Army Beats VMI 29-7

Associated Press

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- As recently as week three of this season, Army's Jared Hassin was listed as a reserve.

The Black Knights age glad he's getting the ball more now.

Hassin ran 38 yards for a touchdown and finished with a career-best 158 yards rushing, leading Army to a 29-7 win over Virginia Military Institute.

"I feel pretty good," Hassin said. "The wins always help."

Hassin, who had his third straight 100-yard rushing game, also had 54 yards receiving as Army (5-3) had little trouble handling its Football Championship Subdivision opponent.

"We know he's got the potential to be a great player," Army coach Rich Ellerson said of Hassin, who also broke off a 54-yard run and leads the team in rushing.

Quarterback Trent Steelman scored on a 1-yard dive to put the Black Knights ahead 7-0 with 4:08 left in the first quarter. Hassin's TD run early in the second quarter made it 14-0. A safety and a field goal put Army up 19-0 at halftime.

VMI (3-5) scored with 4:18 left in the third quarter on a fourth-down, 1-yard plunge by Chaz Jones.

Eric Kordenbrock threw for 139 yards for VMI, while Steelman finished with 65 passing yards and added 42 on the ground for Army.

Army, which came into the game with the nation's No. 8 rushing offense, got 316 yards on the ground. The Black Knights still have hopes of a bowl game berth as they get set for Air Force next week.

"There's a lot to be excited about," Ellerson said.

After a second field goal early in the fourth quarter, Army sealed the win on an electrifying defensive play.

Donovan Travis intercepted Kordenbrock at the Army 21, scrambled through traffic, and flipped a lateral to Jordan Trimble while falling to his knees. Trimble raced the final 42 yards, making it 29-7.

"That's not a drill you'll see us do on Tuesday, I promise," Ellerson said.

VMI was unable to capitalize after recovering an unforced fumble by Steelman near midfield in the closing seconds of the third. VMI has beaten Army only once in their 15 meetings.

"Overall, they played a lot better and they're the stronger team." VMI coach Sparky Woods said. "I thought they won the battle at the line of scrimmage."