Army faces pivotal road test against East Carolina

Brian Schaible

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Army faces pivotal road test against East Carolina image

Army doesn’t have the luxury of easing into its first trip to Greenville. A short turnaround means the Black Knights face East Carolina on Thursday night in a game that feels critical to defining the season.

Head coach Jeff Monken acknowledged both the challenge and the opportunity. “They’ve got a really good football team. Very talented, very well coached and we know it’s going to be a challenge for us,” Monken said. “They go really fast and they’re one of the fastest-paced offenses in the country. They create challenges for teams doing that.”

The Pirates are now under the full direction of Blake Harrell, who was elevated to head coach last November and is in his first complete season at the helm. A longtime defensive coordinator, Harrell provided a spark when he took over, guiding ECU to five wins in its last six games of 2024 and a signature Military Bowl victory over North Carolina. “He does a really good job. He’s an outstanding coach,” Monken said.

On the field, East Carolina quarterback Katin Houser has thrown for 314 yards per game with five touchdowns through four weeks. Running back London Montgomery adds balance, while the offensive line’s tempo makes defending the run and pass equally taxing. “They’ve got really athletic running backs, receivers, tight ends, and their offensive line is strong,” Monken said. “It’ll certainly be a challenge for us.”

For Army, the stakes go beyond just bouncing back from disappointing losses to Tarleton State and North Texas. At 1-2, the Black Knights must navigate the middle stretch of the season with precision to stay on course for bowl eligibility and build momentum for later service-academy showdowns. Monken didn’t downplay the moment. “Every week teams are fighting you and trying to win. They’ve got good players too. We’ve got to put the last game behind us and get ready for East Carolina.”

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Brian Schaible

Brian Schaible is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is an award-winning journalist with over 25 years of experience covering college and professional sports. Brian holds a master’s degree in journalism/public relations from Kent State University.