Army West Point Athletics
October 28, 2026 | Football
WEST POINT, N.Y. (October 27) – They say practice makes perfect.
Tell that to Army West Point kicker Dawson Jones has hit game-winning kicks vs. Tulane and at Tulsa this year.
Then ask the junior systems and decision sciences major how he practices making game-winning kicks after the game clock has expired.
"It's something I spend a lot of time on personally and with the coaching staff," said Jones following his field goal to give the Black Knights a come-from-behind 38-35 road win at Tulsa. "I go through my checks and do the things I know I need to do to be successful.
"I take a couple of breaths, do some exercises to relax my body, and put myself mentally into the mindset that I need to be in to go out and kick. Then it's just enjoying the moment. The job of a specialist is to do your job when you are called upon."
In the Black Knights' walk-off 38-35 victory over Tulsa, Jones connected on field goals from 51, 50, and 34 yards. Dawson became the first kicker in the proud history of the Army program to make multiple 50-yard field goals in a single game. His 51-yard field goal was the longest of his career and is tied for the seventh-longest field goal in school history.
Jones' 51-yard first quarter field goal was the first field goal of 50 or more yards by an Army kicker since Daniel Grochowski's 52-yarder against Navy on Dec. 13, 2014 - a span of 12 years and 149 games.
Since winning the kicking job (field goals and PATs) to begin the 2025 season, Jones has made 22 of his 29 field goal attempts and 62 of his 63 PATs.
Entering Saturday's game at Memphis, Jones has made five consecutive and 16 of his last 18 field goal attempts since Oct. 18, 2025. He's also made 31 consecutive PATs including each of his 28 point after tries in 2026.
"I'm proud of Dawson," said Army head coach Jeff Monken following the victory over Tulsa. "Dawson has grown so much in his skills and playing his position. Early in the season last year he missed some kicks that I know he was disappointed with. He really did a great job of growing up through the season last year. He worked particularly hard in the offseason to improve.
"It was an awesome kick at the end. To hit two 50-yarders in a game is pretty darn good," Monken said of Jones' performance against Tulsa.
For his heroic efforts against both Tulane and Tulsa, Jones was named the American Conference Special Teams Player of the Week marking the first times he has earned the honor.
"The job of a specialist is to be the third phase in the game and to make kicks when your time is called," said Jones. "There is a lot of trust that the entire team puts into you. I'm doing it for them (my brothers) because they are the ones who battle for four quarters, and they do so much to put us in those positions."
Jones was extremely comfortable that his final kick against Tulsa would result in a game-winner.
"It felt great off of my foot," said Jones. "I looked up and saw the ball flying the way I had planned for it to fly, which was right down my target line. I knew it was in pretty quickly. Being able to look around and see all the excitement from my teammates because we all knew it was in. Being able to celebrate with the people who did it was exciting."
Jones credits his teammates' resiliency and their ability to battle back from a fourth quarter deficit against Tulsa with putting Army just one win from gaining bowl eligibility for the third consecutive season.
The Black Knights' defense forced two punts, blocked a punt, and forced a Tulsa turnover on downs with a crucial sack within the final six minutes of the game. Army's offense scored 10 points, including a touchdown with 1:50 remaining, and gained 30 yards on seven plays during its game-winning drive which began with just 51 seconds remaining to be played.
With Army's offense and defense doing their jobs, it was up to Jones to do his job.
He came through perfectly.
"Kicking a game-winning field goal is what kickers have dreamed of our entire lives," said Jones. "It's realizing how fun it is to be out there, to be with your brothers, play football, and do your job. It's something that I can't really describe."
Secure Your Seats
There is no setting quite like West Point. To purchase directly online now, visit GoArmyWestPoint.com/ticketsor call 1-877-TIX-ARMY.
Need other ticket options? Complete the form HERE identifying your ticket interests and an Army representative will contact you!
Army West Point Athletic Association, Inc. (AWPAA)
AWPAA is an IRS code 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established to execute the United States Military Academy's intercollegiate athletics program. AWPAA is led by a board of directors that provides guidance to the director of athletics, who serves as the primary advisor to the USMA Superintendent and the USMA leadership on all NCAA operations. The AWPAA mission is to recruit, educate, train and inspire leaders of character who are committed to the Army values through an extraordinary Division I athletic experience.
—www.goarmywestpoint.com—
Tell that to Army West Point kicker Dawson Jones has hit game-winning kicks vs. Tulane and at Tulsa this year.
Then ask the junior systems and decision sciences major how he practices making game-winning kicks after the game clock has expired.
"It's something I spend a lot of time on personally and with the coaching staff," said Jones following his field goal to give the Black Knights a come-from-behind 38-35 road win at Tulsa. "I go through my checks and do the things I know I need to do to be successful.
"I take a couple of breaths, do some exercises to relax my body, and put myself mentally into the mindset that I need to be in to go out and kick. Then it's just enjoying the moment. The job of a specialist is to do your job when you are called upon."
In the Black Knights' walk-off 38-35 victory over Tulsa, Jones connected on field goals from 51, 50, and 34 yards. Dawson became the first kicker in the proud history of the Army program to make multiple 50-yard field goals in a single game. His 51-yard field goal was the longest of his career and is tied for the seventh-longest field goal in school history.
Jones' 51-yard first quarter field goal was the first field goal of 50 or more yards by an Army kicker since Daniel Grochowski's 52-yarder against Navy on Dec. 13, 2014 - a span of 12 years and 149 games.
Since winning the kicking job (field goals and PATs) to begin the 2025 season, Jones has made 22 of his 29 field goal attempts and 62 of his 63 PATs.
Entering Saturday's game at Memphis, Jones has made five consecutive and 16 of his last 18 field goal attempts since Oct. 18, 2025. He's also made 31 consecutive PATs including each of his 28 point after tries in 2026.
"I'm proud of Dawson," said Army head coach Jeff Monken following the victory over Tulsa. "Dawson has grown so much in his skills and playing his position. Early in the season last year he missed some kicks that I know he was disappointed with. He really did a great job of growing up through the season last year. He worked particularly hard in the offseason to improve.
"It was an awesome kick at the end. To hit two 50-yarders in a game is pretty darn good," Monken said of Jones' performance against Tulsa.
For his heroic efforts against both Tulane and Tulsa, Jones was named the American Conference Special Teams Player of the Week marking the first times he has earned the honor.
"The job of a specialist is to be the third phase in the game and to make kicks when your time is called," said Jones. "There is a lot of trust that the entire team puts into you. I'm doing it for them (my brothers) because they are the ones who battle for four quarters, and they do so much to put us in those positions."
Jones was extremely comfortable that his final kick against Tulsa would result in a game-winner.
"It felt great off of my foot," said Jones. "I looked up and saw the ball flying the way I had planned for it to fly, which was right down my target line. I knew it was in pretty quickly. Being able to look around and see all the excitement from my teammates because we all knew it was in. Being able to celebrate with the people who did it was exciting."
Jones credits his teammates' resiliency and their ability to battle back from a fourth quarter deficit against Tulsa with putting Army just one win from gaining bowl eligibility for the third consecutive season.
The Black Knights' defense forced two punts, blocked a punt, and forced a Tulsa turnover on downs with a crucial sack within the final six minutes of the game. Army's offense scored 10 points, including a touchdown with 1:50 remaining, and gained 30 yards on seven plays during its game-winning drive which began with just 51 seconds remaining to be played.
With Army's offense and defense doing their jobs, it was up to Jones to do his job.
He came through perfectly.
"Kicking a game-winning field goal is what kickers have dreamed of our entire lives," said Jones. "It's realizing how fun it is to be out there, to be with your brothers, play football, and do your job. It's something that I can't really describe."
Secure Your Seats
There is no setting quite like West Point. To purchase directly online now, visit GoArmyWestPoint.com/ticketsor call 1-877-TIX-ARMY.
Need other ticket options? Complete the form HERE identifying your ticket interests and an Army representative will contact you!
Army West Point Athletic Association, Inc. (AWPAA)
AWPAA is an IRS code 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established to execute the United States Military Academy's intercollegiate athletics program. AWPAA is led by a board of directors that provides guidance to the director of athletics, who serves as the primary advisor to the USMA Superintendent and the USMA leadership on all NCAA operations. The AWPAA mission is to recruit, educate, train and inspire leaders of character who are committed to the Army values through an extraordinary Division I athletic experience.
—www.goarmywestpoint.com—
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