INSIDE SLANT

Army can easily say there’s been some real progress in the first year under Rich Ellerson.

The Black Knights got to four wins for the first time since 2005 with a narrow win over VMI. And then the real progress came Saturday—Army posted win No. 5 at North Texas for the first five-win season for the program since 1996.

Army still has a chance of reaching the EagleBank Bowl. It would take an upset of Navy on Dec. 12 to get there, but being 5-6 with that very chance as the potential icing on the cake against Navy is really all anyone could ask for in Ellerson’s first year.

“It’s the start of something good,” freshman quarterback Trent Steelman said after he and his team pulled out a 17-13 win. “It’s the first time we’ve won five games (5-6) since 1996. These seniors have laid such a great foundation and this is the start of something great and better years to come. It gives a chance to go to a bowl game if we beat Navy (on Dec. 12 in Philadelphia) and nothing would be better than that.”

North Texas is anything but a powerhouse. And even though Army gave up all kinds of yardage to the home team, the Black Knights won because they produced five turnovers, all in Army territory, and also blocked a field goal.

They also won because freshman quarterback Trent Steelman ripped off a 55-yard run after defensive end Marcus Hilton blocked a late field goal. Steelman, who had a 132-yard game on the ground, followed the 55-yarder with a 2-yard winning TD with 1:13 left, and then another interception sealed the outcome.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Army has reached five wins for the first time since 1996 after scoring a 17-13 road win at North Texas Saturday. The victory moved the Black Knights to 5-6, and an upset of Navy Dec. 12 would send the Black Knights to the EagleBank Bowl.

• The Dec. 12 game will be the 110th Army-Navy game and Navy has won the last seven meetings to take a 53-49-7 all-time series lead.

• QB Trent Steelman, making his 11th straight start, ran for 132 yards on 23 carries in the win at North Texas, saving his best for last. On the first play after defensive end Marcus Hilton blocked a late field goal, Steelman, who was supposed to pass, ran 55 yards down to the North Texas 2, and then scored the winning touchdown two plays later.

• Army left its regular defense on the field for a late field goal attempt, blocked the kick and wound up winning the game.

• Freshman DB Ty Shrader, playing in his first college game, had already recovered a fumble and then intercepted a pass at Army’s 40 with 1:01 left to ensure the win.

“We were down by three and there was not one minute that we thought the game was over,” he said. “Trent had a huge run and he got down there and put it in. The defense got on the field we knew they were going to pass it. I knew they were going to stop the clock on a five-yard out. I just cut it off.”

Game Ball Goes To:   The Army defense—Talk about bend but don’t break, the Black Knights gave up all kinds of yardage in the win but also produced five turnovers and a key blocked field goal, all the big plays coming in Army territory. Four of the turnovers were at or inside the Army 20 and defensive end Marcus Hilton’s field goal blocked led to the winning score.

Keep An Eye On:   The growth of the Army program. There might be few who think the Knights will beat Navy Dec. 12. But just the fact that a bowl berth hangs in the balance is a tribute to progress and a little extra something to fight for in the ultimate rivalry game.

Quote To Note:   “The Navy game means a lot but this one is that much more important because it was either keep our hopes for a bowl game alive or go home.”—Army defensive end Marcus Hilton after his team pulled out at 17-13 win at North Texas.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Looking Good:   The Army defense gave up yardage throughout the game at North Texas but kept coming up with huge plays, turning the Mean Green over five times, four at or inside the Army 20, and also blocked a field goal. Freshman quarterback Trent Steelman ran for 132 yards, 57 of them on two carries that won the game.

Still Needs Work:   Army just might not be good enough to beat Navy, but having that game now mean a possible bowl bid will fire these guys up even more for their top rivals. The defense made the big plays but will now face a tougher and more-efficient offense.

Roster Report:  

• WR Alejandro Villanueva, the giant target who has become a factor in his senior year, caught five more passes, for 77 yards, in Saturday’s win at North Texas. He was also the intended target on the key play of the game and wound up throwing a huge block that helped Trent Steelman run 55 yards to set up the winning score.

• DE Josh McNary came into the game tied for the national lead in tackles for loss, at 1.95, and had two more. But with 2.05 per game, he was trailing Michigan’s Brandon Graham, who was at 2.08.

• K Alex Carlton was 1-for-1 on field goal attempts Saturday, leaving him two shy of breaking the all-time Army season record of 18, set by J. Parker in 1996. Carlton is 17-for-21, 5-for-6 from more than 40 yards and 12-for-14 from 30 and out.

• FS Donovan Travis left Saturday’s game on the second play from scrimmage with a lower leg injury and didn’t return.

• FS Chase Prasnicki, a senior, replaced Travis and, in his first serious playing time of his career, was in on seven tackles.

• RB Patrick Mealy, coming off a career rushing game, ran for 35 yards and his third touchdown of the year on nine carries.

• DB Jordan Trimble led Army with 11 tackles and also had an interception.

• P Jonathan Boles dropped three of his eight punts inside the North Texas 20 and Army yielded just 17 yards of punt returns by the Mean Green.

• LB Steve Erzinger had a big strip and recovery of the fumble. He also made two big plays late, tackling North Texas quarterback Riley Dodge for a 4-yard loss and then running 23 yards with the ball after Marcus Hilton blocked the ensuing field goal attempt.

• The Hilton block was Army’s first field goal block of the season.