Second-year coach Rich Ellerson already has a season to cherish at Army. Josh McNary and 24 other seniors get to leave on a winning note. McNary scooped up a fumble and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown and Army held on to beat SMU 16-14 in the Armed Forces Bowl on Thursday, giving the Black Knights their first winning season since 1996. "This senior class and this football team has earned a place in that pantheon of great Army football teams," Ellerson said. "They've brought something back to West Point that has been absent. It will flourish there because of the culture these guys have created." When Ellerson was hired, Army (7-6) was coming off three consecutive 3-9 seasons and had won only 30 games since its 1996 Independence Bowl appearance that was the last winning season -- until now. The Black Knights led 16-0 at halftime on SMU's home field, then ran out the game's final 4 minutes after Matt Szymanski was wide left on a 47-yard field goal attempt that would have put the Mustangs (7-7) ahead. Read more: http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=303642567
