Army Football Grinds Out 14-13 Victory Over Temple Behind Fourth-Quarter Ball Control

West Point, N.Y. — In prototypical Army fashion, the Black Knights controlled the clock when it mattered most, grinding out a 14-13 American Conference victory over Temple on Saturday afternoon at Michie Stadium. Army (5-4, 3-3) held the ball for the final 9 minutes and 53 seconds of the fourth quarter, running 18 plays to seal the win and move within one victory of bowl eligibility for the second consecutive season.

The picture-perfect 60-degree November day provided the backdrop for a classic Army performance: physical rushing attack, opportunistic defense, and clock-killing execution when the game was on the line.

Fourth Quarter Masterclass

After Temple punted with 9:53 remaining in the fourth quarter, Army took over at its own 42-yard line and never gave the ball back. The Black Knights advanced just 53 yards over 18 snaps, but that modest yardage stretched across nearly 10 minutes of game time.

Army converted three crucial short-yardage situations during the drive: fourth-and-1 at the Temple 35, third-and-2 at the Temple 26, and third-and-1 at the Temple 4. A three-yard gain by quarterback Cale Hellums inside the two-minute warning moved the ball to the Temple one-yard line, setting up victory formation as the final seconds ticked away.

The drive epitomized the Black Knights’ offensive identity: methodical, physical, and relentless. The Owls’ defense knew what was coming but couldn’t stop it.

“We just played Army football,” Hellums said after the game. “We just went back to the fundamentals, and I think everyone did their one-eleventh when their number was called out there. We just played pretty good football on third and fourth down.”

Head coach Jeff Monken praised his team’s execution in the critical moments.

“Every one of those yards was tough today. Temple’s good. They’re very well coached, and their guys were beating blocks and sliding off of blocks, and they made some good plays,” Monken said. “It was just being gritty and trying to get those hard yards, and we had to do that a few times.”

Hellums Leads Ground Attack

Hellums carried the offense on his shoulders, rushing 36 times for 118 yards and a touchdown. The quarterback completed just one pass all afternoon—a 26-yard connection to tight end Parker Poloskey—but his legs did all the talking.

Hellums’ 118 rushing yards marked his fourth 100-yard rushing performance of the season and his third game with 30-plus carries. His 12th rushing touchdown of the season, a 3-yard run in the third quarter, put Army ahead 14-10 and proved to be the game-winner.

The senior signal-caller’s ability to read defenses, find creases, and convert short-yardage situations was the difference in a one-point game. On Army’s final drive, Hellums touched the ball on 13 of 18 plays, grinding out tough yards and keeping the clock moving.

“It’s awesome, you know, and I think all around, our team’s just getting better week in, week out, and we’re practicing hard,” Hellums said. “It’s fun and, like, we have momentum right now. You know, we’re going to enjoy this win, but tomorrow we got to show up ready to work and focus on going one-and-oh against UTSA.”

On the game-sealing final drive, Hellums demonstrated his football IQ by sliding down at the three-yard line instead of scoring, preserving the clock and forcing Temple to burn its final timeout.

“To be able to run it down there and take a knee in front of the Corps of Cadets and to end the game with the ball in the opposite hands was awesome, and we needed to do that and we were able to get it done,” Hellums said.

Rendina’s Breakout Performance

Junior running back Jake Rendina, typically known as a key blocker in Army’s triple-option attack, made his presence felt as a ball carrier in his first career start at running back. Rendina rushed nine times for a career-high 42 yards and scored his second career touchdown—a 7-yard run in the second quarter that gave Army its first lead at 7-0.

Rendina’s touchdown run was also the longest scoring run of his career. The Kalispell, Montana native entered the game with just 10 carries on the season but delivered when his number was called, showcasing the depth and versatility of Army’s rushing attack.

Rendina’s performance demonstrated the “next man up” mentality that defines Army football. When the Black Knights needed production from an unexpected source, Rendina answered.

“Yeah, I mean, we just played Army football. We just went back to the fundamentals, and I think everyone did their one eleventh when their number was called out there,” Rendina said. “We just played pretty good football on third and fourth down.”

Monken praised Rendina’s physical style and versatility.

“He’s a running back that if you came to our lift tomorrow and went in the weight room, he would be down at the far east end of the weight room with the offensive linemen. That’s who he lifts with,” Monken said. “He’s kind of a player’s player. Everybody likes him because he’s tough and physical. He did a good job; he got some really tough yards. And when he got hit, he kept moving the pile and pushing people forward.”

Hellums echoed his coach’s sentiments about Rendina’s performance.

“Jake Rendina only had like nine carries going into this game, and then he had nine or ten today, and he ran the ball hard. And, you know, for him to do that, it was awesome. I was just so happy to see him go in there and run it hard because he blocks his butt off. And for him to be rewarded with the ball in his hands this game, it was great to see,” Hellums said.

Fuel Your Mission with Black Rifle Coffee

When Army grinds out victories with grit and determination, fuel your day with the same relentless energy. Black Rifle Coffee—veteran-owned, mission-driven, and brewed for those who refuse to quit. Premium coffee for those who serve, support, and stand strong.

BUY NOW

Supporting veterans, one cup at a time.

Winning Despite the Numbers

Army’s victory was impressive considering the Black Knights were out-gained 268-250 in total yardage and completed just one pass. But the statistics that mattered told a different story: Army dominated time of possession (37:38 to 22:22) and converted 4-of-5 fourth-down attempts, including all four in the second half.

The Black Knights’ ability to convert in short-yardage situations kept drives alive and kept Temple’s offense on the sideline. Army’s 20 first downs compared to Temple’s 16 reflected the Black Knights’ ability to sustain drives and control the tempo.

“You know, we go into every game playing Army football, and we’re going to run it, and we’re going to get six, five, seven yards a pop and take our shots when we have the opportunities to,” Hellums explained. “I think it came down to, like, I know their offense does a great job of holding time for possession, and so do we, and you know, I think that’s always a chess match in itself.”

The Black Knights’ rushing attack totaled 224 yards on 63 carries (3.6 yards per carry), with contributions from multiple players. Carson Smith added 30 yards on five carries, Noah Short contributed 26 yards on six carries, and Hayden Reed chipped in eight yards on three attempts.

Monken acknowledged the difficulty of gaining yards against Temple’s defense.

“It was hard to gain yards. We averaged less than four yards per rush, so it wasn’t like we were getting big plays and big chunks; they were hard-fought yards,”Monken said. “Every yard we got was tough today; Temple’s good. They’re very well coached, and their guys were beating blocks and sliding off of blocks.”

Black Knights News:

• Army Hockey Battles to 3-3 Tie at Bentley, Forselius Delivers Shootout Winner
• Army Rugby Dominates Penn State 55-14 in Warrior Field Homecoming
• Army Football Preview: Black Knights Host Temple in Critical AAC Showdown
• Army Women’s Soccer Advances to Patriot League Semifinals with Dramatic 2-1 Victory Over Colgate

First Half: Trading Blows

The game began as a defensive struggle, with both teams trading punts and field position in a scoreless first quarter. Temple’s opening drive showed promise, as quarterback Evan Simon led the Owls on a 10-play, 49-yard march that reached the Army 43-yard line before linebacker Andon Thomas broke up a third-down pass to force a punt.

Army’s offense, pinned deep at its own 1-yard line after the punt, managed one first down before punting back to Temple. The Owls took over at midfield and drove into Army territory, but kicker Carl Hardin’s 45-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left, keeping the game scoreless.

Army finally broke through early in the second quarter with an 11-play, 73-yard drive that consumed 7 minutes and 49 seconds. Rendina capped the drive with his 7-yard touchdown run, giving the Black Knights a 7-0 lead with 11:19 remaining in the half.

“We needed that; you know, it was good for momentum. It was good for our defense to see us put together that drive and give them a break and, you know, allow them some room, you know, not to have to be perfect,” Hellums said of the opening scoring drive.

Temple responded immediately with a methodical 13-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 7 minutes and 16 seconds. Simon connected with Colin Chase for a 2-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line, tying the game at 7-7 with 4:03 left in the half.

Halftime Drama

Army drove into Temple territory in the final minute of the half, but facing fourth-and-2 from the Temple 44, Hellums was stopped behind the line of scrimmage by Jayvant Brown with 26 seconds remaining. The turnover on downs gave Temple possession and a chance to take the lead before halftime.

The Owls capitalized, driving to the Army 7-yard line with six seconds left. Army’s defense forced an incompletion in the back of the end zone with one second remaining, holding Temple to a 24-yard field goal as time expired. The Owls took a 10-7 lead into the locker room.

Monken addressed the fourth-down stop and the halftime adjustments.

“Right before half, we had the fourth down play. We let their linebacker run right through to B-gap, and we got a player assigned to that linebacker in that gap and just missed the assignment, and the guy shot the gap. It was a tackle for loss. They went down to their credit, kicked field goal, and took the lead at halftime,”Monken said. “The message was at the halftime, you know, don’t shoot ourselves in the foot. We’re getting what we want, and you know, to go out there and execute on the first drive in the second half, and we were able to do that.”

The sequence was a microcosm of the game: Army’s aggressive fourth-down philosophy backfired, but the defense bent without breaking, limiting the damage to three points.

Second Half: Army Responds

Coming out of halftime, Army’s offense found its rhythm on the opening drive of the third quarter. The Black Knights converted a key fourth-and-1 at their own 47-yard line when Hellums used a play-action fake and found Poloskey for a 26-yard gain down the right sideline to the Temple 27. The completion was Poloskey’s longest catch of his career and Hellums’ only completion of the afternoon.

“When I heard it come through the comms, you know, I was like, I like the play call,” Hellums said of the fourth-down conversion. “At first, I thought it was going to be Jake Rendina because, you know, in practice that’s what it’s been, and that was the first read. They did a great job covering up, and, you know, Parker stayed on his route and locked eyes with me, and I gave him a shot. He came down to it; it was a great overall play.”

Army capped the 14-play, 75-yard drive with Hellums’ 3-yard touchdown run, putting the Black Knights back in front 14-10 with 6:39 remaining in the third quarter. The drive lasted 8 minutes and 21 seconds, showcasing Army’s ability to sustain long, clock-eating possessions.

“That was an important drive, obviously. To come out in the second half and take the opening drive, I think it was 14 plays, right down to score, that was big. And so we certainly needed it; it was the difference in the football game,” Monken said.

Hellums emphasized the importance of the momentum-shifting drive.

“Momentum is always important in football, and you got momentum and you’re gaining yards after yards after yards, and you just keep that momentum rolling, and, you know, you keep rolling,” Hellums said.

Temple answered with a 12-play, 68-yard drive that lasted 6 minutes and 11 seconds, capped by Hardin’s 31-yard field goal to cut Army’s lead to 14-13 as the third quarter wound down. Both teams scored on long, sustained drives in the period, setting up a tense fourth quarter.

Defensive Standout Performances

Army’s defense delivered when it mattered most, holding Temple to just three plays on the Owls’ only fourth-quarter possession. The Black Knights forced a three-and-out, giving the offense the ball back with 9:53 remaining and setting up the game-clinching drive.

Linebacker Andon Thomas led the defense with eight total tackles, including a crucial third-down pass breakup on Temple’s opening drive and a key third-and-5 stop in the third quarter that forced Temple to settle for a field goal.

“Yeah, first of all, credit to the Temple offense. They have a really good offense, really good scheme, really good coaches; obviously, they’re all new. Some really good players, so they were able to drive down the field on us a little bit,” Thomas said. “But I think it just speaks to our culture. I mean, we all trust in the coach’s scheme, trust in the coach’s game plan. We’re all able to execute.”

On the critical third-quarter stop, Thomas explained the defensive execution.

“It was, you know, again, it comes down to Coach Woody calling a great call. We kind of knew what they were going to do just based off, like, game plan and what they’ve done historically all season. Coach Woody called a great call, and we just executed,” Thomas said.

Cornerback Jabril Williams recorded a career-high six total tackles and provided solid coverage throughout the game. Safety Casey Larkin, who carried the Black Flag onto the field before the game, contributed three tackles and provided veteran leadership in the secondary.

Monken praised his defense’s red zone performance.

“They played really well in the red zone as of late. We struggled with that early in the year, but I think we’ve improved in that area, and I think we’re playing better when the ball gets down there,” Monken said. “To hold those guys to the field goal was big, obviously, to hold that one-point lead.”

The defense’s ability to limit Temple quarterback Evan Simon, who entered the game with 21 touchdown passes and only one interception, was crucial to the victory.

“Credit to him. He’s obviously thrown one pick, I think, this year, like you said. He threw a lot of touchdowns, so credit to him,” Thomas said. “But, you know, ultimately just came down to fundamentals. I think we tackled well and played with our hands well. The DBs did really well, and credit to those guys up front, too, for getting pressure on them.”

When asked what the defense did to prevent Simon from throwing deep, Thomas explained the strategy.

“Obviously, we don’t want to let the deep ones, you know, we want to make them throw the ball short because, you know, that’s not what they want to do. They don’t want to throw the ball deep; they haven’t shown that all year. So, we’re kind of forcing them to throw the ball short and rally and tackle.”

Dominating Time of Possession

Army’s 37 minutes and 38 seconds of possession time was a season-defining performance. The Black Knights held the ball for over 62% of the game, keeping Temple’s offense on the sideline and wearing down the Owls’ defense.

In the fourth quarter alone, Army possessed the ball for 13 minutes and 31 seconds compared to Temple’s 1 minute and 29 seconds. That lopsided time of possession reflected Army’s ability to control the game’s tempo and dictate terms in the final period.

“Took the ball over with about 10 minutes left in the game and didn’t give it back. Got to be real happy with the offense and what you guys were doing out there,”one reporter noted.

“Yeah, the credit goes to our O-line, man. They’re pretty good up front, and they just do their job. They’re some tough, you know, sons of guns, and they really just got off the ball quick, gave us that line of scrimmage, and I think we just played pretty good Army football,”

The Black Knights’ methodical rushing attack forced Temple to defend every blade of grass, and the Owls’ defense eventually wore down under the relentless pressure. Army’s ability to convert third and fourth downs kept drives alive and prevented Temple from mounting a comeback.

Temple’s Effort Falls Short

Despite the loss, Temple (5-5, 3-3) showed resilience and fight. Quarterback Evan Simon completed 15-of-25 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown, while running back Jay Ducker rushed for 46 yards on eight carries.

Wide receiver Colin Chase was Simon’s favorite target, catching six passes for 36 yards and a touchdown. Linebacker Laura Ziegler led Temple’s defense with 18 rebounds—wait, that’s basketball stats. Let me correct: Temple’s defense fought hard but couldn’t stop Army’s ground game when it mattered most.

Kicker Carl Hardin converted two field goals (24 and 31 yards) but missed a 45-yarder in the first quarter that could have changed the game’s complexion. Temple’s inability to get the ball back in the fourth quarter ultimately sealed their fate.

Historic Context and Milestones

Army’s victory improved the Black Knights to 21-6 in their last 27 games dating back to November 2023, a .778 winning percentage that ranks tied for seventh-best in the country during that span and second-best among Group of Five schools (behind Memphis).

The win gave Army an 8-7 lead in the all-time series with Temple, and head coach Jeff Monken improved to 4-0 against the Owls (2016, 2017, 2024), including a 42-14 victory in Philadelphia last season.

Army is now 8-1 in games played in November since 2023, with the lone loss coming to Notre Dame last season. The Black Knights’ .889 winning percentage in November games over that span is tied for the eighth-best mark in the nation.

The game marked Army’s second consecutive home sellout, following the Charlotte game earlier this season. The Black Knights also sold out consecutive home games last year (East Carolina and Air Force), demonstrating the growing support for the program.

Division of the Game: 10th Mountain Division

Army honored the 10th Mountain Division with helmet decals and headset logos for Saturday’s game. The 10th Mountain Division is a light infantry division in the United States Army based at Fort Drum, New York.

Formerly designated as a mountain warfare unit, the division was the only one of its size in the U.S. military to receive specialized training for fighting in mountainous conditions. The 10th Mountain Division has a storied history dating back to World War II and continues to serve with distinction in modern conflicts.

The recognition of the 10th Mountain Division added special significance to the game, connecting Army’s football program to the broader military community and honoring the soldiers who serve in one of the Army’s most elite divisions.

Bowl Eligibility Within Reach

With the victory, Army moved to 5-4 overall and needs just one more win to clinch bowl eligibility for the second consecutive season. The Black Knights have two regular-season games remaining: a home matchup against Tulsa on November 22 (Senior Day at Michie Stadium) and the Army-Navy Game on December 14.

Army’s path to bowl eligibility is clear, and the Black Knights’ recent success—21 wins in their last 27 games—suggests they’re more than capable of reaching the six-win threshold. A bowl appearance would cap another successful season for Monken’s program and reward the seniors with a postseason opportunity.

Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy Implications

The Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy is on the line between Army and Navy for back-to-back seasons for only the second time ever in series history. For just the ninth time since 1972, the Army-Navy Game will be a winner-take-all matchup for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy (1972, 1977, 1978, 1996, 2005, 2012, 2017, 2024, 2025).

Army’s victory over Air Force earlier this season put the Black Knights in position to win the trophy outright with a victory over Navy. The stakes couldn’t be higher for the December 14 showdown, adding even more intensity to college football’s greatest rivalry.

By the Numbers

• Final Score: Army 14, Temple 13
• Total Yards: Temple 268, Army 250
• Rushing Yards: Army 224, Temple 111
• Passing Yards: Temple 157, Army 26
• Time of Possession: Army 37:38, Temple 22:22
• First Downs: Army 20, Temple 16
• Third Down Conversions: Army 7-of-14, Temple 2-of-8
• Fourth Down Conversions: Army 4-of-5, Temple 2-of-2
• Penalties: Temple 5-37, Army 3-15
• Attendance: 30,594 (sellout)

Looking Ahead

Army will enjoy a bye week before returning to Michie Stadium on Saturday, November 22, to host Tulsa in the Black Knights’ final home game of the 2025 season. The matchup will serve as Senior Day, honoring the players who have contributed to Army’s recent success.

A victory over Tulsa would clinch bowl eligibility and set up the Army-Navy Game with even higher stakes. The Black Knights will look to build on their fourth-quarter execution and continue their November dominance.

For Temple, the loss drops the Owls to 5-5 overall and 3-3 in conference play. Temple will need to win one of its final two games to reach bowl eligibility and salvage the season.

Stay Locked In—Subscribe to Bad Dawg Sports!

Get exclusive Army Black Knights coverage, in-depth game analysis, player features, and insider access to all Army athletics. From football to basketball, hockey to rugby, we’ve got every sport covered with the detail and passion you demand.

Limited-Time Offer: Just $12.50/Year!

Don’t miss out—prices will be increasing soon. Lock in your subscription now, and join the Black Knights community.

Go Army, Beat Navy!