WEST POINT, N.Y. -- It wasn't the way anybody at Army would have drawn it up, but the No.
21 Black Knights showed Saturday that they could win without their star quarterback and do it in a somewhat different fashion than they have to this point during their unbeaten season. Bryson Daily , a Heisman Trophy candidate and the nation's leading rusher among quarterbacks, was sidelined for the 20-3 battering of Air Force at Michie Stadium after being unable to practice all week with an undisclosed injury. If anything, his absence only seemed to galvanize his teammates in a rivalry that never needs any extra motivation.
"It doesn't matter who's in the game. We all trust each other. We all love each other, and that's the most important thing about playing at West Point," said junior safety Casey Larkin , part of an Army defense that intercepted three passes and collected six sacks.
"We go through so many hard times together that it's so easy to build trust, especially on this team." Army coach Jeff Monken said in his postgame news conference that he fully expects to get Daily back this season and told ESPN that he felt like there was a "good chance" Daily could return in time for the trip to North Texas next Saturday. The Black Knights (8-0, 6-0) have won 12 straight games, the nation's longest winning streak dating to last season, and could take a commanding lead in the race for a spot in the AAC championship game with a win over North Texas.
"He's going to play again this season. I.
