WEST POINT, N.Y. -- The #21-ranked Army Black Knights (8-0, 6-0 AAC) defeated service academy-rival Air Force (1-7, 0-4) at a sold-out Michie Stadium on Nov. 2, 20-3.
Army donned special "Black Flag" skull helmets, the first time the unofficial football program logo has been on the uniform.
Missing starting quarterback Bryson Daily, Army relied on sophomore running back Kanye Udoh who rattled off a career-best 158 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns to propel Army to win its second consecutive game over Air Force.
Udoh rushed 22 times for 158 yards (7.2 avg.) and two touchdowns.
Army has now won six of the last eight meetings between the two service academies.
Junior Dewayne Coleman made his first career start at quarterback in place of Bryson Daily, who was ruled out for the game due to injury or illness.
In his starting debut, Coleman passed 5-for-8 for 48 yards and rushed 16 times for 42 yards, playing turnover-free football.
Air Force's quarterback situation was also unknown throughout the week as they gave the starting nod to Quentin Hayes.
Army's defense forced a quick stop when linebacker Kalib Fortner and defensive lineman Jack Latore combined to stop Hayes on a third-and-3 that forced an Air Force punt.
Finding comfort early in his starting debut, Coleman completed a 24-yard pass to wide receiver Casey Reynolds on third-and-six to get the offense down to the Air Force 17-yard line. The opening drive stalled out and kicker Trey Gronotte booted in a 30-yard field goal to give Army an early 3-0. It was the first drive Army failed to score a touchdown on the game's opening drive this season.
The Air Force offense went nowhere once again on its second drive, with defensive lineman Kody Harris-Miller and then LBs Kalib Fortner & Elo Modozie recording sacks on back-to-back plays which forced another punt.
Army's offense began its second drive with good field position at its own 46-yard line, but the Falcons' defense forced a quick three and out.
Punter James Wagenseller hit a 41-yard punt that was downed at Air Force's 7-yard line.
Nate Woody's defense continued to control the game, forcing another three-and-out with the Black Knights offense receiving the ball back at the Air Force 44.
On the first play of the second quarter, Army went for it on a fourth-and-two with running back Kanye Udoh taking a direct snap and moving the chains.
Army got into the red zone after a pass interference was drawn in the end zone by wide receiver Liam Fortner, with the Black Knights settling for another Gronotte field goal, this time from 32 yards out which made it 6-0.
Air Force answered with a field goal drive of its own, with Matthew Dapore knocking in a 32-yarder. The Black Knights' final drive of the half saw Army run out the clock after taking a sack in its own territory, taking a 6-3 lead into halftime.
Air Force outgained Army in total offense in the first half, 103-98. Army only rushed for 50 yards, a season-low.
On the opening drive of the second half, Army's offense faced a fourth-and-two that Udoh took up the middle for eight yards and a big first down.
Udoh and Coleman did all the work on the eventual nine-play scoring drive on the ground, with Udoh scoring from 12 yards out for the game's first touchdown. Army led 13-3 after the 65-play drive. Coleman had runs of seven and 15 yards on the drive.
Defensive lineman Kody Harris-Miller then logged his second sack of the day, bringing down Hayes for a loss of seven yards as the Black Knights defense forced another Falcons punt.
Early in the fourth quarter, safety Casey Larkin intercepted a Hayes pass that halted a promising Air Force drive that got down to Army's 22-yard line.
Following the interception as Army ran off game clock, Udoh busted loose on a 40-yard run which put him over the century mark for the fourth time this season. Later in the drive, the Black Knights lined up for a 48-yard field goal, before changing the formation to have holder Matthew Rhodes take a direct snap. Rhodes launched a pass to the end zone that fell incomplete to Reynolds.
On the ensuing Air Force drive, Army safety Max DiDomenico intercepted Hayes and returned it 71 yards back the other way. On the next play from scrimmage, Udoh busted loose again for his second score of the day, a 25-yard touchdown run to seal the game, 20-3.
Cornerback Jaydan Mayes would intercept Army's third pass of the game with just under a minute left to play.