Oct. 8, 2001

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The Storyline
Army returns to Conference USA action on Saturday, hosting East Carolina in a renewal of one of the Black Knights' more spirited Conference USA rivalries. Although the Pirates have prevailed in all four previous meetings between the schools, each of the battles have been hotly contested. Despite losing by three touchdowns a year ago, Army actually led the contest midway through the third quarter before falling victim to 28 unanswered Pirate points over the game's final 22 minutes. The Black Knights must contain dangerous East Carolina offensive tandem of QB David Garraloss to North Carolina, the Pirates' second consecutive setback, East Carolina fell below the .500 mark this late the season for the first time since starting 1-5 in 1997. The Pirates boast one the most explosive offenses in the conference, headed by all-league performers QB David Garrard and RB Leonard Henry. Despite dropping three of its five games to date, East Carolina's offense ranks 19th nationally in rushing (209.2), 25th in scoring (31.8) and 30th in total yards (408.6). Henry has been the central figure in that offensive production, topping the squad in both rushing yards (655) and receptions (14). He ranks ninth nationally in rushing (131.0) and 13th in all-purpose yards (156.4). Garrard, meanwhile, has thrown for seven touchdowns and rushed for two others. ECU has rd and RB Leonard Henry if they are to level their league record at 2-2. While Garrard ranks 48th nationally in total offense, averaging 204.4 yards per game, Henry stands ninth among the country's rushing leaders (131.0). Henry has recorded four consecutive 100-yard rushing games and burned Army for 134 ground yards and two touchdowns on just 10 carries a year ago.

All-Time Record
The Black Knights are in the midst of their 112th season and fourth members of Conference USA. Army boasts an impressive all-time record of 619- 377-51 (.616) and ranked tied for 19th on the nation's all-time victories entering the 2001 campaign. The Black Knights ended 108 years of Division I-independence in 1998 and headed into the 2001 season ranked 21st among Division I-A programs in winning percentage (.626).

Army Last Year
Army struggled to a deceiving 1-10 record a year ago, dropping four straight verdicts to end the season. The Black Knights suffered three of their losses by a total of nine points, and dropped a total of five games by 14 points or less. Army finished the year ninth in the final Conference USA standings, posting a 1-6 record. The Cadets' lone victory came during a dramatic, last-minute 21-17 comeback win over Tulane at Michie Stadium.

This Time Last Year
Army began last season with six consecutive setbacks before notching first victory opposite Tulane during late-October. The Black Knights suffered 42-23 setback to New Mexico State in their fifth game of the year.

Scouting East Carolina
One of Conference USA's most consistent programs, East Carolina finds itself in unfamiliar territory as it carts a 2-3 record into Michie Stadium this weekend. In fact, with last week's 24-21 struggled on defense in early going, yielding an average of 436.8 total yards and 31.8 points per game.

East Carolina Last Week
Darian Durant threw two touchdown passes and Derrick Johnson made key fourth-quarter play on special teams leading North Carolina to a 24-victory over East Carolina, Saturday in Chapel Hill. North Carolina took the lead for good at 14-10 with 10:10 remaining in the third quarter when Ronald Curry's pass from 5 yards out tipped off defender Brandon Rainer and into the arms a diving Zach Hilton. East Carolina had a pair of touchdown passes called back due to holding penalties and lost another when Johnson caused Pirate kick returner Art Brown to fumble just before he crossed the goal line on what would have been an 81-yard kickoff return for a score. That would have pulled ECU within two points early in the third stanza.

The Army-East Carolina Series
Army and East Carolina have squared off four times previously, two of those matchups taking place at West Point. The Pirates have captured all four battles between the clubs, winning those games by a total 32 points. East Carolina prevailed by a 31-25 margin in the first meeting between the clubs in 1995 at Michie Stadium. Following a 30-25 victory in the schools' first-ever Conference USA tilt, East Carolina defeated Army 33-14 in the most recent Michie Stadium encounter. The Pirates rallied from a 21-14 third-quarter deficit, scoring the game's last 28 points to register a 42-21 verdict last October at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The triumph extended ECU's winning streak over the Black Knights to four games.