Army football scores late TD to beat UTSA, becomes bowl eligible

Army football will be busy for the holidays, after all.

Facing a must-win situation, the Black Knights rallied from a 10-0 second-quarter deficit and punched in a late touchdown to confound Texas San Antonio on its home turf once again for a 27-24 victory at the Alamodome on Saturday, Nov. 29. Army has beaten UTSA three times at its home since 2020.

Army's sixth victory makes the Black Knights bowl eligible, a status gained by UTSA a week earlier. Army is the eighth American Conference member to qualify for the postseason. Army squandered an opportunity to qualify a week earlier, falling 26-25 to Tulsa at home.

"It's a great reward for this program,'' said Army quarterback Cale Hellums. "Last week, we were so close and ... we let it slip away. We knew it was going to be a tough fight to get bowl eligible. We came out here and got it done.''

Hellums found tight end Parker Poloskey for a 4-yard score at the back end of the end zone with 2:49 to play to put the Black Knights on top. It was the first TD catch by an Army tight end since 2008.

"It was a very good play call,'' Poloskey said. "Very well executed by the (offensive) line. Luckily, I had the easiest job, but I had just had to catch the ball. QB made a great throw in the back of the end zone. It was a very well-executed play. It was awesome.''

Collin Matteson broke up a fourth-down pass intended for Patrick Overmyer – who already had two scores – at the UTSA 42 to snuff out the Roadrunners' final opportunity to extend a final drive.

After the final whistle, the teams twice squared off before the squads were separated.

The league finale didn't start well for Army as the Black Knights went four plays-and-out on the opening drive and five plays on the second. On the other hand, the Roadrunners continued their recent run of early success, posting a touchdown on their first series and field goal on the second, seizing a 10-0 lead just 45 seconds into the second quarter.

Lefty slinger Owen McCown completed four passes on the opening drive, hitting David Amador for 19 yards on a third-down call and finding an open Devin McCuin for 36 yards on a roll out to his left, down to the Army 4. UTSA coach Jeff Traylor pulled out a trick play near the goal line as McCown swung a pass to Amador on his right, only to have the receiver loft a high throw to Overmyer for a leaping grab in the right corner of the end zone, getting his right foot down a split second before his left hit out of bounds.

Moments after Michael Petro drilled a 32-yard field goal, Army struck back as Noah Short took a pitch to his left and gained a crucial block from Carson Smith on the outside before turning the ball up the left sideline for an 81-yard scoring sprint, fending off the late tackle attempt by Tyan Milton and clipping the pylon with his elbow. It was Short's first rushing score of the season and the longest scoring play by Short and Army this season.

After Army forced a punt, Hellums directed a 14-play, 87-yard scoring drive, converting twice on fourth down, the latter aided by a roughing the passer call. The Black Knights stalled at the 10 and Dawson Jones booted a game-tying 27-yard field goal.

McCown drove UTSA into Army territory but his high throw to Amador clipped off the receiver' hands and corner Jaydan Mayes returned the interception 73 yards for Army's first pick-six since the Louisiana Monroe game in 2023.

Army football: Going bowling

Army will learn of its 2025 bowl opponent when the bids go out on Sunday, Dec. 7 (ESPN, noon-4 p.m. ET).

This will be the seventh time in Jeff Monken's tenure that Army qualified for a bowl game (2016-8, 2020-21, 2024-25).

Up next

All focus now turns to the annual clash with Navy, on Dec. 13 in Baltimore, Maryland. The winner of the game will claim the coveted Commander-in-Chief's Trophy: Army last had it in 2023, and Navy claimed it in 2024.

[email protected]

X / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Army football scores late TD to beat UTSA, becomes bowl eligible