Army football re-discovered its winning ways and may have also found its quarterback of the future.
The coaching staff alternated between Dewayne Coleman and Cale Hellums to start Saturday’s game at Alabama Birmingham, eventually settling on the junior Hellums, who ran for three scores as the Black Knights earned a much-needed 31-13 victory at Prospective Stadium.
Hellums scored on runs of 5, 1 and 5 yards in the second half, blowing open what was a 10-7 halftime lead.
“The guys had a determination and an energy and it really translated into the victory today,” Army coach Jeff Monken said.
Coleman directed the first two Army series, capping the opening set as Hayden Reed scored on a 3-yard run — the first time Army had scored on an opening drive this season.
Hellums finished with 21 carries for 81 yards. Reed had 12 for 54, Noah Short had seven for 54 and Carson Smith six for 29.
UAB quarterback Jalen Kitna was 24-for-42 passing for 259 yards. Still, the Blazers struggled, managing only two touchdown drives while two ended on punts, two on failed field goal tries, one by interception and two on downs.
Army football: Black Knights snap skid
Army moves to 2-3 with the victory and 1-2 in the American Conference, maintaining faint hopes of repeating as conference champion.
UAB fell to 2-3 and 0-2 in the American.
Up next
Army returns home to face Charlotte in a noon kickoff at Michie Stadium on October 11 before hitting the road at Tulane on October 18 for a rematch of the 2024 American title game.
kmcmillan@th-record.com
X / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Army football secures first American win, finishes strong at Alabama Birmingham
Reporting by Ken McMillan, Middletown Times Herald- Record / Times Herald-Record
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