Army riding high entering Buffalo game

Two weeks ago, Army looked as cooked as a charred tailgate hamburger, even a winless season seemed possible. Today, there is even more hope for the Black Knights. Army proved its blowout win over Tulane last week was no fluke by following it up with a gritty 17-13 win over Eastern Michigan at Michie Stadium.

The Black Knights are now 2-4 with six games to play. Army is by no means out of the hole yet, but if the Black Knights can win at Buffalo next week, there should be cause for some real excitement.

One thing is for sure, a much different Army team will show up in western New York next weekend.“The biggest difference is we’re really starting to come into this offense," Army sophomore quarterback Chip Bowden said after the Eastern Michigan win. "Everyone is starting to click and take care of their job. The fullbacks, the quarterbacks, the receivers, the linemen, we’re really all doing our job. The defense is seeing that even though we don’t get 60 or 70-yard runs every play, we get three or four. We just keep grinding on them. We can see it in the huddle. We’ve really developed our conditioning and just grind them every game.”

Army's defense is also playing a big part in what Black Knight Nation hopes is the beginning of a turnaround. Earlier in the season, during four consecutive losses, Army coach Stan Brock often said the defense played good enough to win. He might have been pushing it, but there is no doubt now.

The Black Knights' defense is playing more than good enough to win.Army has allowed 13 points in its last two games. The Black Knights haven't done that since 1996, Army's last winning season. Army's defense shut out Eastern Michigan in the second half and limited the Eagles to 100 total yards.

Eastern Michigan running back Dwayne Priest had 110 yards in the first half and just eight in the second.

"We play for each other," Army linebacker Stephen Anderson said. "We like it when we have the lead because then the game is on our shoulders. That’s perfect for our type of team. They (the offense) are going to run the clock out and we’re going to stop them. We just rely on each other and big plays are made.”

Army now faces another tough, but winnable game. Buffalo, like Army, trying to climb from the depths of college football, is 2-4 and has lost three in a row. The Bulls lost to Western Michigan (6-1, 4-0 Mid-American Conference) 34-28 in overtime this week, but led 28-14 with five minutes left in regulation. Buffalo beat Temple 30-28 earlier this year on a late Hail Mary. Army opened the season with a 35-7 loss to Temple.

Buffalo will see a much more improved version of the Black Knights.