WEST POINT, N.Y. — Preparing for Army’s triple-option offense and unique style of play is one of the most difficult practice weeks and turnarounds during a college football season. That’s the challenge WKU Football faces, as the Hilltoppers and Black Knights are primed for a marquee morning matchup on Saturday, September 11. Kickoff at Michie Stadium in West Point, N.Y., is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. CT.
Much of the talk this week was about WKU’s most recent win against Army – a 17-8 victory for the Hilltoppers on Oct. 12, 2019 at Houchens-Smith Stadium – in which WKU essentially “out-Armyed” Army. Among other notable statistics, the Black Knights’ 137 rush yards were their fewest in 45 games and the 22-to-38 deficit in time of possession was their fewest in 55 contests.
But head coach Tyson Helton on Monday made clear that this Army team is much improved from the one the Hilltoppers defeated two seasons ago.
“They’re a much better football team than in 2019, so it’ll take everything we’ve got for sure,” Helton said. “If you can’t stop them and contain them, you’re not gonna win the game. They have an excellent offense, Coach [Jeff] Monken does a great job with his team. Offense, defense, special teamss – they’re impressive to watch.”
Defensive coordinator Maurice Crum – who, in his fifth season with WKU is the longest-tenured coach on staff – knows the type of challenge the triple-option offense brings. What the Black Knights will do on Saturday will be no surprise to the Hilltoppers, but in no way does that make it easy for the defense to prepare and execute.
“I think we gotta do what we did in 2019: Play sound, play tough and play consistent,” Crum said. “Those are the main things you gotta do anytime you play a triple-option attack, it’s just about being fundamentally sound and disciplined throughout the entire game. That’s what Army hangs their hat on and you gotta do your best to try and beat them at their own game.”
He continued, “If you look at the triple attack: The dive is first, the quarterback’s second and the pitch is last. As they’re going from A to B to C, you need to get the ball on the perimeter because I think we run well and that favors us to run sideways, get off blocks and chase the ball to the sidelines and make the tackle.”
In WKU’s 59-21 season-opening win vs. UT Martin on September 2, the defense allowed a score on the Skyhawks’ opening drive of the game and another late in the fourth quarter. Between those two the Hilltoppers only allowed one score on nine possessions with two forced turnovers, but the team expects a much sharper showing this time out.
“With this being my fifth year in college, honestly I’m a firm believer in teams making their biggest strides from Week 1 to Week 2,” linebacker Will Ignont said. “So, I just think watching the film, everybody wants to improve and do better. And everybody has juice and every day we’re looking to take one step. I feel like as a defensive unit as a whole, we’re hungry and we want to go out there and put a better product out there on film.”
In order for WKU to be successful against Army on the defensive end, the team understands that it needs to be a holistic effort from front to back.
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“It’s going to start up front. Our D-line has to play great, as a linebacker group whether it’s side-to-side or coming downhill, we’re going to have to make plays, and the safeties in the back end,” Ignont explained. “We’re all going to have to play as one, it’s gonna take all 11 of us to go out there and execute.”
Crum echoed that key to success, “This week it’s a collective effort. The safeties and linebackers will probably get the most production on the stat sheet, but they won’t get those tackles if it doesn’t start up front, if the guys aren’t in the right gaps. But in order to get that done, we have to have a collective effort and everybody has to be on their P’s and Q’s.”
On the other side of the ball, offensive coordinator Zach Kittley reflected on the eight touchdowns and a field goal the Hilltoppers dropped on UT Martin in his first contest at WKU.
“Since I got hired on December 10, all the coaching staff, myself and all the guys have put in so much hard work to get to last Thursday and [it was great] finally seeing all the work come to fruition,” he said. “Just exciting to come out and see our guys execute the offense like we hoped they would and have some fun. That’s the biggest thing, is in this offense you like to have fun. I preach every day: If we’re not having fun then what are we doing out here?”
Fun would probably not be the word Kittley would use to describe going up against the Black Knights’ stout defense. A group that led FBS with 275.3 yards allowed per game in 2020 and then held Georgia State to only 177 total yards as they dismantled the Panthers by a score of 43-10 in their season opener on September 4.
“Great defense – very stout, very blue-collar-type, coached very well, don’t make a lot of mistakes,” he said. “Very, very salty bunch on defense.”
Offensive tackle Cole Spencer – whose group up front did not allow a sack and only let quarterbacks Bailey Zappe or Carson Baker get hit once en route to 478 passing yards and eight touchdowns through the air as a team – also complimented Army’s defensive unit during the week of preparation.
“Army has a bunch of great players, they’re fundamentally sound, they have a motor that keeps on going,” Spencer said. “Getting your mindset prepared for that and understanding that these guys don’t make mistakes, so we have to come to the ballpark with our A-game as well, because they for sure will.”
Another talking point for the matchup will be the surrounding time of reflection and honor towards the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. A unique coincidence brings the Hilltoppers to West Point – only 62 miles from New York City – on this date 20 years later.
Although the players on both sides were only infants at the time, they realize the importance of remembering that history. WKU certainly will try to take a deep breath and take in the moment before the opening kickoff.
“I think the guys are really fired up and excited about the challenge. It’s gonna be a great venue that we’ll play in, it’s gonna be on TV, the 9/11 anniversary.” Crum said. “Our guys look forward to challenges and I think they’re excited about it. They have the right mindset going into the game.”
Kittley added, “It’s going to be probably one of the most special games I ever get to go to in my lifetime. On the 20th anniversary of September 11, playing Army, I have the utmost respect for those guys. I respect those guys so, so much. They’re coached well, they play so hard – I love watching them play on tape.
“Playing us that day is the only time I wouldn’t want to see them win.”How to Follow the Hilltoppers: For complete information on WKU Hilltopper Football, follow the program via social media @WKUFootball on Twitter and Facebook.
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