 yards on six plays with Max Jenkins taking it in from the one 2:22 into the game.
After Fordham went three-and-out, Army again mounted a long scoring drive, this one covering 92 on nine plays, scoring on a 30-yard Larry Dixon run with 6:57 left in the first for a 14-0 lead.
Three plays later, Lamar Johnson-Harris picked off a Ryan Higgins pass and returned it to the Fordham eleven, setting up a seven-yard touchdown run from Jenkins and a 21-0 Army lead with 5:15 remaining in the period.
The Rams had a scoring chance later in the first when Brendan Melanophy forced Josh Jackson to fumble a punt return and the ball was recovered by Andre Delaire on the Army 35. But three plays netted three yards and Carlton Koonce couldn't corral a Higgins pass on fourth down.
The Black Knights made it a 28-0 game early in the second on the 30-yard scoring strike from Jenkins to Anthony Stephens and then jumped on a Higgins fumble on the next possession, with Nate Combs returning it 52 yards for a score as Army took a 35-0 lead with 10:42 left in the half.
The Black Knights would take a 42-0 lead into the intermission, thanks to a three-yard touchdown rush from Jared Hassin, and then added two second half scores for the 55-0 final.
Michael Martin and Melanophy led the Fordham defense with eight stops each while Victor DiFusco added six.
The Rams return to action next Saturday, November 5th, as they travel to Washington, D.C., to face Jesuit and Patriot League rival Georgetown University at 1:00 p.m.
Notes
Army has now won all three meetings... The Rams are slated to play Army again in 2014 and 2015... Every healthy player who dressed for the rams got into the game with the exception of freshman placekicker Michael Marando... Seniors Doug Papy and Benjamin Daley served as game captains... The game was sold out but only a fraction of the fans with a ticket made the trek to West Point... Most of those left at the half when Army announced that shuttle bus service to outlying parking lots was ending due to the road conditions... Army facility workers tried to clear the field of snow throughout the game but lost that battle.
