Army moved to 3-3 and 2-2 in the American with a win over Charlotte.
Jeff Monken said Army football's season is back to "even Steven" following its 24-7 win over Charlotte on a rainy afternoon at Michie Stadium.
The Black Knights, with their second consecutive win and first in three home games, moved to 3-3 and 2-2 in the American. Charlotte fell to 1-5, 0-3.
The Black Knights jumped out to a 17-0 lead on the back of junior quarterback Cale Hellums, who got his third start of the season. Hellums directed one more scoring drive in the third quarter before being lifted for alternate starter Dewayne Coleman. But Monken came away from the game rather upset with a lackluster offensive effort in the second half, and allowing Charlotte one final score with eight seconds to play, spoiling the shutout bid.
"It was a great team win,'' Army football co-captain Kalib Fortner said. "Our defense played really stout and the offense put up enough points on the board for us to get the win.''
Hellums got his third start of the season and looked strong throughout, leading Army on three first-half scoring drives and a 17-0 halftime lead.
Army scored on its first drive for the second week in a row, after being shut out on opening series over the first four games. Hellums turned in his most exciting play of the season from midfield, carrying off the left side, picking up big block and then cutting back toward the right into the open field. Hellums slowed down near the goal line and was hit by Charlotte's 40, his knee coming down at the 1-yard line to cap a 50-yard gain. Hellums went over from the right side for the score and 7-0 lead with 3:40 left in the first quarter.
Hayden Reed lost the ball as he was ripped down to the turf by Charlotte's Kadin Schmitz, and Xavier Miles recovered the ball for the 49ers. Charlotte moved the sticks once but turned it over on downs when receiver Javen Nicholas ran a route short of the first down and Casey Larkin made a solo tackle a yard short.
This time, Hellums engineered Army's longest drive of the season — and fourth-longest in FBS — with 17 plays, 85 yards and 10:51 taken off the clock. Carson Smith posted his first career touchdown, leaping through a hole on the left side and diving forward for a 5-yard score 3:39 before half. Dawson Jones remained perfect on 17 PATs for the 14-0 lead.
Charlotte moved the ball 27 yards to midfield but first-time starting quarterback Zach Wilcke threw three incompletions and turned the ball over on downs with 1:14 to play and Army still possessing three time outs. Smith had a 10-yard gain, as did Hellums. Down to the Charlotte 21 with two seconds left, Jones booted a 38-yard field goal for the 17-0 halftime lead.
"I thought he did a really good job,'' Monken said of Hellums. "In the first half, we did a particularly good job of opening some holes for him and for the other runners.''
Monken said that was not the case in the second half, adding "I'm a little embarrassed by the way we played in the second half on offense.''
Army came into the game as a 17.5-point favorite.
Up next
Army will head to New Orleans to face Tulane in a rematch of the 2024 American title game, won by the Black Knights. Army will then have a weekend off ahead of the crucial Commander-in-Chief's Trophy second-leg matchup at Air Force on Nov. 1. The Falcons lost to defending champion Navy, and Army needs the win in order to have an opportunity to win the CIC Trophy outright.
"We're playing one of our best teams in the league at Tulane next week,'' Monken said.
X / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Army football tops Charlotte
Category: General Sports
