NDL Independence Bowl Recap: Arizona Overpowers Army in 24–7 Victory
In the 2025 NDL Independence Bowl, the Arizona Wildcats (BigBrian) delivered a commanding 24–7 victory over the Army Black Knights (Coach ICE), powered by a dominant second quarter and a stifling defensive performance.
After a scoreless first quarter, Arizona exploded for 17 unanswered points in the second frame, seizing control of the game. Despite Army's best efforts—including a promising third-quarter touchdown run by Tyrell Robinson—the Black Knights couldn’t recover from the early deficit, and Arizona sealed the win with a fourth-quarter touchdown to extend their lead to 24–7.
Army Offensive Struggles
Army mustered just 98 total yards, including a mere 6 through the air. The offense managed only six first downs and converted just 2-of-10 third-down attempts. Quarterback Bryson Daily struggled against Arizona's coverage, completing just 1 of 2 passes for 6 yards and throwing an interception.
Tyrell Robinson provided the lone bright spot on offense, rushing 12 times for 82 yards and the Black Knights' only score—an impressive 30-yard dash in the third quarter. However, negative yardage from the quarterback position (-11) and poor pass protection made sustaining drives nearly impossible.
Defensive Grit from Army
Despite being on the field for most of the game, Army’s defense showed resilience. Kalib Fortner led all defenders with 7 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss, a sack, and an interception returned for 17 yards. Brett Gerena and Jacob Tuioti also added key plays in the backfield, contributing a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss between them.
Still, Arizona’s offense racked up 337 yards—276 of those through the air—and converted a perfect 3-of-6 on third downs, keeping Army’s defense on its heels.
Special Teams & Other Notes
James Wagenseller punted five times for Army, averaging nearly 48 yards per punt and pinning one inside the 20. David Clerk added 7 yards on punt returns, and Trey Gronotte nailed his lone field goal attempt.
There were no penalties on either side in a cleanly played contest, and both teams combined for three turnovers.
Final Thoughts
Coach ICE and the Black Knights finish their return to bowl action with a 6–7 record after a hard-fought season. Though the Independence Bowl didn’t go their way, standout performances from defensive leaders like Fortner and the explosiveness of Tyrell Robinson provide a strong foundation heading into the offseason.
Arizona, meanwhile, capitalized on key moments and used their balanced attack to walk away with the bowl victory, capping off their season with a statement win.
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