2016 Heart of Dallas Bowl

June 2020 March 2026 Heart of Dallas Bowl 7th Heart of Dallas Bowl Zaxby's December 27 2016 2016 Cotton Bowl Fair ParkDallas, Texas United States Military Academy Army Black Knights 7–5 Independent Jeff Monken 12 12 7 0 7 University of North Texas North Texas Mean Green 5–7 C–USA Seth Littrell 7 14 7 3 0 Ahmad Bradshaw (QB, Army)https://lastwordonsports.com/collegefootball/2016/12/29/army-wins-heart-dallas-bowl/ High (Scoring) Cotton: Army Wins Heart of Dallas Bowl Mike Loveall lastwordonsports.com December 29, 2016 December 8, 2020 Army by 9.5https://www.espn.com/sports-betting/story/_/id/18228600/college-football-full-list-odds-every-bowl-game College Bowl Game Odds ESPN December 7, 2016 December 9, 2016 Hubert Owens (SEC) 39,117 1,100,000The estimated payouts teams will receive from bowl games https://247sports.com/Gallery/The-estimated-payouts-college-football-teams-will-receive-from-bowl-games-49565819/ 247Sports ESPN, RedVoice, LLC Allen Bestwick, Mike Bellotti, Kris Budden (ESPN)Brian Estridge, John Denton, Rob Best, Landry Burdine (RedVoice) The 2016 Heart of Dallas Bowl was a postseason American college football bowl game played on December 27, 2016, at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. The seventh edition of the Heart of Dallas Bowl, the game featured the Army Black Knights, an independent, and the North Texas Mean Green of Conference USA. It was one of the 2016–17 bowl games that concluded the 2016 FBS football season. Sponsored by fast food restaurant Zaxby's, the game was officially known as the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl. Broadcast on ESPN, Army defeated North Texas by a score of 38–31. Teams The game featured the Army Black Knights, an FBS independent, and the North Texas Mean Green from Conference USA. This was the sixth meeting between the schools, with Army entering the game leading the all-time series 4–1. They first met on the football field in 1996, and later met in 1997, 2009, and 2010, all of which were won by Army. North Texas achieved their first victory in the series in their fifth meeting, which came earlier in the regular season on October 22, 2016.2016 Army West Point Football Media Guide https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/goarmywestpoint.com/documents/2016/8/24/2016ArmyFBMediaGuide.pdf United States Military Academy June 10, 2020 107 It was the first postseason meeting between the two teams. Army 2016 Army Black Knights football team After a disappointing 2–10 campaign the year prior,2015 Football Schedule https://goarmywestpoint.com/sports/football/schedule/2015 Army West Point April 18, 2020 en Army looked to return to winning ways in head coach Jeff Monken's third season. Army's season opened on the road in Philadelphia, where they defeated Temple to win their first season-opening road game since 2010.2010 Football Schedule https://goarmywestpoint.com/sports/football/schedule/2010 Army West Point April 18, 2020 enZeitlin Dave Army racks up 329 rushing yards to beat Temple 28–13 https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160902/sports/309029777 Daily Herald June 9, 2020 September 2, 2016 The Black Knights' home opener came the following week, when they hosted and defeated Rice, by a score of 31–14.Army starts the season 2–0 for the first time in 20 years https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2016/09/10/davidson-scores-3-tds-army-beats-rice-31-14/90192264/ USA TODAY June 9, 2020 September 10, 2016 The following week, Army was back on the road for the start of a three-game away stretch, the first game of which came at UTEP, whom they defeated to achieve their first 3–0 start to a season since 1996.1996 Army Black Knights Schedule https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/army/1996-schedule.html College Football at Sports-Reference.com April 18, 2020 en The next two games were not so kind, however; the Black Knights faltered both in games at Buffalo, by three points in overtime,Bronstein Jonah Buffalo comes back to beat Army 23–20 in OT https://www.armytimes.com/off-duty/military-sports/2016/09/25/buffalo-comes-back-to-beat-army-23-20-in-ot/ Army Times June 9, 2020 August 7, 2017 and, after a bye week, at Duke, by seven points.Duke edges Army 13–6 in wind and rain from Hurricane Matthew https://www.greensboro.com/z-no-digital/duke-edges-army-13-6-in-wind-and-rain-from-hurricane-matthew/article_36f3841c-9ab9-5809-943c-4c3a2b6e8555.html Greensboro News and Record June 9, 2020 en Army improved to 4–2 the next week at home, with their defeat of Lafayette, from the FCS's Patriot League.Army racks up 671 yards of offense, pounds Lafayette Associated Press The Poughkeepsie Journal October 16, 2016 D3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53099110/poughkeepsie-journal/ Newspapers.com The following week, they matched up with eventual bowl game foe North Texas, to whom they lost by seventeen points.Kekis John Jeffrey Wilson scores 3 times, North Texas beats Army 35–18 https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/oct/22/jeffrey-wilson-scores-3-times-north-texas-beats-ar/ The Washington Times June 9, 2020 Army's first and only Power Five win came the next week, as they traveled to Winston-Salem and defeated Wake Forest by eight.Bradshaw, Woolfolk TDs help Army beat Wake Forest 21–13 https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2016/10/29/bradshaw-woolfolk-tds-help-army-beat-wake-forest-21-13/92973650/ USA TODAY June 9, 2020 Now sitting at 5–3, they needed to win one of their next two games to ensure bowl eligibility, however they lost both of those games, to Air ForceWorthman, Air Force defeat Army Kekis John The Journal News November 6, 2016 D6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53099812/the-journal-news/ Newspapers.com and Notre Dame,Kizer throws 3 TDs as Notre Dame routs Army https://www.toledoblade.com/sports/college/2016/11/12/Notre-Dame-quarterback-DeShone-Kizer-throws-3-TDs-as-Notre-Dame-routs-Army/stories/20161113062 Toledo Blade June 9, 2020 en November 12, 2016 respectively, putting them at 5–5 with two contests to go. Army achieved their sixth win of the season on November 19, with a 60–3 victory against Morgan State,Army dominates on both sides in 60–3 win over Morgan State https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2016/11/19/army-dominates-on-both-sides-in-60-3-win-over-morgan-state/94131546/ USA TODAY June 9, 2020 November 19, 2016 but as this was their second win of the year against an FCS opponent, it did not count towards their bowl eligibility (as only one FCS win per year can count towards the six wins traditionally required to be bowl eligible). Ordinarily, this would have meant that Army would be ineligible for postseason play, but as there were eighty bowl slots that were not all able to be filled, 5-win teams were admitted to postseason play based on Academic Progress Rates (APR).Sub-.500 bowl teams now becoming almost routine https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2016/12/04/mississippi-state-north-texas-headed-to-bowls-at-5-7/94974134/ USA TODAY April 18, 2020 December 4, 2016 Because of this, Army accepted their invitation to play in the Heart of Dallas Bowl on December 4.Wang Gene Mids enter Army-Navy football game with 10 players out for season, others hurting https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/mids-enter-army-navy-football-game-with-10-players-out-for-season-others-hurting/2016/12/06/d53462b6-bbed-11e6-91ee-1adddfe36cbe_story.html Washington Post April 18, 2020 December 6, 2016 Incidentally, the Black Knights would go on to upset No. 25 Navy in the Army–Navy Game just six days later, in their first win over the Midshipmen since 2001, thereby granting them enough wins to be traditionally bowl eligible anyway.Navy seniors lament end of 14-game winning streak Walker Childs The Baltimore Sun December 11, 2016 D6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53099812/the-journal-news/ Newspapers.com This was Army's sixth bowl appearance in school history, their first since the 2010 Armed Forces Bowl. This was also their first appearance in the Heart of Dallas Bowl.2019 Army West Point Football Media Guide https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/goarmywestpoint.com/documents/2019/8/2/2019_Football_Media_Guide_Final_Online.pdf United States Military Academy June 9, 2020 117 North Texas 2016 North Texas Mean Green football team North Texas entered 2016 under the leadership of new head coach Seth Littrell, who was brought in to lead the program after the Mean Green finished 2015 with a record of 1–11.2015 North Texas Mean Green Schedule https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/249/season/2015 ESPN April 18, 2020 en The Mean Green opened the season with a Safeway Bowl matchup against SMU, in which they fell 21–34.Henry John SMU rolls over sluggish North Texas https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/college/football/article99924552.html Fort Worth Star-Telegram May 30, 2020 September 3, 2016Sutton snags 3 TD passes in SMU's 34–21 win over North Texas https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2016/09/03/sutton-snags-3-td-passes-in-smus-34-21-win-over-north-texas/89855638/ USA TODAY May 30, 2020 They rebounded the next week, defeating Bethune–Cookman by three touchdowns.North Texas rolls to 41–20 victory over Bethune-Cookman https://apnews.com/f104d74ee2a24c9fb5c64c22a9c98635 AP NEWS May 30, 2020 Their only Power Five game of the season saw them travel to No. 23 Florida, where they were shut out.Long Mark Del Rio hurts knee, Florida blanks North Texas https://www.gainesville.com/article/LK/20160917/news/160918713/GS Gainesville Sun May 30, 2020 en November 15, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201115093814/https://www.gainesville.com/article/LK/20160917/news/160918713/GS dead They pulled back up to .500 with their week four win at Rice, a win that took two overtimes to complete.North Texas sneaks by Rice 42–35 in 2OT https://www.dailyherald.com/amp-article/20160924/sports/309249803/ dailyherald.com Again they faltered, this time against Middle Tennessee at home. Now 2–3, North Texas improved their record by doubling their win total over the following three weeks: they defeated Marshall at home,North Texas pulls away from Marshall 38–21 https://www.register-herald.com/sports/college_sports/north-texas-pulls-away-from-marshall/article_b1bf3db9-5e9e-50b0-8d7b-1a023ef3dea7.html Beckley Register-Herald May 30, 2020 en and then traveled to West Point and defeated Army following a bye week. The next three weeks were not as kind to the Mean Green. A road game against UTSA,Sturm, Rhodes lift UTSA to 31–17 win over North Texas https://www.durhamregion.com/community-story/6937303-sturm-rhodes-lift-utsa-to-31-17-win-over-north-texas/ DurhamRegion.com May 30, 2020 en-CA October 29, 2016 a home tilt against Louisiana Tech,La. Tech's Henderson scores 5 TDs in win https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/sports/college/louisiana-tech/2016/11/06/la-techs-henderson-scores-tds-win/93385370/ thenewsstar.com May 30, 2020 en and a road matchup with Western Kentucky all resulted in losses for North Texas,White throws 4 TD passes; WKU beats North Texas 45–7 https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2016/11/12/white-throws-4-td-passes-wku-beats-north-texas-45-7/93736936/ USA TODAY May 30, 2020 putting them at a precarious 4–6. Faced with two remaining regular season games, UNT needed to win both in order to become bowl eligible. They faced Southern Miss in their last home game of the season, and it was a game that resulted in a much-needed six-point win for the Mean Green.North Texas survives Southern Miss comeback bid https://www.foxnews.com/sports/north-texas-survives-southern-miss-comeback-bid FoxSports May 30, 2020 November 20, 2016 Needing a win in their last regular season game against UTEP, North Texas fell behind 7–31 in the second quarter and was never able to recover, losing 24–52.Jones runs for 4 TDs in UTEP's 52–24 win over North Texas https://www.theintelligencer.com/sports/article/Jones-runs-for-4-TDs-in-UTEP-s-52-24-win-over-10769955.php The Edwardsville Intelligencer May 30, 2020 November 26, 2016 The result of this, as a post-game Associated Press report put it, was that North Texas was "knocked...out of bowl eligibility."Jones runs for 4 TDs in UTEP's 52–24 win over North Texas https://apnews.com/6e81483e486c4fb69203fde3a998d190/Jones-runs-for-4-TDs-in-UTEP's-52-24-win-over-North-Texas AP NEWS April 18, 2020 November 26, 2016 However, this did not end up being the case. As was the case with Army (who had a 5–6 record when they were invited), 5–7 North Texas, despite having a losing record, was extended an invitation due to the lack of teams to fill all eighty bowl slots, and their high APR scores.Army rushes past North Texas in OT at Heart of Dallas Bowl https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=400876093 ESPN.com May 30, 2020 en December 27, 2016 They accepted said invitation on December 4, booking their trip to Dallas for a rematch with the Black Knights.Bowl Announcement Coming Sunday https://meangreensports.com/news/2016/12/3/Bowl_Announcement_Coming_Sunday.aspx University of North Texas Athletics April 18, 2020 en December 3, 2016 This was North Texas's ninth bowl appearance in school history, and their second appearance in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. Their last appearance in the game, and their last bowl appearance overall, was in the 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl played at the conclusion of the 2013 season.North Texas Mean Green Football – 2016 Heart of Dallas Bowl Guide https://s3.amazonaws.com/meangreensports.com/documents/2016/12/16/_ntex_m_footbl_2016_17_misc_non_event__16bowlguide.pdf University of North Texas May 30, 2020 Game summary Scoring summary ARMY NT 1 9:18 ARMY 11 75 5:42 RushTD Darnell Woolfolk 5 no good Blake Wilson 6 0 1 6:35 NT 6 66 2:37 RushTD Jeffery Wilson 22 good Trevor Moore 6 7 1 4:56 ARMY 3 76 1:34 RushTD Tyler Campbell 70 run failed (Kell Walker run) 12 7 2 13:05 ARMY 10 67 5:14 RushTD Darnell Woolfolk 1 run failed (Ahmad Bradshaw run) 18 7 2 6:37 ARMY 9 93 4:10 RushTD Andy Davidson 6 pass incomplete (Samuel Johnson pass) 24 7 2 2:26 NT 9 83 4:02 RecTD Jeffery Wilson Alec Morris 22 good Trevor Moore 24 14 2 0:10 NT 6 68 1:40 RecTD Rico Bussey Alec Morris 27 good Trevor Moore 24 21 3 7:41 ARMY 6 84 3:05 RushTD Ahmad Bradshaw 65 good Blake Wilson 31 21 3 0:45 NT 1 18 0:05 RecTD Tyler Wilson Alec Morris 18 good Trevor Moore 31 28 4 0:28 NT 11 50 1:50 FG 37 Trevor Moore 31 31 OT ARMY 7 25 RushTD Jordan Asberry 3 good Blake Wilson 38 31 38 31 Statistics Statistics ARMY NT First downs 22 19 Third down efficiency 11–17 5–12 Plays-yards 78–533 67–410 Rushes-yards 74–480 27–96 Passing yards 53 314 Passing, Comp-Att-Int 2–4–0 27–40–2 Time of Possession 36:18 23:42 Team Category Player StatisticsArmy Passing Ahmad Bradshaw 2/3, 53 yards Rushing Ahmad Bradshaw 18 carries, 129 yards, 1 TD Receiving Tyler Campbell 1 reception, 38 yardsNorth Texas Passing Alec Morris 26/38, 304 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing Jeffery Wilson 20 carries, 81 yards, 1 TD Receiving Turner Smiley 8 receptions, 79 yards See also List of college football post-season games that were rematches of regular season games References 30em External links Game summary at ESPN Category:2016–17 NCAA football bowl games 2016 2016 Heart of Dallas Bowl 2016 Heart of Dallas Bowl Category:2016 in sports in Texas Category:December 2016 sports events in the United States Category:2010s in Dallas