MANSFIELD - The Mansfield University sprint football team had a strong fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough as the Mounties fell to Army West Point on a wet and rainy Karl Van Norman Field on Saturday, Oct.16.
The Mountaineers rallied for 11 points in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to eight, but clock was not on their side and the Black Knights hung on for the victory,
The Mansfield defensive unit forced three turnovers, including a 40-yard fumble recovery touchdown by
Kendall Smith Jr. scored the lone Mountaineer touchdown, while adding an Interception.
Senior
Chase Moser and junior
Matt Robert each had 16 tackles for the Mounties. Moser added 1.5 sacks on the day.
Army West Point broke through the scoreless battle early in the second quarter as Ryan Connors punched it in on a fourth down play from a yard out. The Knights led 6-0 at the half.
The Black Knights went up 12-0 on a 33-yard pass play from JC Watson to Donovan Mannion midway through the 3
rd quarter.
Mansfield struck back with Smith Jr's scoop and score. The ensuing extra point was blocked, an attempted return was fumbled on a hit from
Eugene Haynes and the Mounties fell on it in the endzone for the two-point conversion. Mounties cut the lead to 12-8.
Freshmen quarterback
Ben Briggs and
Ta'Ron Hewan split time for an injured
Cahsid Raymond in the second half. Hewan threw an interception that set up the third Black Knights score. Landry Songer punched it in from four yards out to give Army West Point a 19-8 lead.
Briggs led a ten play 41-yard drive to set up a
Logan Shull 21-yard field goal to put the Mounties with in eight points. But the Black Knight defense would force an interception and end the game with a 19-11 victory.
In the first half Raymond was 6-15 for 63 yards and added 32 on the ground. Briggs in relief was 3 for 11 for 40 yards and had 14 rushing yards.
LaTrenton Randle let the Mountie pass catchers with 3 receptions for 42 yards.
Army quarterback JC Watson had 168 yards through the air.
Mansfield falls to 3-2 while Army improves to 3-1.
The Mounties begin a two-game road trip on Saturday, Oct. 23 at Alderson Broaddus University for a noon kick-off.