By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
Army got to sing second Saturday night.
“Sing Second” is a mantra for the Black Knights, based on the tradition begun many decades ago when the service academies collided annually. After games against Air Force and Navy, the losing team’s band plays its alma mater and both teams gather respectfully, followed by the alma mater of the victorious team, which prompts a more rousing reaction.
It is one of the most distinct moments of any Army-Navy clash. Two weeks ago, going into the game favored, the Black Knights flopped in a 31-13 loss (albeit to a bitter rival that won its 10th game Friday) and was sorely disappointed to have to watch a jubilant bunch of Midshipmen celebrating during their alma mater.
If the opponents’ band plays its alma mater postgame, Army always honors the foe by standing in front of that band, win or lose. Snice the Black Knights won 11 times previously this season, they got to sing second plenty.
In a classy move, the Louisiana Tech team not only stood in front of the Band of Pride, but then moved over to stand behind the Army squad for its alma mater.
Bulldogs coach Sonny Cumbie said it was a late but considered decision.
“We talked about it as a coaching staff before the game, as a token of our appreciation and our respect for Army and for their service to our country. You just had a hard-fought, pretty intense game in the trenches in particular, (it was good) for all of us to come together afterwards and really just to tip our hat, and to say thanks for what you will do for our country, and for what you’ve done.”
DENTING THE NCAA RECORDS: Army quarterback Bryson Daily earned Most Outstanding Offensive Player honors with his 127 yards rushing and three scores, and those touchdowns gave him a spot in the NCAA record book. Raising his season total to 32 TDs, Daily broke the NCAA FBS record for touchdowns scored by a quarterback.
The old mark was 31 by Keenan Reynolds, a Navy quarterback, in 2013. Daily gave due respect to his predecessor.
“He was a great player. I watched a lot of his highlights growing up, a really good player. To be mentioned with great players like that in record books, I’m extremely proud of this team, this unit, and what we did this year,” he said.
Daily also became the third FBS player in the last 25 years to rush for at least 1,500 yards and score 30 or more touchdowns in a season. He is the national leader in TDs this season, pending Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty’s College Football Playoff performance. Jeanty has 29 going into Tuesday’s playoff game against Penn State.
CHANCE A GOOD GAMBLE: Captain Shreve true freshman John Hoyt Chance made his college debut as Louisiana Tech’s kickoff man and knocked three boots into the end zone, with no return yardage by Army.
His most impressive effort came after Drew Henderson knocked through a 44-yard field goal in the third quarter. Tech sent out Chance and Henderson threatening an onside kick, trailing 21-3, but Chance took just three steps and drilled his last kickoff into the end zone.
Chance and Henderson, who was 2-for-2 on field goals, were pressed into action when kicker Buck Buchanan, the Bulldogs’ leading scorer with 68 points, entered the transfer portal and opted out of the game. Another Tech mainstay, Shreveport native Tru Edwards, also entered the portal but stayed to play and led his team with 92 yards on a game-high eight catches.
TICKET SALES BRISK: An announced attendance of 34,283 was the highest for the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl in 10 years. Actual attendance was well below that count, with plenty of fans on the East (Army) side along with the anticipated turnout of Louisiana Tech supporters.
ARMY MARCHES: The Black Knights scored on each of their three first-half possessions (discounting a kneel-out on the final snap of the half), and were finally stopped short midway through the third quarter at the end of a 13-play, 40-yard series that chewed another 7:16 off the clock. At that point Army led in possession time 31:03-7:33.
The Bulldogs responded with their longest possession of the night, taking 5:39 to move 39 yards on 11 plays and get a 44-yard Henderson field goal. Army answered back with its fastest scoring drive, needing only five snaps to move 75 yards in 2:15 and score its last TD on an 8-yard Daily run for a 27-6 lead.
NOT MANY SNAPS: Tech’s offense managed to run just 50 plays, the second-fewest in I-Bowl history, behind 47 by McNeese in the 1980 game, won by Southern Mississippi 16-14. The Cowboys had 401 total yards but suffered four turnovers. Tech managed only 218 yards against Army and had possession for just 19:42 of the 60 minutes.
DEMONS CHEEERING FOR DOGS: Former standout Northwestern State safety Randy Bullock and his wife Robin Gatto Bullock, once a steady shortstop for the Lady Demons softball team, were among the Tech fans. Their son is the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback, Evan Bullock, a redshirt freshman from Anna, Texas.
Bullock was victimized by several dropped passes and finished 14 of 26 for 150 yards and a fourth-down end zone interception in the second half.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com