In a thrilling display of athleticism, Bryson Daily achieved a remarkable feat by scoring a career-high five touchdowns, leading the No. 23 Army Black Knights to a 45-28 victory over East Carolina on Saturday. With this performance, Daily not only showcased his skills on the field but also made history by breaking the single-season record for rushing touchdowns at Army. Intertwined with his impressive five rushing scores, Daily also threw for another touchdown, culminating in a season total of 19 rushing touchdowns. This achievement surpassed the previous record shared by Mike Mayweather, Carlton Jones, and Trent Steelman, each with 17 touchdowns.
The Black Knights, boasting a record of 7-0 and 6-0 in the American Athletic Conference, have now extended their unbeaten streak to an impressive 11 games, marking the longest winning streak in the nation.
The scoring opened with Daily connecting with running back Miles Stewart on a 13-yard touchdown pass during the first drive, setting a tone of dominance. Following this, Daily added to his tally with impressive rushing touchdowns of 17 and 31 yards, while Trey Gronotte contributed with a 23-yard field goal, leading the Black Knights to a commanding 24-0 lead by halftime.
In contrast, East Carolina struggled in the first half, managing only 95 yards of total offense. However, in the second half, quarterback Katin Houser found his rhythm, tossing three touchdown passes and finishing with 282 passing yards. His standout play included a 53-yard touchdown reception by Chase Sowell, who showcased his agility by breaking through multiple tackles en route to the end zone.
The key takeaways from the game highlight Army’s consistent scoring capability, as they have managed to score a touchdown in their opening drive for seven consecutive games. Their formidable defense also contributed significantly, recording a crucial fourth-down stop on the game’s initial possession for the second week running.
On the other hand, East Carolina’s Houser faced a rocky beginning in his first start, connecting on just three of his first seven throws for a mere 9 yards. Yet, he redeemed himself in the latter part of the game, securing touchdown passes to Sowell, Anthony Smith, and Winston Wright, along with a one-yard touchdown run.
As the teams look ahead, Army will enjoy a bye week before gearing up to host Air Force on November 2nd, while East Carolina prepares to face Temple at home on October 26th.