WEST POINT, N.Y. -- The sudden death of a budding star and two straight losses temporarily halted Armys fast start to the season. Count coach Jeff Monken among those who have marveled at the resolve of the Black Knights.Ive really been impressed with this team and their ability to continue to focus through everything that we have been through this year, Monken said as he prepared for Saturdays home game against North Texas. I think theyve handled the wave of emotions that comes with winning and losing, and I sense in our team that theres not a satisfaction like they accomplished what they wanted to this year.With a little luck, Army (4-2) could be unbeaten and already qualified to play in a bowl game. The Black Knights started the season with three straight wins, then blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter and dropped an overtime game at Buffalo that was there for the taking in regulation. That setback came two weeks after defensive back Brandon Jackson was killed in a one-car accident in the hours after a victory over Rice at Michie Stadium. Then came a 13-6 loss at Duke played in a driving rain as Hurricane Matthew buffeted the East Coast.Last week, Army rebounded with an emphatic 62-7 victory over FCS foe Lafayette, a nice reset with the imposing second half of the season looming. Air Force, Wake Forest, Notre Dame and Navy still remain after Saturdays game against North Texas (3-3) of Conference USA.Armys triple option chews up yards and time. For teams that rarely play against that type of offense, its normally a real test. At least North Texas head coach Seth Littrell has had some extra time to prepare for the nations top running team. The Mean Green is coming off a bye week.The challenges are you dont see them much, said Littrell, in his first season at North Texas. Seeing all the different reads, you have to be extremely disciplined. You have to have your eyes in the right spot. If youre not careful, people will be running wide open.This will be the fifth all-time meeting between Army and North Texas, and the Mean Green has yet to win one. Mapping out a plan on paper to succeed is easy. Executing it is another matter.Youre going to have to be physical, no doubt, and youre going to have to stay patient ... and not get frustrated, Littrell said. Its crucial that you stay on the field when youve got the opportunity to score.Other things to know when Army hosts North Texas on Saturday at Michie Stadium:NO. 1 AGAIN IN THE RUN: Army has regained its spot as the top rushing team in the nation. The Black Knights had 537 yards rushing against Lafayette and now are averaging 366.5 yards per game and 5.9 per carry. The North Texas defense is allowing 4.7 yards per carry.RUN TO VICTORY: Tailback Jeffrey Wilson has been a key cog for North Texas. In the teams three wins, Wilson has averaged 142.7 rushing yards and the team has rushed for an average of 265.3. In the Mean Greens three losses, Wilson has averaged 44.3 and the team 31.3.SACK CREW: Army has 15 sacks this season, and theyve been nicely spread around. Alex Aukerman, Andrew King and Kenneth Brinson share the team lead with four apiece. Aukerman, a hybrid defender who can line up at either linebacker or end, has 8.5 tackles for loss and his 1.4 per game ranks 22nd in the country.DEFENSE RULES: The Army defense is allowing only 14 points per game to rank fourth in the nation. The Black Knights also rank second in total defense, allowing an average of 245.2 yards per game, and second against the run, allowing just 99 yards per game on the ground.Weve got to do a good job of making competitive plays in the run game, Littrell said. Weve got to get off the ball. Our running backs are going to have to break tackles.FAMILIAR FOE: Both teams beat Rice. Army posted a 31-14 triumph over the Owls in September. Two weeks later, North Texas beat them 42-35 in double overtime.---AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org---Follow Kekis on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Greek1947 Custom Soccer Jerseys Outlet . Despite the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press in an interview. "We just dont know what the results from Torino will be," Budgett said. Discount Custom Soccer Jerseys . -- Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis was charged Thursday with driving while intoxicated, a day after he was suspended for an NFL substance-abuse policy violation. http://www.customjerseyssoccer.com/ . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. Custom Soccer Jerseys China . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization. Wholesale Custom Soccer Jerseys . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months.OAKLAND, Calif. -- Tommy Milone threw more than 50 pitches before recording the first out of the second inning, and Oakland manager Bob Melvin wasnt sure how much longer his starter would last. Milone not only stuck it out, he ended the longest losing streak of his career despite the Athletics still having trouble scoring when hes on the mound. The left-hander overcame his rough start to outduel Ervin Santana and win for the first time in more than a month, and the As scored twice in the sixth inning to beat the Kansas City Royals 2-1 on Saturday night. "That was Houdini," Melvin said after Oaklands second straight one-run win. "He was at 50 pitches with three outs, 70 pitches with six or seven outs and he still goes six innings. Ive been impressed with a lot of his starts but none more than that." Milone (4-5) wasnt crisp and pitched with runners on base in all but one of his six innings but kept the damage to a minimum. The Royals loaded the bases with no outs in the second but Milone got out of it without allowing a run. Elliott Johnson fouled out to first baseman Brandon Moss near the Kansas City dugout before Milone struck out Lorenzo Cain and Alcides Escobar. Milone worked out of trouble again in the third when he gave up a leadoff double to Salvador Perez before retiring the next three batters. "I always feel like Im going to make it out of every inning," Milone said. "I definitely didnt make it easy on myself. Being able to come back and get out of those situations, it feels good at the end of the day." Milone walked three and had four strikeouts but overcame his uneven performance to win for the first time since April 15. Ryan Cook and Sean Doolittle each pitched a scoreless inning of relief, and Grant Balfour worked the ninth for his eighth save. That was enough to offset a solid start by Santana. Santana (3-3) pitched much more effectively than Milone but was denied in his third attempt at earning his 100th career victory. He allowed only three baserunners through the first five innings and gave up just four hits total but got little support. "He really threw the ball good (but) right now there is no room for error for any of (our pitchers) out there," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said.dddddddddddd "We had great opportunities. We just didnt capitalize." The As have scored just eight runs over Milones last six starts and were getting shut out before scoring twice in the sixth. Moss hit a tiebreaking triple in the sixth off Santana, one of just five hits Oakland managed. Moss was mired in a 4-for-30 slump before tripling over the head of centre fielder Cain to drive in Coco Crisp, who had walked. Eric Sogard started the inning with a leadoff double and scored on Jed Lowries sacrifice fly. The As were also held to two runs for the third consecutive game but made it hold up in front of a rare sellout crowd at the Oakland Coliseum. The As also beat Kansas City 2-1 on Friday. Billy Butler singled twice and drove in the only run for Kansas City, which has lost nine of 12. Oakland didnt get much else but didnt need it. The Royals failed to score after loading the bases against Milone with no outs in the second. They also stranded a runner at third with one out in the fourth. "Thats Tommy for you," said Sogard, who went 2 for 3. "He battled and kept us in the game. The kids a fighter." Kansas City had the tying run on base in the ninth after Eric Hosmer drew a leadoff walk but Balfour retired the next three batters on flyouts. Alex Gordon doubled with two outs in the first and scored on Butlers bloop single to give Kansas City a 1-0 lead. Notes: Oakland OF Chris Young went 0 for 2 with a walk in his first game back from the disabled list. Young was activated before the game. ... As 3B Josh Donaldson doubled in the second to extend his hitting streak to a career-best seven games. ... To clear room for Young, Oakland 1B Daric Barton was designated for assignment. Barton hit .143 with one home run and three RBIs in eight games with the As. Its the second time this season Barton has been designated for assignment. ... RHP A.J. Griffin (4-3) starts the series finale for Oakland in his first career appearance against the Royals. ... RHP Luis Mendoza (1-2), who pitches for Kansas City on Sunday, has a 3.48 ERA in five appearances against the As. ' ' '
