Army powers to late victory

WEST POINT, N.Y. --Army West Point leaned on its identity, its quarterback and its resolve. Behind a career day from Cale Hellums and two clutch fourth quarter field goals, the Black Knights rallied past Tulane 20–17 on Saturday at Michie Stadium, improving to 3–2 overall and 2–1 in the American Athletic Conference.

Army’s offense was deliberate and punishing, and Hellums was the engine. The junior quarterback carried the ball 38 times for 223 yards, including a game-changing 58 yard touchdown burst with 6:54 remaining that tied the game at 17–17. His performance anchored an Army rushing attack that piled up 329 yards on 59 attempts, controlling the ball for 35:34 and wearing down Tulane’s defense.

Army struck first, marching 74 yards on 12-plays in the opening quarter. Hellums capped the drive with a 1 yard plunge at the 1:42 mark, giving the Black Knights a 7–0 lead. Tulane answered midway through the second quarter, settling for a 21 yard field goal by Cooper Helmke after reaching the Army 3-yard line. The Green Wave trailed just 7–3 at halftime despite being outgained on the ground 143–67 in the first half.

Tulane briefly seized momentum in the third quarter. Quarterback Kadin Semonza directed a 12-play, 68-yard drive, finishing it himself with a 1-yard keeper to put the Green Wave ahead 10–7. Semonza later connected with Jaylin Lucas on a 39-yard touchdown strike early in the fourth quarter, extending Tulane’s lead to 17–10 with 7:44 remaining.

Army responded immediately. Hellums took a midline option read, burst through the left side, and outran the secondary for his 58 yard score, electrifying the crowd of 29,722. Dawson Jones’ extra point tied the game, and Army’s defense delivered the stop it needed on the next possession.

Jones, who had a 49 yard attempt blocked earlier in the game, redeemed himself twice in the fourth quarter. His 31 yard field goal with 9:21 left pulled Army within 10–10, and after Hellums’ long touchdown run, Jones delivered again. With the clock winding down, Army drove 59 yards in 12 plays, bleeding nearly four minutes off the clock. Jones drilled a 25 yard field goal as time expired, sealing the 20–17 victory.

Army’s defense was quietly steady throughout the afternoon. The Black Knights held Tulane to 122 rushing yards and just 280 yards of total offense, while producing a key first quarter interception by Caleb Williams. Elijah Walton led Army with six tackles, and Victor Afolabi recorded the team’s lone sack, a 13 yard loss in the fourth quarter.

Tulane’s offense showed flashes particularly through Lucas, who totaled 67 all purpose yards but struggled to sustain drives. The Green Wave converted just 5 of 10 third down attempts and failed on their lone fourthdown try. Semonza finished 14 of 26 for 158 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Army’s statistical profile reflected its identity: 19 first downs, 16 via the run, and only 19 passing yards on three completions. Hellums accounted for 242 of Army’s 348 total yards, continuing a season in which he already leads the team with 524 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.

For Army, it was a classic Michie Stadium finish, a punishing ground attack, a resilient defense and a kicker delivering under pressure as the Corps roared behind him. The win pushes Army above .500 and keeps them firmly in the AAC race. Tulane falls to 2–3 and 0–1 in conference play.