What sounds like a country song title—drives and dives—is the theme of the Army West Point football team’s offensive game plan.
“They run right at you, ” said Hawaii defensive coordinator Corey Batoon, whose Rainbow Warriors host the Black Knights today at Aloha Stadium.
Army’s triple option begins with the first choice: the fullback dive. It is a quick-action play in which the fullback takes the handoff—or fakes taking it—and sprints up the gut.
“That’s where that whole thing starts when they establish that dive, ” Batoon said. “Everything comes off that dive. It starts with physicality. It’s not one of those games where you’re going to be shy. It’s going to be a physical game, especially on the inside. Our guys are excited.”
The Black Knights have 240 carries on dives this season. Fullbacks Connor Slomka and Sandon McCoy have combined for 1, 036 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. The dive blockers target the nose tackle and linebackers. “It’s rough, ” said UH’s Azia Se‘ei, who will alternate with Blessman Ta ‘ala at nose. “(The blockers ) play low, so you have to play low, too.”
Of the 5-foot-11, 275-pound Se ‘ei, Batoon said, “he’s got a head start there in terms of his lack of height. He’s a tough kid. He plays at great pad level. He’s got great quickness. He’s strong. These are the type of games that highlight the style of play he likes to play.”
Se’ei said: “I’m always up for a challenge.”
Ta ‘ala said he is familiar with the run-option offenses. “In our high school, we ran an option too, ” said Ta ‘ala, a Faga ‘itua High graduate who grew up in American Samoa. “Every practice I saw it. It’s kind of similar blocks. It’s all hips and below the hips. We pretty much have to stay low every time.”
Linebacker Jeremiah Pritchard has limited experience competing against the triple option with this defense. This is Batoon’s second season with UH. Pritchard, a fourth-year junior, redshirted in 2018. In the first 12 games, Air Force is the only UH opponent to operate the triple option.
“These kind of teams, you’ve got to love the physicality of these guys, especially for linebackers, ” Pritchard said. “They love to run the dive. That’s where we’re at. I’m looking forward to this game.”
Pritchard is fond of old-school football.
“Throughout the years, they’ve been trying to take out the physicality part, ” Pritchard said. “But that’s why I thrive on it. You can legally try to (hit ) somebody. You’ve got to love that. It’s a fun sport to let the steam off of you. I love the contact. I love the maybe-I’m-gonna-go-down, maybe-you’re-gonna-go-down type of contact.”
