Bryson Daily stars as No. 23 Army defeats East Carolina 45-28

WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — Bryson Daily rushed for a career-high five touchdowns and set the Army record for rushing touchdowns in a season by helping the No. 23 Black Knights beat East Carolina 45- 28 to beat.

Daily had 171 yards on 31 carries in his sixth straight 100-yard rushing game. The senior, who also threw a touchdown pass, has 19 rushing TDs this season. Mike Mayweather, Carlton Jones and Trent Steelman shared the previous record of 17.

“It's an absolute testament to this offense to have (coordinator) Cody Worley running the offensive line, the guys blocking from the outside,” said Daily, who completed 7 of 10 passes and rushed for a season-high 147 yards. “Two or three touchdowns today were walk-ins. I’m very lucky to be in the position I am.”

Daily performed an impressive spin move on his first rushing TD against East Carolina, a 17-yarder in the second quarter.

“People make fun of me because I don’t have the juke moves like the others,” Daily said. “It was reactionary. I dropped my shoulder and his momentum sent me spinning.”

The Black Knights (7-0, 6-0 American Athletic Conference) extended the nation's longest winning streak to 11 games.

Army opened the scoring with Daily's 13-yard touchdown pass to running back Miles Stewart. The Black Knights extended their lead to 24-0 at halftime with daily touchdown runs of 17 and 31 yards and Trey Gronotte's 23-yard field goal.

East Carolina (3-4, 1-2) managed just 95 yards in the first half. But Katin Houser threw three touchdowns in the second half and finished with 282 yards passing.

Chase Sowell scored East Carolina's first touchdown on a 53-yard reception in the third quarter. Sowell fended off several tackles while throwing a short pass to the end zone.

“We have to start better, that’s for sure,” East Carolina coach Mike Houston said. “We didn’t play very well offensively in the first half and that put our defense in a bad spot.”

THE TAKEAWAY

Army: The Black Knights scored a touchdown on their first drive for the seventh straight game. Army's defense set up the score, getting a fourth down stop on its first possession of the game for the second straight game.

East Carolina: Houser struggled early in his first start for the Pirates, completing three of his first seven passes for 9 yards. Houser showed signs of improvement in the second half, throwing touchdown passes to Sowell, Anthony Smith and Winston Wright. He added a 1-yard TD run.

NEXT

Army: Has a release week before hosting the Air Force on November 2nd.

East Carolina: Hosts Temple on Oct. 26.

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