Football: Falcons hold off Cougars in wake of Hurricane Ike

  • Published
  • By Maj. Brett Ashworth
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
DALLAS (AFPN) --  The U.S. Air Force Academy culminated a week of unpredictability with a hard fought 31-28 win against Conference USA foe Houston Sept. 13 in Dallas. 

Senior quarterback Shea Smith scored a career-high three rushing touchdowns to pace the Falcons and the Air Force defense continued its impressive early season play by holding the Houston's potent No. 8-ranked offense to their lowest scoring output of the season. 

Hurricane Ike forced the game to be moved from Houston to Southern Methodist University's Ford Stadium in Dallas. The originally scheduled 2:30 p.m. kickoff was moved up to 10 a.m. to avoid the heavy rain and winds expected from the hurricane's remnants. The game was played under a cloudy sky and a light drizzle. 

Houston jumped out to an early 7-0 lead with 7:41 left in the first quarter. But the Falcons then scored 31 unanswered points. The Falcons responded to the Houston score by putting points on the board on three of their next four possessions in the first half with Ryan Harrison getting the scoring started with a 30-yard field goal, followed by a 2-yard touchdown run by Smith and a 7-yard touchdown run by Savier Stephens. Stephens' touchdown was set up by a 53-yard punt return by Reggie Rembert. 

The Falcons took a 17-7 lead into the halftime locker room. 

"I think we came out a little flat," said defensive end Jake Paulson. "That happens every once in a while. We got a chance to really take the momentum, and we took it and ran with it." 

The Air Force picked up where they left off in the first half by taking the second half kick-off and driving 59 yards to push their lead to 24-7. Smith capped the drive off with a 1-yard keeper for a touchdown. 

Following a Cougars punt, the Falcons marched down the field 80 yards in 13 plays with Smith taking the ball into the end zone from six yards out to increase the Air Force lead to 31-7 with 4:25 left in the third quarter. 

But the Cougars kept clawing and scored 21 straight points to close within three points of the Falcons in the fourth quarter. Houston quarterback Case Keenum kept the Cougars in the game with 362 yards passing and four touchdowns. However, he threw a costly interception to freshman cornerback Anthony Wright as the Cougars were driving to cut into the Air Force lead midway through the fourth quarter. Following Houston's final score, Air Force recovered an onside kick with 3:38 left in the game. They made three first downs to run out the clock and end the game. 

Smith led the Air Force offense with 93 yards on the ground while Ken Lamendola charted 12 tackles and Paulson added two and half sacks. Air Force rushed for 380 yards in the victory. 

The victory improves the Falcons to 3-0 on the year. Next week, they return to Mountain West Conference action when they return home to Falcon Stadium to take on Utah. Kickoff is 2 p.m., MST.

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