Army gives new coach first victory with 27-14 victory against Eastern Michigan

Army beats E Michigan 27-14 in Ellerson’s debut

YPSILANTI, Mich. — Kingsley Ehie ran for two touchdowns and Army beat Eastern Michigan 27-14 on Saturday night as new Black Knights coach Rich Ellerson became the first Army coach to win his first game in 18 years.

Patrick Mealy, who rushed for 109 yards on five carries, and Jameson Carter also had touchdowns runs for Army.

The last Golden Knights’ coach to win in his first contest on their sidelines was Bob Sutton in 1991.

The Eagles were also debuting a new coach in Ron English.

Andy Schmitt’s 20-yard TD pass to Trey Hunter for EMU cut the lead to 13-7 with 13:58 left in the fourth quarter.

But Army came right back with an eight-play, 79-yard drive that culminated in Ehie’s 10-yard touchdown run with 10:22 left in the fourth quarter. Ehie carried the last four plays for 42 yards. Ian Smith ran it in for the 2-point conversion to make it 21-7.

On the Black Knights’ next possession, Mealy’s 74-yard run set up Ehie’s 5-yard TD run with 6:53 remaining. The extra point was no good.

Eastern Michigan’s Dwayne Priest ran a yard for a score with 3:31 left.

Army led 13-0 at halftime.

The Black Knights opened the scoring with 6:12 left in the first quarter on Mealy’s 6-yard run around right end. Kicker Matthew Campbell missed the extra point.

Army capitalized on a botched exchange between EMU center Eric Davis and Schmitt inside the Eagles’ 10 as Andrew Rodriguez recovered on the 7 for the Black Knights.

After a false start penalty and a run for no gain, Carter took a pitch from quarterback Trent Steelman and scampered into the end zone untouched for a 12-yard touchdown run with 5:56 left in the half. Campbell hit the extra point for the 13-0 lead.

(This version CORRECTS Mealy’s run to 74 yards sted 79.)