No. 22 Army routs Houston 70-14 in Armed Forces Bowl

FORT WORTH, Texas — Army quarterback Kelvin Hopkins Jr. ran for 170 yards and an Armed Forces Bowl-record five touchdowns and the No. 22 Black Knights overwhelmed Houston 70-14 on Saturday to reach 11 wins for the first time in program history.

The Black Knights (11-2) won their ninth consecutive game since an overtime loss at playoff team Oklahoma exactly three months earlier.

Army stifles Navy’s offense to win 3rd straight in historic rivalry

The Black Knights beat Navy to retain the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy

By J.D. Simkins

Hopkins had a nifty 77-yard TD run on the last play of the first quarter for a 14-0 lead. The junior quarterback initially ran right before cutting back the other way and alluding one tackler. He sent two other defenders sliding to the ground when he switched directions again back toward the middle of the field.

Army running back Jordan Asberry (3) rushes the ball against Houston during the first half of Armed Forces Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018, in Fort Worth, Texas. (Jim Cowsert/AP)

Houston (8-5) lost for the fourth time in five games since starting 7-1 and getting into the AP Top 25 poll for a week in late October. The Cougars suffered their most-lopsided loss in their 27 bowl games, and their biggest loss overall since a 66-10 loss at UCLA in 1997.

Along with his 11 rushing attempts before coming out of the game midway through the third quarter when it was 49-7, Hopkins completed the first 1,000-yard passing season for Army since 2007. He was 3-of-3 passing for 70 yards, including a 54-yarder that set up one of his three 1-yard TD plunges. He also had a 2-yard TD run.

Army got 507 of its 592 total yards on the ground in its highest-scoring game this season — and the most points in the program’s nine bowl appearances. The Black Knights won a bowl for the third consecutive year, including last year’s Armed Force Bowl over San Diego State.

More In Military Sports

Army-Navy football game is coming to 5 East Coast cities beginning in 2023

Dubbed “America’s Game,” the friendly but intense football rivalry features future military officers battling for gridiron supremacy in a tradition that started in 1890.

As Marine gears up for Olympic match, the Corps is disbanding its standing wrestling team

Staff Sgt. John Stefanowicz Jr. will be the last man standing for the current All-Marine Wrestling team.

Navy says no to NFL hopeful’s request to postpone service, pursue Buccaneers roster spot

Requests were approved for four other 2021 graduates of different service academies.

Bobby Brown, 96, a life of Yankees, military, medicine, dies

Five-time champion with the New York Yankees. Veteran of World War II and the Korean War. Prominent cardiologist. American League president.

This undated photo provided by United States Coast Guard shows Emlen Tunnell, the first Black player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Coast Guard honors Black veteran, NFL great Emlen Tunnell

Before he became the first Black player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Emlen Tunnell served in the Coast Guard during and after World War II, where he was credited with saving the lives of two shipmates in separate incidents.

In Other News

Marine general takes over Africa Command, sees challenges

“America cannot afford to ignore Africa," Africa Command's outgoing leader said.

Taiwan's military conducts artillery live-fire drills at Fangshan township in Pingtung, southern Taiwan

China drills show ambitions beyond island, Taiwan warns

The warning came as Taipei conducted its own exercises Tuesday to underscore it’s ready to defend itself.

US Army launching new campaign to more quickly field capabilities

The U.S. Army is gearing up for a first-ever integrated fires test campaign in fiscal 2023 that will hopefully make it easier and quicker for the service to validate and field capabilities.

Here’s the plan for the moldy Fort Bragg barracks that caused 1,200 to be moved

Barracks from which 1,200 Fort Bragg soldiers are being relocated because of mold, outdated ventilation systems and aging buildings, will be demolished.

Renaming 9 Confederate-honoring Army posts will cost $21M

The name changes should be completed by early 2024.

Police bodycam of homeless Army vet’s controversial arrest released

An attorney assisting the veteran hopes the release of the bodycam will push Gastonia police to take accountability for the incident.

Photo illustration shows a face surrounded by green camouflage and text from legal documents

Twice accused of sexual assault, his Army commanders let him go. He attacked again.

A first-of-its-kind analysis reveals that soldiers in the Army are more likely to be locked up ahead of trial for drug offenses than for sexual assault under a system that gives commanders control.

US to send Ukraine another $1 billion in military aid

The new aid includes additional rockets for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, as well as other ammunition and equipment.

Purple Heart medals are seen at an Aug. 30, 2011, ceremony at Fort Campbell, Ky.

Advocates seeking Purple Heart for soldier hurt during 2009 attack appeal to SCOTUS

The appeal to the Supreme Court — which has garnered support from two former Trump admin. officials — follows years of efforts by the late Staff Sgt. Joshua Berry’s family.

Milley almost quit over Trump, wrote biting resignation letter, new book reveals

“You are using the military to create fear in the minds of the people," Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley wrote in a never-sent resignation letter.