Army Football Dominates UAB 31-13: Hellums’ Three TDs Spark Road Victory

Black Knights Find Their Spark in Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama — Army West Point delivered its most complete performance of the season Saturday afternoon, dismantling Trent Dilfer’s UAB Blazers 31-13 at Protective Stadium to capture its first American Conference victory of 2025.

The Black Knights (2-3, 1-2 American) dominated the second half, outscoring the home team 21-6 after halftime behind junior quarterback Cale Hellums’ three rushing touchdowns. Army’s ground game churned out 247 yards on 61 carries, controlling possession for nearly 37 minutes in a statement road win.

For a program searching for answers after consecutive losses, this convincing conference victory may represent the turning point Army desperately needed.

“I’m proud of our team,” head coach Jeff Monken said. “Obviously, very happy to get a victory today. Happy for our players. They worked really hard. We’ve been disappointed a couple of times, and today it kind of came together again for us.”

Hellums Delivers When It Matters Most

Junior quarterback Cale Hellums entered the game in the second quarter and never looked back, rushing for a team-high 81 yards on 21 carries with three touchdowns. It marked Hellums’ second multi-rushing touchdown performance of the season and his second game this year stepping in off the bench to spark a victory.

Hellums now has six rushing touchdowns on the season following his three-score afternoon, showcasing the dual-threat ability that makes Army’s triple-option offense so dangerous when executed properly.

“We knew coming into this week’s practice, and then last night Coach Worley sat us down to confirm it,” Hellums said. “He told me that DeWayne was going to start but I was going to get my opportunities. DeWayne knew we were going to switch in and go back and forth.”

Senior quarterback Dewayne Coleman made his second consecutive start, completing his only pass attempt for seven yards and recording eight rushing attempts before Hellums took over the majority of snaps.

Monken explained the quarterback rotation strategy: “We didn’t feel like we were gonna play them both. Dwayne earned the start. But if we needed a spark, needed a little something that might be different—they’re not completely different, but it’s the way they lead. I thought Cale did a really good job, did an outstanding job running the football in the second half, running the ball hard.”

Defensive Dominance Sets the Tone

Army’s defense set the tone on UAB’s opening possession, with sophomore outside linebacker Cole Searight sacking quarterback Jalen Kitna to stall a promising drive inside the Black Knights’ 25-yard line. Defensive lineman Jack Bousum then blocked the subsequent field goal attempt—Army’s first blocked kick of the season—to keep the game scoreless.

“We knew we had to come out strong,” sophomore safety Gavin Shields said. “We struggled with that in our last couple of games. We were really focusing on the fundamentals and coming out strong like that and getting our offense back out there on the field, especially after that blocked field goal.”

The Black Knights forced four UAB possessions to end in four or fewer plays, consistently winning the battle at the line of scrimmage. Shields recorded his first career interception in the third quarter, returning it 21 yards to the UAB 12-yard line to set up Hellums’ second touchdown.

“We just saw it earlier in the game, and the coaches were going over it with us,” Shields explained. “We knew we’d get it again, so we just made that adjustment. Casey [Larkin] before the play was telling me it was coming, so I knew it was coming. I just jumped right in front of that ball.”

Army held the Blazers (2-3, 0-2 American) to just 103 rushing yards on 18 attempts while forcing quarterback Jalen Kitna into difficult passing situations all afternoon.

Monken praised the defensive effort: “It was a big play to keep them from being able to go forward on fourth down, and having to kick it was a big stop for us, and a huge momentum boost for the team and for our defense.”

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Methodical Offense Wears Down UAB

Army’s opening touchdown drive exemplified the Black Knights’ offensive identity: an 18-play, 74-yard march that consumed 10:34 of game clock. Running back Hayden Reed capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, with 17 of the 18 plays coming on the ground.

“It was great to score on our opening drive,” Monken said. “It took over 10 minutes, and it was 19 plays. That was a big drive for us, and really, when we can play that way and control the clock and run the football, that’s what we hope to do. That’s kind of what Army football, when we’ve been successful, has been.”

The Black Knights converted three third downs and two fourth downs on the drive, going 3-for-4 on fourth-down attempts for the game—a stark contrast to last week’s struggles at East Carolina.

“To go out and start on top with seven points was huge,” Hellums said. “We haven’t been able to do that all season. To go out and start on top was huge momentum. We’re 1-0. We’re going to roll into next week with it.”

Reed finished with 54 yards on 12 carries, while slot back Noah Short added 54 yards on seven attempts. Slot back Samari Howard was Army’s only pass catcher Saturday, hauling in two receptions for 48 yards, including a crucial 41-yard catch down the right sideline in the third quarter.

Second-Half Surge Seals Victory

Trailing just 10-7 at halftime after UAB’s quick 90-yard touchdown drive in the final two minutes of the second quarter, Army came out of the locker room and seized control.

Hellums re-entered at quarterback on Army’s second drive of the third quarter and immediately connected with Howard for the game’s biggest play—a 41-yard pass that quickly moved the Black Knights into UAB territory.

“When I heard Coach Worley call it, I was excited,” Hellums said. “I looked at Samari. I said, ‘Be ready.’ Samari told me, ‘Let the thing go.’ The O-line did awesome. They gave me just enough time. Tobi ran off the safety like it was planned, and Samari came down and executed and then made an awesome play after with the ball.”

Howard credited his teammate’s route-running: “Noah Short—a lot of the team’s game plan around Noah Short. He’s a phenomenal football player. He runs 22-23 miles an hour on the GPS. So when he came around on the motion and everybody’s screaming reverse, you gotta follow 15. He put me in the position to catch that football and then make a great play with the hurdle. It’s just instinct; I really didn’t know what else to do.”

Hellums finished the 9-play, 80-yard drive himself with a 5-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 17-7.

On the ensuing kickoff, Army forced a fumble on the UAB return, with kicker Anderson Britton recovering at the Blazers’ 28-yard line. Though the Black Knights came away empty on that possession, Shields’ interception moments later set up Hellums’ second score—a 1-yard quarterback sneak that pushed the lead to 24-7.

“Great play by Gavin, and he put us in a great position on the field,” Hellums said. “We knew we wanted to get seven points and not settle for a field goal like the drive previous. To punch it in, I think it gave us all the momentum. I think it really put the game away.”

Hellums added his third touchdown with 4:10 remaining, a 5-yard rush that capped a short field following another defensive stop, putting the game firmly out of reach at 31-7.

Offensive Line Dominates in Trenches

Army’s offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage throughout the afternoon, opening massive running lanes and protecting the quarterbacks when called upon to pass.

“They are workhorses,” Hellums said. “I told them at the end, they are some savages. They don’t get tired. You’ll see the D-line on the opposing team, no matter who we play, kind of fold and get tired late in the third quarter. The O-line uses that momentum. They just are dominating their will upon another man. When we get movement three or four yards off the line of scrimmage, it just motivates the whole offense.”

Howard echoed the praise: “We take a lot of pride in playing around their culture. It’s a kill-or-be-killed mentality. When we’re lining up against another opponent, you see them, they’re out there, they’re savages. They want more, doesn’t matter what quarter it is, what half it is. They always want more, and we just keep coming.”

Kitna and Dilfer’s Blazers Fall Short

UAB quarterback Jalen Kitna, son of former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, completed 24 of 42 passes for 259 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Despite the gaudy passing numbers, Kitna was under constant pressure from Army’s defensive front and struggled to sustain drives in the second half.

First-year UAB head coach Trent Dilfer, the former Super Bowl-winning quarterback, watched his Blazers fall to 0-2 in American Conference play. UAB’s offense managed just 362 total yards but was plagued by 11 penalties for 73 yards and two missed field goals.

The Blazers added a late touchdown with 54 seconds remaining to make the final score more respectable, but the outcome was never in doubt.

Historic Milestones and Notable Performances

Army’s Opening Drive: The 18-play touchdown march was Army’s longest drive of the season in both plays and time of possession (10:34). It marked the Black Knights’ first opening-drive touchdown of 2025.

Dawson Jones’ Career Long: Kicker Dawson Jones connected on a career-long 45-yard field goal with two seconds remaining in the first half to give Army a 10-7 halftime lead.

“That was big. It was a great drive,” Monken said. “We used some timeouts toward the end of the first half so that we would have a chance to get the ball back and mount perhaps a drive where we could get some points. We were able to center it, had enough time. Every yard you can get it closer, the percentage of the kick goes up.”

Defensive Firsts: Gavin Shields’ interception was the first of his career. Jack Bousum’s blocked field goal was Army’s first blocked kick since Elo Modozie blocked a field goal attempt against Notre Dame on November 23, 2024.

Road Warriors: Army improved to 6-1 in road games since the start of 2024, with the only loss coming last week at East Carolina. The Black Knights have now won their last four October games dating back to last season.

First-Quarter Shutout: Army’s defense held the opposing offense scoreless in the first quarter for the first time in 2025.

Honoring the 25th Infantry Division

Army honored the 25th Infantry Division—nicknamed “Tropic Lightning”—with helmet decals and headset logos. The division, based at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii and activated on October 1, 1941, conducts military operations primarily in the Asia-Pacific region.

Outside linebacker Eric Ford carried the Black Flag onto the field, leading the Black Knights into battle.

Statistical Dominance

Rushing Attack: Army outgained UAB 247-103 on the ground, averaging 4.0 yards per carry on 61 attempts.

Time of Possession: The Black Knights controlled the clock for 36:41 compared to UAB’s 23:19, winning the possession battle by more than 13 minutes.

Third and Fourth Downs: Army converted 5 of 13 third-down attempts and a critical 3 of 4 fourth-down conversions, showing aggressive play-calling and execution in crucial situations.

Red Zone Efficiency: The Black Knights were perfect in the red zone, scoring touchdowns on all four trips inside the UAB 20-yard line.

A Week of Focused Preparation

The victory was built on a week of intense, focused preparation following the disappointing loss at East Carolina.

“The enthusiasm our guys had starting last Sunday—we were so disappointed coming out of the East Carolina game. They flat beat us. It’s a demoralizing feeling,” Monken said. “But our guys played really hard and practiced really well. I was glad to see it come together today.”

Shields emphasized the back-to-basics approach: “We had those extra few days, so we really focused on the fundamentals. Coach Monken hit on it a lot this week. We’re going to start 0-0 and get that 1-0 today. We were really focused on that all week. We’re all good football players, we’re all athletes. But at the end of the day, we’ve got to focus on our fundamentals and put everything that happened the last two weeks behind us and just move on.”

Howard added, “We all did a phenomenal job. Everybody sees that Hayden Reed is a phenomenal football player. Getting him going is a main enabler that we want to get going for the future. Winning solves everything. Everybody was kind of down about losing two in a row, but what are we gonna do about it? That was our attitude going into the week.”

A Turning Point for Army Football?

After dropping consecutive games to Temple and East Carolina, Army needed a statement win to salvage its season. The Black Knights delivered in emphatic fashion, dominating both lines of scrimmage and showcasing the physical, methodical football that defines the program.

Hellums’ emergence as a reliable spark off the bench gives head coach Jeff Monken valuable flexibility at the quarterback position. The junior’s ability to execute the triple option while providing a legitimate rushing threat makes Army’s offense significantly more dangerous.

“They’re both good leaders, both good teammates,” Monken said of his quarterbacks. “Cale does a really good job. He’s eager and competitive and wants to be the starting quarterback. But they have a great relationship; they really pull for each other and push each other.”

With conference play heating up, this road victory provides crucial momentum. The Black Knights proved they can win away from Michie Stadium, control the clock, and execute in high-pressure situations. All essential ingredients for a successful season.

What’s Next

Army returns home to West Point next week, looking to build on this performance and climb back to .500 on the season. UAB, meanwhile, remains winless in American Conference play and faces an uphill battle to reach bowl eligibility under first-year head coach Trent Dilfer.

“Getting a win under your belt is big time,” Hellums said. “Your goal is to go 1-0 every week. We need to dial in on Sunday. But definitely, we’ll use this momentum as the week carries on. I’m just excited for another opportunity to come this Saturday.”

For the Black Knights, Saturday’s convincing road victory may be remembered as the moment their season turned around.

“It is important. It is significant,” Monken said. “What we’ve got to do is try to put another one together. It’s hard to win a football game. Today was a hard-fought victory. I’m proud of our guys, happy for them, and they played really hard.”

Final Stats

Army West Point 31, UAB 13

Scoring Summary:
2Q – ARM: Hayden Reed 3-yard run (Dawson Jones kick) 7-0
2Q – UAB: Xavier Daisy 1-yard pass from Jalen Kitna (Jonah Delange kick) 7-7
2Q – ARM: Dawson Jones 45-yard field goal 10-7
3Q – ARM: Cale Hellums 5-yard run (Jones kick) 17-7
4Q – ARM: Cale Hellums 1-yard run (Jones kick) 24-7
4Q – ARM: Cale Hellums 5-yard run (Jones kick) 31-7
4Q – UAB: Ryder Burton 1-yard run (kick failed) 31-13

Individual Leaders:

Rushing:
ARM – Cale Hellums 21-81, 3 TD; Hayden Reed 12-54, 1 TD; Noah Short 7-54
UAB – Jevon Jackson 12-89; Jalen Kitna 3-5

Passing:
ARM – Cale Hellums 1-3-0, 41 yards; Dewayne Coleman 1-1-0, 7 yards
UAB – Jalen Kitna 24-42-1, 259 yards, 1 TD

Receiving:
ARM – Samari Howard 2-48
UAB – Iverson Hooks 4-71; Xavier Daisy 7-50, 1 TD

Attendance: 22,489

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