It’s finally Game Week.
After some major shuffling of the schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic, Army’s 2020 football kicks off Saturday against Middle Tennessee State at Michie Stadium before a cadet-only crowd.
After three straight winning seasons, the Black Knights finished 5-8 last season and will be looking to start off the season strong Saturday.
One strength that should help Army get its offense going is a projected starting offensive line that has seen game time in over 100 games combined.
The veteran group up front will look to make room for a rushing attack that averaged 57 carries and ran for nearly 300 yards a game.
Leading that rushing attack will likely be senior fullback Sandon McCoy and senior quarterback Christian Anderson. McCoy rushed for over four yards a carry last season to go along with 10 touchdowns. Anderson, who stepped in when Kelvin Hopkins and Jabari Laws went down to injuries, added over six yards per carry and four touchdowns in six games.
But for a gritty Army rushing attack that looks to march down the field, eat up time of possession and downright demoralize your defense, it’ll all start up front with lineman.
Led by seniors JB Hunter, Peyton Reeder and Luke McCleery, they’ll be the driving force to the Army football offense in 2020.
On the defensive side of the ball, they’ll look to shut down the Blue Raiders offense that put up 39 points per game in their four wins last season. Army will be hit hard with the losses of senior leaders Cole Christiansen and Elijah Riley on defense but do return a good portion of their young defense that allowed 23 points per game last season. The Black Knights are good hands though, as Arik Smith, Jahvari Bourdeau and captain Amadeo West will be leading the charge to stop Middle Tennessee State’s Asher O’Hara. O’Hara threw for 2600 yards and rushed for another 1000 last season for 29 total touchdowns.
