The 125th Army-Navy game is nearly here. On Saturday, the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen will open another chapter in this historic rivalry, which dates all the way back to 1890.
This is the first time since 2017 that both rivals will face each other with winning records. The Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy is also up for grabs. Navy leads the all-time series 62-55-7, but Army has defeated Navy in six of their last eight meetings.
In a previous article, I showcased scouting reports for Army and Tulane for the American Athletic Conference Championship Game. The case will be no different for the biggest college football game of the season.
Due to the fact that I have already accentuated on the history and most notable moments in this rivalry, this article will focus solely on the coaches, numbers, players, and statistics for both service academies.
Without further ado, here are the scouting reports for the brave, old Army team and Navy.
One could make the argument that any gridiron clash starts with the coaches – and that person would be correct. But for service academy games, the coaches matter more. That is because they have to construct winning rosters with lesser resources at their disposal than their counterparts at civilian schools.
Army head coach Jeff Monken is in his 11th season with West Point. He was hired right before Christmas in 2013.
Coaching is in Monken’s blood. His older brother, Todd Monken, was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Georgia’s national championship-winning teams in 2021 and 2022. He has been the play-caller for the Ravens’ offense since 2023, and has elevated Lamar Jackson to even greater levels.
Early on, the younger Monken promised to bring glory back to the Black Knights’ football program. That is exactly what he has done.
Jeff Monken has won 81 games as the sideline boss for the cadets, the second-most in academy history. Only Red Blaik has won more games with Army.
The Army-Navy game has become Monken’s specialty, too. After coming up short in his first two seasons, Monken and his players snapped an ignominiously-long, 14-game losing streak to Navy in 2016.
Since then, Army has defeated Navy in five of the past seven matchups. That includes their Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy victory last year, and the greatest game in series history in 2022, which was the first overtime game ever between the rival academies.
Simply put, West Point has enjoyed its first prolonged golden age of football since the Cold War was in its infancy. Not much debate can be had over that.
Monken has been forging an incredible legacy at West Point for years now, and he bolstered it big-time this year, as Army is having perhaps its greatest campaign ever.
The Naval Academy has enjoyed a remarkable amount of stability with its head football coaches for virtually this entire century. Only three coaches – Paul Johnson, Ken Niumatalolo, and the incumbent Brian Newberry – have presided over the team since 2002.
A quarterback and safety in high school, Newberry became a full-time safety while matriculated at Baylor University. He graduated in 1998.
Prior to becoming Navy’s leading man, Newberry was the defensive coordinator for Kennesaw State, and Northern Michigan before that.
In 2019, Newberry was named defensive play-caller for Navy. Navy’s previous head coach – the aforementioned Ken Niumatalolo. From 2019-2022, he produced some of the Naval Academy’s finest defenses ever.
It all starts with quarterback Bryson Daily. A master of Jeff Monken’s iteration of the flexbone option, the senior has had one of the greatest seasons for any West Point signal caller – and perhaps the best ever. He knows what it’s like to sing second after an Army-Navy game, too.
Daily’s 29 rushing touchdowns are tied with Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty – a Heisman finalist – for the most in America this year. That total is the most in a single season in Army history.
That’s hardly where Daily’s prowess ends. His 1,480 rushing yards rank ninth in the FBS, and that is easily the most in the history of Army football, too. His overall offensive output – 2,351 total yards of offense – is also the most ever in academy history.
Thought that was it? Not yet. Daily’s 378 total yards of offense in Army’s game against UTSA is the second-highest single-game total for any Black Knight. Only Leamon Hall’s 378 total yards in a 1976 game against North Carolina is higher.
Last but certainly not least, Daily has been named the AAC’s Offensive Player of the Year. Truly a historic season.
The greatness of Bryson Daily cannot be overstated. But, any great player is also propped up by great teammates.
Daily and his best friend in the backfield, sophomore running back Kanye Udoh, are the first pair of Army teammates to both rush for 1,000 yards in a season since 2012. Udoh himself is averaging 6.2 yards per rush attempt, and has found the end zone 10 times this year.
Army’s two other most notable offensive weapons are slotback Noah Short, a junior who is third on the team in scrimmage yards, and senior receiver Casey Reynolds, who averages 23.7 yards per catch.
Receivers who play in the triple option are the most selfless college football players in the country. That nomenclature is accurate, and Reynolds has made as much of an impact offensively as any other receiver out there, especially given his usual role.
Under the tutelage of defensive coordinator Nate Woody, West Point has routinely befuddled opposing offenses. This season took that to new heights.
Army has allowed 15 points per game this season, better than all but six other teams. They rank 10th in total defense, relinquishing only 297.9 yards per game. They are 11th against the run, too, which bodes well for the Army-Navy game.
Their stopping unit is led by senior free safety Max DiDomenico, sophomore cornerback Jaydan Mayes, and sophomore defensive end Elo Modozie. Mayes has three interceptions, coupled with an allowed NFL-based opposing passer rating of just 70.2
Just like his West Point counterpart, Navy quarterback Blake Horvath, a junior, has had an excellent campaign.
Horvath has already been named a finalist for the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year Award. He has rushed for 895 yards and 13 touchdowns on just 133 carries. His 11 touchdown passes are tied for the third-most in program history.
Alex Teca and Eli Heidenreich have combined for 903 rushing yards and 17 total touchdowns. Heidenreich is also their top receiver, with 597 yards.
Defensively, Navy is led by defensive end Justin Reed, safety Rayuan Lane III, and linebacker Colin Ramos.
Army has had the greatest season of any service academy to this point, in my estimation. Navy has also had a very nice season, but their starting quarterback is banged up, and they will be facing one of the best defenses in the country.
Army has two rushers who have combined for over 2,00 yards, and Bryson Daily is having the best season ever for any Army quarterback. Navy’s defense, while having some talent, is not that good.
This will still be a physical, hard-fought game. Army will win the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy by a score of 24-14. This is the end of my Army-Navy game rant.
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