COLLEGE FOOTBALL LOOK AHEAD

Army trying to get back on track against Air Force

The Sports Xchange

October 30, 2012 at 4:53 pm.

Trent Steelman has been one bright spot for Army this season. (Danny Wild-US PRESSWIRE)

–Since beating Boston College, Army has lost three games in a row, all to teams from the MAC, yielding 109 points in the three losses.

–Saturday’s game against Air Force is a matchup of the top two rushing attacks in the country, both running the option. Army is No. 1 with 383.13 yards per game, while Air Force comes in a 366.25.

–Army hasn’t won the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy since 1996 and has lost 13 straight games in the annual series. The Knights have lost six straight to Air Force since beating the Falcons in 2005.

–Rich Ellerson, whose team is 4-16 since the start of last season, is 16-29 as the Army coach.

–Army has won eight of its last 80 games when trailing at halftime and have lost 24 in a row when behind after three quarters.

–The Knights had two 100-yard rushers last Saturday, the fifth time this year that has happened, breaking the program record set in 1948.

–Army opponents have scored on their opening drive in six of the eight games and the Knights are 0-6 in those games.

–Army split the turnover battle, 1-1, Saturday and have lost 25 of their last 30 games when even or behind in turnovers in the game.

SERIES HISTORY: Air Force leads Army, 32-13-1 (last meeting, 2011, 24-14, Air Force).

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: QB Trent Steelman was asked after last Saturday’s loss how he thought he and the offense played in the game. “I think I did pretty well,” he said. “I know I missed one read for sure. They were giving us the inside, so we tried to take advantage of that. There weren’t many read plays that we really had today, but we did a heck of a job as an offensive unit. We just have to keep cashing in; there is more to be had.” Fullback Hayden Tippett has come on at the right time.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: The group is young but has played enough football to be getting better. That has come slowly. “Maybe you can’t see it, but we made some progress,” coach Rich Ellerson said. “We’re getting some stops. We’re stopping a good offense. We’re creating some opportunities. There are opportunities to improve on that side of the ball, obviously, but we’re on track there.” Still, Army is 120th in the country against the run and this week has to deal with Air Force’s potent option attack.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “I just told the guys that we have to unload this one as quick as we can. We can salvage so much and drop so much of this frustration and hurt. We know we can compete. We’ve stayed together through all this stuff. We’ve continued to compete through all this stuff. We believe in one another. We believe in what we’re doing.” — Coach Rich Ellerson, after the 30-22 loss to Ball State.

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