FACTS & STATS: Site: Yankee Stadium (50,921) — Bronx, New York.
Television: CBSSN. Home Record: UConn 2-3, Army 2-2. Away Record: UConn 0-3,
Army 0-4. Neutral Record: UConn 0-0, Army 0-0. Conference Record: UConn 1-4,
Army 0-0. Series Record: Connecticut leads, 4-1.
GAME NOTES: The Connecticut Huskies take a break from their American Athletic
Conference schedule to take on the Army Black Knights at Yankee Stadium on
Saturday afternoon.
UConn pulled off a major upset and caused a stir at the top of the AAC
standings last weekend, as it toppled UCF in a 37-29 final. The Knights
entered the game with a 3-0 mark in league play, while the Huskies had failed
to earn a victory in their first four league tests. They are still just 2-6
overall, with the victory over UCF being their first against a FBS school this
season.
Army carries much less momentum into this contest, with losses in three
straight games. The Black Knights were dominated by Air Force at home last
weekend, falling 23-6 to one of its rival service academies. Like UConn, Army
has an overall record of 2-6, with both wins coming at home. This weekend’s
game marks the beginning of a final stretch for the Black Knights in which
they will play three of four contests away from West Point.
This is the first meeting between these programs since 2006, when UConn was
still competing in the now defunct Big East Conference. The Huskies won that
contest, 21-7, at home. They have won four of five all-time meetings with
Army.
The Huskies are still not an offensive power in the AAC, but they have
certainly been better recently, posting at least 300 yards in three of the
last four games. They did so only once in the first four games of the season.
They are still next-to-last in the league in both total offense (282.6 ypg)
and scoring offense (16.9 ppg).
Chandler Whitmer has been steady but not overwhelmingly impressive at
quarterback for UConn, throwing for 1,301 yards and nine touchdowns, compared
to four interceptions, on 55.4 percent passing. He finished with only 142
yards against UCF, but he connected on 13-of-25 attempts and had two aerial
scores.
Both touchdown passes went to Noel Thomas, who finished with 83 yards on four
total receptions. Thomas had only 97 yards in the first seven games, yet he is
now tied with Geremy Davis for the team-lead in touchdown receptions (three).
Davis did not have a single catch against UCF, but he leads the Huskies in
receptions (34) and receiving yards (436). Deshon Foxx (20 receptions, 310
yards, TD) showed off his versatility against UCF, rushing for 102 yards and a
touchdown.
Max DeLorenzo (194 yards), Ron Johnson (180 yards, two TDs) and Arkeel Newsome
(171 yards) have worked together to form a running back-by-committee system.
DeLorenzo and Johnson are each averaging less than four yards per carry.
UConn has done a decent job on defense, despite piling up the losses. The
Huskies rank fifth in the AAC in total defense (369.9 ypg) and sixth in
scoring defense (26.8 ppg). In the win over UCF, they did not put up as much
resistance, allowing 429 total yards, but they forced four turnovers, led by
three interceptions from Andrew Adams.
The Huskies will face a rather unique offensive scheme this weekend, albeit a
dated one. Army, which still employs a triple-option attack, runs the ball
frequently and with moderate success. The Black Knights are sixth in the
nation in rushing yards (294.8 ypg), although they average the fewest yards
per carry (5.4) among teams in the top-10. They were even more ineffective
against Air Force, finishing with only 122 yards on the ground, part of a
dismal 169-yard effort overall.
Quarterback Angel Santiago led the team with 33 yards in the loss, while
putting forth an even more miserable effort through the air (2-of-11, 20
yards). Santiago is second on the team in rushing yards (576) and attempts
(121), while at the very top of the roster in rushing touchdowns (six).
Larry Dixon (696 yards, five TDs) leads the way for the offense, although he
had only 13 yards on 10 attempts against Air Force. The performance broke a
streak of three straight games for Dixon with at least 70 yards.
There is more depth in the backfield with Terry Baggett (285 yards, TD),
backup quarterback A.J. Schurr (218 yards, three TDs) and Raymond Maples (169
yards, two TDS) all getting work each week.
Slowing down the opposition has been a weekly struggle for the Black Knights,
who are allowing 34.2 points and 437.9 yards per game. They don’t get much
pressure on the quarterback, with only seven sacks, and they also permitted
points on 90 percent of the enemy’s trips to the red zone.
UConn benefited from some sloppy play by UCF last weekend. Army doesn’t throw
the ball very often, if at all, so there will be less opportunity to create
turnovers, an area the Black Knights have been strong in, with only 11
giveaways on the season. Still, if UConn can get a few stops, it should be
able to move the ball enough to win.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Connecticut 24, Army 21
