ARMY SPRINT FOOTBALL season with 11 receptions for 140 yards and one score. “John Herina, at our Y or tight end position, can line up and block for us and he’s not afraid to go over the middle and make the tough catches.” Combined, those four receivers accounted for 68-percent of Army’s total receptions in 2010, 72-percent of its receiving yardage, and 79-percent of its receiving touchdowns. “And that’s just our first four,” said West. “We’ve got another three or four guys behind them who are ready to step in and get the job done.” DEFENSE In 2010, the Black Knight defense was the most experienced it had been in years, featuring a starting lineup which included nine seniors. Army recorded 15 sacks and six interceptions, including the game-securing pick Eric Shirley made with under 10 seconds remaining in the Navy game. The Black Knights graduated a total of 10 seniors from last season’s team but return 16 defensive players from last year’s roster. The fresh Army defense will be led by senior co-captain JP Cooper. As a junior, the defensive back recorded 10 tackles, one interception and recovered two fumbles. “JP is the more vocal of our two captains,” said West. “He likes to keep things loose but also keep the guys focused. He understands what it takes to win a championship.” Junior defensive back Mark Maley and junior defensive end Rob Reckner are two of the more seasoned veterans on the Army defense. Maley, who earned All-CSFL honorable mention accolades at the end of 2010, recorded 15 tackles, including two for a loss, to rank 12th on the team. Reckner ranked eighth on the squad with 19 tackles and also recorded a sack. “We’re young but we don’t use the phrase ‘rebuilding’ to describe it,” said West. “We don’t rebuild, we reload. That’s what we’ve had to do this year because we lost so much bec last year. That’s not a secret las to anybody. We’re not living in the past, those guys are gone and the new kids are go stepping up nicely. ste “They’re learning a system “Th that’s new to a lot of them tha because they didn’t get as bec much playing time last year, mu they were doing their part the on the scout team. It’s hard to tell what we’ll be like until you strap it on for the first yo time, but they’re not short on tim aggressiveness or desire and ag attitude, which is a big part att of a defense.
that will probably get chances to step in and show what they can do. Buddy Craft, one of our outside linebackers, has shown good progress at his position and may get that opportunity.” SPECIAL TEAMS The Black Knights’ special teams is highlighted by the returns of junior kicker Kevin Scruggs and senior punter Jeff Caraccio. Having both the privilege and pressure of being the lone members of the roster in those positions, Scruggs and Caraccio will look to build on strong seasons from a year ago. Scruggs was 23-for-30 in point-after attempts in 2010 and 5-for-6 in field goal tries, including a 4-for-4 mark from beyond the 30-yard line. His season long was 41 yards. With 42 kickoffs to his credit last season, Scruggs averaged 54.5 yards per boot. Caraccio, a four-year starter for the Black Knights, punted the ball 28 times for 1,027 total yards, averaging 36.7 yards per kick. His season long was 59 yards and he managed to put six kicks inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. “Kevin and Jeff really are one-man shows at each position,” said West. “We rely on them a great deal and they know that. All the weight is on their shoulders; they’ve got to get it done.” SCHEDULE Kevin Scruggs Army will open the 2011 season with the first of two meetings with rival Navy. The two service academies will square off at the seventh-annual Adirondack Trust Allegiance Bowl in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., a non-profit game which benefits underprivileged youth. The Black Knights will open their CSFL slate on Sept. 30 when they host Mansfield at Shea Stadium. Army will then hit the road for back-to-back games, traveling to Princeton on Oct. 7 and Cornell on Oct. 14. The final three games on Army’s schedule will be played at home, including the first meeting between CSFL newcomer Post on Oct. 21 and a matchup with 2010 co-CSFL champion Penn on Oct. 28. The Black Knights will bookend their season with the annual Star Game against the Midshipmen on Nov. 4. With the exception of the Allegiance Bowl, which is set for 1 p.m., all other games are slated for 7 p.m., kickoffs. West, entering his third year with the Army sprint football program is eager to defend the Black Knights’ CSFL title and anxious to remove the “co” next to it.
“Now it’s just a matter of mastering all the details of our defense and making sure everybody understands their assignments.”
“In 2010 we were co-champions with Penn, but this year we’re working harder to win it outright,” said West. “Our motto is ‘Pay the Price’. It’s one that’s been used by many teams for many years, but it’s exactly what you need to play at a championship level. It starts with leadership and matriculates down to the freshman class.
The Army defense is the side of the ball likely to see the immediate impact by freshmen. “We’re looking forward to working with them and developing them to get ready for the season and future,” said West. “There are a few
“If you want to win championships you have to do what it takes, you have to pay the price, and our kids have done that since the offseason, into the preseason, and will continue to do so in 2011.”
Mike Meier
2010 CSFL CHAMPIONS
2011 Season Outlook
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