Strong Start For Army Leads To Decisive Win Over Charlotte
It was a tale of two halves at Michie Stadium, and if you ask Head Coach Jeff Monken, he’s only happy with one of them. The Army Black Knights secured a decisive 24-7 victory over the struggling Charlotte 49ers, but the feeling in the misty West Point air wasn’t one of pure celebration. It was more like relief mixed with a healthy dose of frustration.
Yes, Army evened its record to 3-3, a crucial step for a team with bowl aspirations. And yes, they finally gave the home crowd a win to cheer about after two gut-wrenching overtime losses earlier this season. But the Black Knights left a lot on the field, and that’s what will be gnawing at them as they head into a pivotal matchup against Tulane.
Hellums Ignites the Army Offense Early
The first half was exactly what the Black Knights drew up. Junior quarterback Cale Hellums, getting his third start of the season, played with a fire and confidence that ignited the entire offense. It was clear from the opening whistle that he was the man for the job.
The game’s first score was a masterclass in option football and individual brilliance. On a run to the left, Hellums saw a seam, got a crucial block, and then displayed a stunning cutback, slicing through the Charlotte defense into open space. It was a 50-yard-scamper that felt like it would never end, with Hellums finally brought down just shy of the goal line at the 1-yard marker. The hard part was done. He punched it in on the next play, and just like that, Army had a 7-0 lead.
That initial drive set the tone. Later, Hellums orchestrated what can only be described as a soul-crushing march for the Charlotte defense. It was a 17-play, 85-yard epic that bled an incredible 10 minutes and 51 seconds off the clock. The drive culminated in Carson Smith’s first career touchdown, a powerful 5-yard dive that put Army up 14-0.
Just before the half, with the Black Knights getting the ball back with a little over a minute to play, they didn’t sit on it. They pushed downfield, and Dawson Jones calmly drilled a 38-yard field goal as time expired. Army went into the locker room with a commanding 17-0 lead, total control of the clock, and all the momentum in the world.
“I thought he did a really good job,” Monken said of Hellums’ first-half performance. “We did a particularly good job of opening some holes for him and for the other runners.”
A Stagnant Second Half Raises Concerns
Whatever momentum Army built in the first half seemed to vanish in the locker room. The offense that was so crisp and dominant before the break became stagnant and predictable. They managed one more scoring drive in the third quarter, again sparked by Hellums connecting with Noah Short on a 44-yard pass, which he finished with another 1-yard touchdown run to make it 24-0.
But after that, the well went dry. The offensive line, which had been creating massive lanes, suddenly couldn’t get the same push. The execution faltered. It was a frustrating display that led Monken to pull Hellums for Dewayne Coleman, but the change didn’t spark the offense.
“I’m a little embarrassed by the way we played in the second half on offense,” a visibly annoyed Monken stated post-game. The frustration was palpable. This wasn’t just about winning; it was about meeting the standard of Army football for a full 60 minutes.
The final insult came with just eight seconds left on the clock. With the game well in hand, the Army defense, which had been stout all day, allowed Charlotte to score a meaningless 16-yard touchdown, shattering the shutout. It was a lapse in focus that perfectly encapsulated the second-half malaise.
Looking Ahead for Army
While the victory gets Army back to “even Steven,” as Monken put it, the team knows it can’t afford a similar performance against Tulane next week. The Green Wave represents a massive step up in competition.
The ground game was still dominant, churning out 304 yards, with Hellums leading the charge with a spectacular 143 yards on his own. The defense, despite the late touchdown, played with tenacity, led by co-captain Kalib Fortner. But consistency remains the biggest question mark for this Army team.
Can they put together a complete game against a top-tier conference opponent? The season may depend on it. This win was necessary, but the journey is far from over. For Army, the real test is just beginning.
