Army last played a conference football game 20 years ago.

Now, the Black Knights sit atop the American Athletic Conference following their debut.

The Black Knights showed why they are one of the most proficient rushing teams in the country, amassing 405 yards on the ground and rolling to a 24-7 victory against Florida Atlantic on a sweltering Saturday in Boca Raton. Fla.

"We played with an edge,'' said Army senior quarterback Bryson Daily, "because we weren't sure how people perceive us in this conference. But we're here to play, we're here to compete and we're here to win games.''

Temperatures soared over 90 degrees on a totally clear day. With dew points factored in, the real feel was 106 degrees. "It was the hottest game I've ever played in,'' Daily said. Making matters potentially worse was Army's decision to wear all-black outfits from helmet to pants, after FAU decided to wear white.

Army had not played a conference game in 7,231 days, last seeing action in Conference USA on November 20, 2004. You would have to go back an additional 35 days for the Black Knights' last conference win, a 42-35 win at South Florida on October 16, 2004.

Most of Army's rushing attack usually focuses on the interior but senior slot Noah Short put his sprinter's speed to good use, racing to the outside often and compiling 160 yards on 11 carries - it was the first 100-yard rushing game for a player who originally came to West Point as a defensive player.

"Bryson was doing great, timing it with his pitches on the perimeter,'' said Short, who credited the offensive line with their play and fellow back Miles Stewart for providing some critical blocks. "I had some nice seams and they were big today so it was pretty easy on my part.''

Army scored on its first two drives. Short had carries of 13 and 39 yards on plays up the sideline and sophomore back Kanye Udoh completed the eight-play drive with bursts up the middle, for 10 yards and then the final eight, a little extra effort going into the final dive.

Army's second score was a stunner. A 16-yard keeper by Daily put the ball on the FAU 44. Daily took a deep drop an found a wide-open Casey Reynolds, who made an over-the shoulder grad for a 44-yard score and 14-0 lead with 1:47 left in the first quarter.

"He did a great job getting open and secured it for the touchdown,'' Daily said.

Army's defense had stopped FAU on five drives to start the game. The Black Knights were driving into scoring range when Udoh had a ball stripped from him for the first team turnover of the season, at the Owls 32. Cam Fancher - who took snaps exclusively from the shotgun - found his passing game, hitting four of five passes on the next drive, including an 8-yard score to Omari Hayes, the trail runner on a triple stack on the right side with 53 seconds before half. Army coach Jeff Monken was visibly upset, noting a potential 14-point swing in the process.

After being denied on three consecutive full possessions - after a perfect eight-for-eight start to the season - the Army offense responded well. Daily sprinted for 30 yards on the first play of the third quarter, Short followed with a 26-yard toss play on the next, eventually leading to a career-first 36-yard field goal by Trey Gronotte and 17-7 lead.

"To answer and to respond and come out the second half and score to stretch a lead, that was important for us. ... It took some pressure off the defense,'' Monken said.

A pick at the 4-yard line by Max DiDomenico halted FAU's ensuing series. After 14 plays, Army appeared settled for a 41-yard field goal try by Gronotte but the Black Knights unleashed a fake play on special teams for the second week in a row with holder Matthew Rhodes rumbling 23 yards for a touchdown off the left side, utilizing three key blocks.

Rhodes joked that he was, at best, a third-string quarterback in high school so he never imagined contributing on the offense this way. "It was just a great feeling just to be out there with the guys and get the job done,'' Rhodes said.

DiDomenico said the Army defensive line and linebackers did a great job creating pressure on Fancher, who had to throw the ball away on a number of plays. Fancher did end up completing 25 of 37 throws for 193 yards.

Army is 2-0 for the first time since 2021. The Black Knights head into a bye week and host Rice on September 21.

"It's good to go on a bye week with a win,'' DiDomenico said.

"I think (the win) is huge,'' Short said. "Momentum is definitely big. ... The overall mood of the team and coming out with the win, I think it's just going to motivate everyone to continue to work harder and see more results.''

kmcmillan@th-record.com

X / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Army beats Florida Atlantic on road