Army Puts Together a Complete Effort in Must-Win Game vs. UAB
It was no secret heading into Saturday’s matchup with UAB that this was a must-win for the Army Black Knights.
Army entered the contest averaging 286.3 rushing yards per game—good for 4th in the FBS—and, true to form, the Black Knights leaned on their signature ground attack early, with Dewayne Coleman starting under center.
First Half: Ground Control
UAB opened the game with the first offensive possession, but Army’s special teams made an immediate impact, blocking a 44-yard field goal attempt to keep the Blazers off the board.
From there, Army did what it does best—controlled the clock. The offense went on a methodical 18-play drive that chewed up 10:34 and ended with Hayden Reed punching it in from three yards out to give the Black Knights a 7–0 lead.
The second quarter was a back-and-forth battle until UAB struck late. With 2:01 left in the half, wide receiver Iverson Hooks beat the Army secondary for a 48-yard gain, setting up quarterback Jalen Kitna to find Jaylyn Ferguson for a 1-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7–7.
With just over a minute left in the half, Cale Hellums took over at quarterback and led a composed drive from Army’s own 30-yard line, setting up Dawson Jones for a 45-yard field goal to close the half with Army ahead 10–7.
Second Half: Defense and Dominance
Army opened the third quarter with a quick three-and-out, but UAB couldn’t capitalize—missing a 30-yard field goal attempt wide right.
That proved costly, as the Black Knights found their rhythm. Hellums capped a powerful drive with a 5-yard touchdown run, giving Army a 17–7 lead.
Moments later, the momentum completely swung in Army’s favor when UAB fumbled the ensuing kickoff, which was recovered by the Black Knights at the Blazers’ 28-yard line.
Army initially lined up for a 37-yard field goal, but Head Coach Jeff Monken rolled the dice and went for it on 4th & 3. The gamble didn’t pay off—incomplete pass—but the defense was quick to redeem it.
Redemption and the Knockout Blow
Outside linebacker Gavin Shields came up big with his first interception of the season, setting up Army’s final scoring drive. Hellums finished it off with his third rushing touchdown of the afternoon, putting the game out of reach.
UAB added a late score, but by then, the Black Knights had already strung together 21 unanswered second-half points on their way to a 31–13 victory.
Bottom Line
This was the kind of game Jeff Monken’s Army team needed—disciplined, physical, and efficient. The offense controlled tempo, the defense forced key turnovers, and special teams made a statement early.
Army improves to 2–3, with momentum building as they look ahead to the next challenge.
Post-Game (Army-UAB) with Army HC Jeff Monken (10/4/25)
Post Game (Army-UAB) Analysis with GBK’s Football Analyst Joe Iacono (10/4)
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| UAB | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
| ARMY | 0 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
| Team Stats | Army | UAB |
| 1st Down | 17 | 16 |
| 3rd Down Efficiency | 5-13 | 6-14 |
| 4th Down Efficiency | 3-4 | 2-4 |
| Total Yards | 295 | 362 |
| Passing | 48 | 259 |
| Comp/Att | 2/5 | 24/42 |
| Yards Per Pass | 9.6 | 6.2 |
| Interceptions Thrown | 0 | 1 |
| Rushing | 247 | 103 |
| Rushing Attempts | 61 | 18 |
| Yards Per Rush | 4.0 | 5.7 |
| Penalties | 7-50 | 11-73 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Fumbles Lost/Interceptions | 0/0 | 1/1 |
| Possession | 36:41 | 23:19 |
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