Army Takes Down Air Force at Empower Field
The Army Black Knights brought down the Air Force Falcons at Empower Field at Mile High Saturday afternoon forcing thousands of active military and veterans to their feet.
The Black Knights' dominance on the field showcased the team’s progress this season. Despite a 3-6 record, Army has shown tremendous improvement since early in the season, with Daily’s breakout performance against Air Force serving as a testament to the team’s resilience.
The Black Knights will need to maintain this momentum to claim the CIC Trophy in December, but for now, they can revel in their huge win over the favored Falcons.
The 23-3 score was a shock to many, especially considering ESPN’s Football Power Index gave Air Force an 87.3% chance of winning the game at kickoff.
But Army's defense, led by standout linebacker Leo Lowin, shut down the Falcons' offense and forced crucial turnovers throughout the game. Lowin’s impressive stat line of 11 tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss, a fumble recovery, and a pass deflection earned him the title of best defensive player of the game.
Lowin and the rest of the Army team proved that statistics and rankings can be thrown out the window on game day.
At the game, Colorado House Minority Leader Rep. Mike Lynch, a West Point graduate, and his son Spencer, who is in his first year, were cheering on Army. As it turned out, none of the Lynch clan would be disappointed.
Despite Air Force’s impressive record and undefeated season leading up to the match-up, it was the Black Knights who emerged victorious, pulling off the upset of the season and keeping their hopes alive for the CIC Trophy.
With this win, Army also put an end to Air Force’s reign as the only FBS team without an interception this season, thanks to defensive back Bo Nicolas-Paul's two picks against Falcons quarterback Zac Larrier. The Black Knights capitalized on Larrier's uncharacteristic turnovers, something he had not experienced all season.
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The excitement and euphoria surrounding this win will only grow as Army looks ahead to the Army-Navy game in December, where they will face another tough opponent. But for now, the Black Knights can bask in the glory of their huge win over Air Force in front of a stunned crowd at Empower Field at Mile High.