West Point, NY – On a crisp Saturday afternoon at Michie Stadium, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane stormed out to an early lead and never looked back, holding off a late push from Army to secure a 28-14 road victory. It was a matchup between two well-acquainted coaching staffs, and despite a second-quarter surge from Army’s ground-heavy offense, Tulsa’s explosive playmaking proved too much.
First Quarter: Fast Start for the Hurricane
Tulsa wasted no time setting the tone. Quarterback Cooper Legas orchestrated a methodical opening drive, capping it off with a 16-yard touchdown strike to Braylon Presley with just over three minutes to go in the first quarter. After forcing a quick Army three-and-out, Tulsa went right back to work. With only 10 seconds remaining in the quarter, Legas again connected with Presley—this time on a 36-yard dart down the sideline—giving Tulsa a quick 14-0 advantage.
It appeared that Tulsa was poised to run away with the game, but Army wasn’t ready to surrender.
Second Quarter: Army Fights Back
The second quarter saw Army regroup and return to its signature triple-option attack. Grinding down the clock and controlling possession, the Black Knights found rhythm and confidence. The highlight came when running back Kanye Udo electrified the home crowd with a 79-yard touchdown run, breaking multiple tackles before sprinting down the sideline to cut the deficit in half.
Tulsa, however, responded in kind. With just two minutes left in the half, Legas launched a deep ball to Alex Green, who hauled it in for a 45-yard touchdown. The Golden Hurricane reclaimed momentum and took a 21-7 lead into halftime.
Third Quarter: Tulsa Maintains Control
The third quarter was largely uneventful, with both defenses tightening up. Tulsa added to its lead midway through the period on an 8-yard touchdown run by Anthony Watkins, extending the lead to 28-7. Army maintained possession for large stretches but struggled to finish drives, thwarted by a disciplined Tulsa front.
Fourth Quarter: Late Push by the Black Knights
With time winding down, Army showed signs of life. Once again, it was Kanye Udo who delivered the big play—this time a 16-yard touchdown run with just 33 seconds left on the clock. It brought the final score to 28-14, but it was too little, too late for the home team.
Respect Between Coaching Rivals
The game was a chess match between coaching staffs that have faced each other numerous times over the years. There was clear mutual respect on display postgame, as Tulsa’s coach offered sincere well-wishes for the rest of Army’s season.
With the win, Tulsa continues to build momentum heading into the heart of their schedule, while Army will look to bounce back as they return to the grind of their unique, run-heavy system.
The Army Black Knights fell at home to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, 28–14, in a game defined by explosive plays from Tulsa’s offense and a suffocating defensive performance that limited Army’s ability to mount a consistent attack through the air.
Tulsa quarterback Cooper Legas led the way with a strong showing, completing 19 of 31 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns, despite being intercepted twice. His primary target was Braylin Presley, who hauled in nine receptions for 104 yards and two scores, while Alex Green added a 73-yard strike for a touchdown to fuel the Hurricane’s offensive momentum.
On the ground, Tulsa was held to just 80 rushing yards on 21 attempts, with Bill Jackson contributing the bulk of that effort, tallying 80 yards on 14 carries. The Hurricane's offensive line was efficient in pass protection, not surrendering a single sack throughout the contest.
Army’s offensive output remained heavily grounded, as has become characteristic of their style. Kanye Udoh was a bright spot, rushing for 135 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, including a highlight-reel 79-yard dash. Tyrell Robinson chipped in with 75 yards on six carries. Overall, the Black Knights ran the ball 48 times for 241 yards and two scores.
However, the passing game again struggled to find a rhythm. Quarterback Bryson Daily completed five of nine passes for just 31 yards and one interception, offering little threat to Tulsa’s defense through the air. Army receivers combined for just five catches, with Udoh also leading that category with a 14-yard reception.
Defensively, Army had some impact plays. Kalib Fortner and Tommy Zitiello each recorded interceptions, and the pass rush tallied two sacks, one apiece from Kody Harris-Miller and Kyle Lewis. Casey Larkin and Max DiDomenico both led the team with nine total tackles, but Army’s defense ultimately couldn’t keep Tulsa’s big-play threats in check.
Tulsa’s defense dominated the line of scrimmage and swarmed to the ball all game long. Myles Jackson led the unit with an imposing 2.5 sacks and six tackles for loss, while Gavin Potter and Chris Thompson combined for 23 total tackles. The Golden Hurricane racked up a remarkable 23 tackles for loss, which played a major role in disrupting Army’s methodical, ground-based offense.
In special teams, Trey Gronotte was perfect for Army, converting both of his field goal attempts, while punter James Wagenseller averaged over 43 yards on six punts. David Clerk added 32 yards on punt returns, and Lloyd Benson III returned one kickoff for 22 yards.
With the loss, Army drops further behind in the standings, needing to recalibrate as they move into the second half of the season. Tulsa, meanwhile, improves their record with a solid road win, showcasing balance on offense and disruption on defense to secure the victory.
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