Game Preview: Army

For the most part, the top scoring defenses in college football are the same teams that make up the top-25 polls.

Michigan. Florida. Wisconsin. Alabama. LSU. Ohio State. Washington. Auburn.

But one team — one with less benefits and perhaps a more difficult road — is also ranked among the best: Army.

“It may not have the star power, but they play well as a unit, they play well as 11 guys strong,” said Sal Interdonato, who covers the Black Knights for The Times Herald-Record.

Through eight games, Army had allowed just 132 points, an average of just 16.5 per game, the No. 9 scoring defense in the country. For a team coming off a 2-8 season, the thriving defense is the biggest reason why Army is nearing bowl eligibility for the first time since 2010.

In terms of total defense (yards allowed per game), the Black Knights allowed just 266.8 through eight games, the No. 3-ranked unit in the country. In terms of rushing defense, Army was ranked seventh (103.8 ypg). In passing defense, the Black Knights were fifth (163 ypg).

It starts with Army’s star group of linebackers in its 3-4 base defensive scheme: seniors Andrew King, Jeremy Timpf, junior Alex Aukerman and sophomore Kenneth Brinson.

“Their linebackers are really, really good,” Interdonato said.

King and Timpf are three-year starters and each have over 200 career tackles — Timpf had 269 through eight games, King had 218. King is a vocal leader, Interdonato said, while Timpf at 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds is a weapon pressuring the quarterback.

In a 21-13 win over Wake Forest Oct. 29, Timpf had nine tackles, one tackle for loss and two hurries.

“He was able to pressure Wake Forest’s quarterback and make him throw on the move a bit and force him into a couple interceptions,” Interdonato said.

The 6-foot-1, 242-pound Aukerman, meanwhile, is Army’s most versatile defender. He came to West Point as a 200-pound safety, but added plenty of weight and has turned into a valuable front-seven defender.

Aukerman started six games last year, but did not stay on the field much and tallied just 35 total tackles. Through eight games this season, he had 33 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks.

“He’s just so versatile, and (defensive coordinator) Jay Bateman says they can’t do a lot of the stuff they do on defense without Alex Aukerman,” Interdonato said.

Finally there’s Brinson, one of the top recruits Jeff Monken has signed in his three-year tenure. Brinson was a three-star prospect by Rivals and had offers to play football from Boston College, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Stanford and Utah.

“He was a big time recruit that decided to come to Army,” Interdonato said of Brinson, a native of Atlanta.

During its 5-4 start to the season, Army beat Temple, Rice, Texas-El Paso, Lafayette (FCS) and Wake Forest, holding each opponent to two touchdowns or less. Even in a loss at Duke Oct. 8 — the same day Notre Dame played in hurricane conditions at NC State — the Black Knights only fell 13-7.

Army finished last season 2-8, but with nine starters back on defense, things were building for a strong 2016 season.

“This is the third year of Monken’s tenure there, so this was going to be the year to do something,” Interdonato said. “The schedule was tough out of the blocks, four of the first five on the road. How they came out of that was really key, and they ended up going 3-2. That was the big key.”

Offensively, Army’s triple option attack was ranked 50th in the country in scoring through eight games, averaging 31.5 points per game. And typical of an option team, the Black Knights do it all on the ground with the No. 2-ranked rushing offense (342.6 ypg).

The Black Knights can move the ball, when they don’t turn it over.

Last season, Army was one of 17 teams in the country to have a turnover margin of minus-10 or more. The Black Knights turned the ball over 22 times, which contributed to their 0-7 record in games decided by seven points or less.

“When they take care of the ball they win, it’s as simple as that,” Interdonato said.

While last year the fullback position in the offense was a weak link, Army has gotten good performances there this year in support of junior quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw.

“The fullbacks have been really good this year. Last year there was very little production from the fullbacks, but this year with Andy Davidson and Darnell Woolfolk, they have 13 touchdowns between those two guys,” Interdonato said. “Last year their fullbacks totaled 10 the whole season.

“Davidson was a converted linebacker, he got off to a really strong start. He’s been banged up a little bit, and against Lafayette, they had their third string fullback Cole Macek run for 100 yards.”

Army’s top receiver — 6-4, 216-pound senior Edgar Poe — missed three games with a hand injury before returning to the lineup against North Texas Oct. 22.

Poe caught four passes for 122 yards and a touchdown against Wake Forest.

“He gives them a real vertical threat they don’t really have,” Interdonato said of Poe. “If Army quarterbacks under throw the ball, he can go get it. He’s a key in the games coming up, because the defenses are going to put eight or nine in the box to try and stop the run. They have to prove they can throw the ball, and he’s their top target.”

Like Notre Dame, Army’s special teams have struggled in various phases this season. The Black Knights have made just 5-of-10 field goal attempts this season, and junior Blake Wilson — who was cut from the team as a freshman — is now back after senior Mitch Howard was injured making a tackle against Buffalo Sept. 24.

“They have no confidence in the kicking right now,” Interdonato said.

Facts & Figures

Date: Nov. 12, 2016.

Site: Alamodome (65,000).

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m.

Television: NBC.

Radio: This broadcast can be heard live on SIRIUS Satellite Radio (channel 129).

Series Facts: This is the 51st all-time meeting between Army and Notre Dame. The Irish beat the Black Knights 27-3 in the previous matchup, a 2010 game at Yankee Stadium. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 38-8-4.

Coaches: Army — Jeff Monken (11-22, third season); Notre Dame — Brian Kelly (58-29, seventh season).

Noting Army: Notre Dame will host Army Oct. 28 next season at Notre Dame Stadium … Monken took over for Rich Ellerson, who had just one winning season from 2010-13 … Monken, 49, was previously the head coach at Georgia Southern from 2010-13 … In the past 20 seasons of Army football, it has just two winning seasons (2010, 1996) … Army and Notre Dame are two of the four Football Bowl Subdivision independents. BYU and Massachusetts are the other two.