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Photos: Army blanks North Texas

Army acknowledges the Corps of Cadets after beating North Texas. (Danny Wild/USMA)

Last week’s 28 unanswered points against Hawaii was a great sign to take out of a rough loss, but a 24-0 shutout a week later is impressive. Patrick Mealy, Malcolm Brown and Trent Steelman each scored rushing touchdowns and Alex Carlton kicked a field goal as Army pitched its first shutout since Oct. 22, 2005. Even better, it was Army’s first shutout at Michie Stadium since a 30-0 victory over Colgate on Sept. 11, 1993.

“It’s hard to win a football game, and it’s especially hard to shut a football team out,” said head coach Rich Ellerson. “That was a great day for our defense because our defense hasn’t felt great coming off the field the last couple of games. They have such high standards and expectations for themselves.”

“It feels great. We practice every week to pitch a shutout,” said senior Stephen Anderson. “As long as our eyes and feet are right, and as long as we stay confident about what each other is doing, as well as what we’re doing, it comes down to execution.”

SB Brian Cobbs races around the right side behind blocking back Jonathan Crucitti in the third quarter of Saturday's win over North Texas. (Danny Wild/USMA)
A cadet parachute team member jumps out of a UH-72A Lakota helicopter during a pre-game jump into Michie Stadium. (Danny Wild/USMA)
Senior LB Kingsley Ehie leads Army onto the field. (Danny Wild/USMA)
Sophomore QB Trent Steelman returned from a shoulder injury and scored a touchdown. (Danny Wild/USMA)
Jacob Bohn gets up-ended during a fourth-quarter run against North Texas. (Danny Wild/USMA)
Army head coach Rich Ellerson watches the cadets in the first quarter. (Danny Wild/USMA)
North Texas' James Hamilton (2) celebrates a stop with his teammates. (Danny Wild/USMA)
Senior DE Josh McNary was often held by North Texas' Estebam Santiago -- and it didn't matter. (Danny Wild/USMA)

“We were just flying around. We stayed hungry and in hot pursuit,” McNary said. “When they made the transition to (wide receiver Riley) Dodge, we had to be a little more cognizant of his outside releasing and his running ability. Throughout all four quarters, we just stayed hot and pinned their ears back.”

The 12th Man rallies the Corps of Cadets during the second quarter. (Danny Wild/USMA)
WR Dayvd Brooks had one catch for 12 yards in the win. (Danny Wild/USMA)
Malcolm Brown hops over Brad Graham, of Katy, Texas, during the second quarter. (Danny Wild/USMA)
Senior Josh McNary watches from the sidelines. (Danny Wild/USMA)
Sophomore Jarrett Mackey sacks North Texas QB Derek Thompson, breaking his leg, in the second quarter. (Danny Wild/USMA)
Donnie Dixon eyes me from the field. (Danny Wild/USMA)
Cadets do pushups following an Army touchdown. (Danny Wild/USMA)
Mechanical Engineering cadets cheer from the north endzone. (Danny Wild/USMA)
Jordan Trimble had a huge game with a team-leading nine tackles and a pick in the endzone. Here, he wraps up Lance Dunbar. (Danny Wild/USMA)

“We knew we had to be ready for that this game,” Trimble said. “We did the little things right during practice and did the same during the game. The defensive backs are in position to make a play on that, and I was in position as well.”

Trent Steelman runs through A.J. Penson, of Lufkin, Texas. (Danny Wild/USMA)
The 2nd Regiment --"Second to None"-- stands during the parachute jump. (Danny Wild/USMA)
SB Pat Mealy and Army wore 1st Cavalry Division patches to honor the unit based in Fort Hood, Texas. (Danny Wild/USMA)
Cadets salute during the National Anthem. (Danny Wild/USMA)

More photos from this game here.

Someone asked me Saturday what happened to “the tall guy” — that’s a good question. Former receiver Ali Villanueva graduated, joined the 10th Mountain Division, and now he’s in Ft. Benning, Ga., trying not to hurt the feelings of his fellow soldiers during an IBOLC (Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course) training camp — a pretty funny, and well-done video about the training camp features Lt. Villanueva vowing to be a more sensitive platoon leader after seeing half his team’s backpacks go up in smoke in a forest fire. He then pretty easily out-muscles an instructor in a fight at the very end.

My buddy Chet Gordon has a few nice photos from this game, including Crucitti’s goaline dive, and you can see some of mine featured on Army’s website.

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