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Ypsilanti, MI (Sports Network) - Kingsley Ehie scored a pair of rushing touchdowns to lead the Army Black Knights to a 27-14 win against the Eastern Michigan Eagles in non-conference play at Rynearson Stadium.

Ehie carried the ball 12 times for the Black Knights (1-0), resulting in 75 yards, while Patrick Mealy accounted for a game-high 109 yards and a touchdown on five attempts for the visitors. Quarterback Trent Steelman completed just two of his five pass attempts for a meager eight yards. With the decision the Black Knights have opened a season with a win for the first time since 1996, getting new head coach Rich Ellerson off on the right foot.

The Eagles (0-1) were paced by Dwayne Priest who picked up 83 yards rushing and one touchdown on 19 carries. Andy Schmitt was under constant pressure in the pocket, converting 18-of-31 passes for 183 yards and a score, but he was picked off twice and sacked six times.

The only scoring of the first quarter came courtesy of a six-yard TD run by Mealy, but with a failed PAT Army had to settle for a 6-0 advantage heading into the second frame.

The Knights advanced to a 13-0 lead thanks to a 12-yard TD run by Jameson Carter, which is where the score stood at the break.

Following a scoreless third period, EMU finally got on the board when Schmitt connected with Trey Hunter on a 20-yard TD strike to cut the deficit to 13-7.

Ehie posted scoring runs of 10 and five yards less than four minutes apart in the fourth quarter, moving the visitors to a commanding 27-7 lead before a one-yard touchdown run by Priest made the final 27-14.

Ranked ninth in the nation last season with 241.4 ypg on the ground, the Black Knights generated a hefty 300 yards on 49 attempts, compared to just 40 rushing yards for the Eagles. The eight yards passing for Army were far below the team's 46.3 ypg from a season ago, a number that had the Knights ranked last in the country.

Josh McNary registered a team-best nine tackles for the Black Knights, including 2.5 sacks. Victor Ugenyi matched that sack total, despite having just five total stops on the night.

Army, which entered the game 2-0 in the series with the Eagles, won last year's meeting by a score of 17-13.