West Point moved on to the quarterfinals of the D1A playoffs with a comprehensive defeat of Colorado State Friday night in Fort Collins, CO.

Army rode a powerful forward performance, led by imposing lock forward Mitchell Sanderson, to a 52-15 victory.

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CSU actually took an early lead on a penalty goal from Max Whelan, but then it was all Army for the next 30 minutes or so. The forwards put on the pressure and Sanderson scored on a pick-and-go in which the huge second row stayed well close to the ground.

Jake Lachina rescured a rather wayward pass to cut through for Army's second try, and then Sanderson scored his second after a quick tap on a penalty, once against picking up close to the lines and diving over. That made the score 19-3 midway through the first half. And while CSU managed to slow the onslaught, tries were hard to come by.

CSU wing Gabriel Zarkovacki had a chance chasing a kick that he booted on into the Army 22, but West Point fullback Nate Williams was there to rescue things. Moments later Army was back on the attack and prop Marco Carrabotta powered through, was tackled, released the ball and got back up, and regathered to score. A more pedantic official might have called Carrabotta for a knock forward on his release, but the try stood. Flyhalf Jon Kim his his third conversion for a 26-3 lead.

Just before halftime, CSU finally got one, with lock Duncan Frost taking a flat pass and sliding over to make it 26-10 at the break.

Army replied just after halftime, with Sanderson once again finishing off a movement to make it 33-10. CSU scored off a lineout when lock Collin Grosse secured the through and then just kept going, rambling in almost untouched for a try and a 33-15 scoreline.

But after that, the Black Knights finished it off by going wide. It had been a cold, blustery Colorado evening, and the backs must have been cold. They warmed up quickly, though, with some nice passing setting wing Sam Sutera free for an excellent cutback and run in for the try. Lachina then made a move and set up wing Jordan Jurosic for a score in the corner. And finally, from a scrum center, Williams galloped ahead before hooker Ryan Moshak capped it off.

It was an impressive performance from Army, especially given that it was accomplished through some discipline and going back to the well for similarly-built tries time and again. Army hasn't always had the best fortune in the D1A playoffs, but this game put the Knights into the quarters, where they will play the winner of Life and Central Washington.

West Point 52
Tries: Sanderson 3, Lachina, Carrabotta, Sutera, Jurosic, Moshak
Convs: Kim 6

CSU 15
Tries: Frost, Grosse
Convs: Whelan
Pens: Whelan