WEST POINT, N.Y. (October 14, 2015) -- With the spotlight from ESPN3 on, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point sprint football team showed that it is a force to be reckoned with this season after posting a 42-0 shutout-victory over Mansfield on the road on Oct. 10.
The shutout is the fourth of the season for the Black Knights (4-0, 4-0 CSFL), rivaling only the 1958 team for best start in program history. These two marks are also matched by the 1965 team, who ended its season with four consecutive goose eggs.
Army's defense overpowered the Mountaineers (1-3, 1-3 CSFL) at Karl Van Norman Field, allowing just 99 yards of total offense. Mansfield gained negative 13 yards on 40 rushing attempts and completed only 40 percent of its passes with its three quarterbacks. They were pressured all night long as the Black Knights recorded 11 sacks for 73 yards to go along with the six turnovers that were forced.
The Black Knights stormed out to a 7-0 lead after a four-yard pass from freshman quarterback Cadet Brady Miller was hauled in by junior running back Cadet Marqus Burrell 4:11 into the contest. Burrell would add a rushing touchdown later in the quarter, also from four yards out, to double the margin after sophomore Cadet Tanner Andrews snagged his third interception of the season. Burrell totaled 70 yards on the ground on 19 carries.
Miller tossed a ten-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Cadet Austin Breed for his second touchdown through the air on the night after an interception by senior defensive back Cadet Alfred McQuirter set up the drive. Army took a 21-0 advantage into the locker room.
Mansfield came out of the intermission with a reenergized look and did something no other team has been able to do thus far in 2015; prevent the Black Knights from scoring a touchdown for a full quarter, breaking a streak of 14-consecutive quarters. Army was determined to find the end zone in the final frame, however, and did so multiple times.
Sophomore defensive lineman Cadet Curtis Jerzerick scooped up a fumble after senior defensive lineman Cadet Philip Choi forced the ball out on a sack in Army territory. Jerzerick toted the ball 61 yards down the field for the score, less than a minute into the fourth quarter. A 14-yard scamper by sophomore running back Cadet Quay Gilmore with 3:02 left in the game increased the lead to 35-0 before sophomore linebacker Cadet Jake Marchillo recorded the team's fourth interception of the night and returned it 24 yards to the house to cap the scoring.
The Black Knights will conclude the road portion of the schedule next week as they travel to Rindge, New Hampshire, Oct. 17, for a 1 p.m. kickoff against Franklin Pierce.
Related Links:
Army West Point Athletics website
U.S. Military Academy at West Point website
U.S. Army Garrison West Point website
Army West Point Athletics Facebook
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