By Reggie Gatlin-Holt

9 6 2025

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Under the lights at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in front of 52,723 fans, the Army Black Knights football team (1-1) came from behind in the second half to secure a 24-21 win over the Kansas State Wildcats (1-2) on Saturday night.

It was the Black Knights’ first win over a Big 12 opponent since Sept. 23, 2006, a 27-24 overtime victory at Baylor. It was also Army’s first power conference win in a true road game since a 21-13 victory at Wake Forest Oct. 29, 2016.

In the second half, Army out gained Kansas State 192-48 in total yardage and 143-5 in rushing yards. The Black Knights ran 46 total second-half plays, to K-State’s 13, and held the ball for 26:59 to the Wildcats’ 3:01.

Junior Cale Hellums made his first start behind center, with senior Dewayne Coleman not 100% following an injury last week. Hellums rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 2:52 remaining. It marked consecutive weeks that the Army starting QB has eclipsed 100 yards on the ground. The Tomball, Texas native also passed 7-for-11 for 43 yards and a touchdown throw before halftime.

Hellums’ 41 total rushes were the most by any player in a single game in program history.

Army’s 237 rushing yards were the most allowed by a K-State team since 2023.

The Black Knights trailed by as much as 13-0 in the first half and were down 21-14 in the fourth quarter. After trimming that margin to 21-17 midway through the fourth quarter, Army recovered the football on its own kickoff and proceeded to drive 56 yards on 14 plays, moving the sticks on a pair of fourth downs and capping the possession with a 14-yard Hellums rush with 2:52 to go in the game to take a lead it would never relinquish.

If Hellums was the hero on offense, none may have shined brighter down the stretch than Collin Matteson on defense. After breaking up a deep Avery Johnson pass just before the two-minute timeout, the safety from Edmond, Okla. intercepted Johnson with just 1:35 remaining in the game to seal the victory effectively.

LB Andon Thomas led the team in tackles with nine, including eight solo tackles, on Saturday.

GAME NOTES 

Carrying the Flag: Senior WR Liam Fortner led the Black Knights onto the field with the Black Flag.

Division of the Game: Army honored the 1st Infantry Division with a logo decal on the players’ helmets and coaches’ headsets. The 1st Infantry Division (1ID) is a combined arms division of the United States Army and is the oldest continuously serving division in the Regular Army. It has seen continuous service since its organization in 1917 during World War I. It was officially nicknamed “The Big Red One”

• Junior QB Cale Hellums made his first career start.
• Army is now 3-0 all-time against Kansas State, with the last meeting in 1987 resulting in a 41-14 win.
• Army’s most recent victory over a Power 4 opponent was vs. Missouri in the 2021 Armed Forces Bowl.
• Army is 17-3 in its last 20 games dating back to November 2023 — tied for the second-best winning percentage nationally, trailing only Oregon.
• Hellums’ touchdown pass before the half was his first of his career, and it was also Brady Anderson’s first career receiving touchdown.
• Slot back Noah Short completed a 52-yard pass in the third quarter on a double pass to WR Brady Anderson.
• Coleman, although he did not start, was active for the game.
• Army was 6-for-7 on fourth downs and was a perfect 5-for-5 on fourth downs in the second half.
• Army went 10-for-22 on third downs.
• RB Samari Howard recorded three receptions, the most in his career.
• The kickoff return touchdown yielded by Army was Army’s first time giving up a kickoff for a touchdown since 2021 vs. Ball State.
• K-State celebrated and honored the soldiers and families of Fort Riley on Saturday. It included a day-long tribute to K-State’s military partnership, featuring service members, military vehicles and special in-game recognitions.
• Army is idle next weekend and will return to action at Michie Stadium on Saturday, September 20, vs. North Texas.

COURTESY ARMY ATHLETICS