Falcons record two safeties in 41-7 rout

  • Published
  • By Capt. Uriah Orland
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) --  Two defensive scores by one of the youngest teams in school history led the Air Force Falcons to a 41-7 rout over Southern Utah University in the season opener here Aug. 30.

Returning only eight starters from last year, the Falcons looked to an experienced defensive line to control the game. Leading the fight were senior defensive ends Jake Paulson and Ryan Kemp, who combined for a safety, a forced and recovered fumble, three sacks, and eight tackles, four for a loss, as the Falcon defense held SUU to 130 yards of offense and only seven yards rushing. Senior inside linebacker Brandon Reese also recorded a safety; marking the first time in school history the Falcons recorded two safeties.

In the Falcon's opening drive, second year Head Coach Troy Calhoun pushed for a fourth-and-goal conversion from the 1-yard line, however, the offense was unable to punch it in. The defense knew points were only inches away and stuffed the Thunderbirds for no gain on first down. On second down, Reese powered through and tackled running back Kenny Apilli for the game's first safety.

Air Force fumbled the free kick, but the defense forced another three and out to give the Falcons the ball on their own 45. Quarterback Shea Smith led the Falcons down the field and scored his first rushing touchdown, a 1-yard strike to put the Falcons up 9-0.

Despite pre-game chatter of Coach Calhoun using two quarterbacks, Smith was clearly the choice of the day.

"I felt like there was some good continuity when Shea was out there and with a young team I felt we needed that," the coach said. "I think (he) played solid. He did some things where he got the play and he looked over the sideline and checked the call. That part is what you want as a quarterback. The thing he does is make good decisions and he's got to do that."

Each side was forced to punt and the Thunderbirds were backed up on their own 6-yard line. Paulson broke through and wrapped up SUU quarterback Cody Stone in the end zone to put Air Force up 11-0.

Smith again charged the Falcons down the field, throwing the first touchdown pass of his career, a 14-yard strike to sophomore tight end Keith Madsen.

To close out the half, Smith led a 12-play, 63-yard drive that ended with a 30-yard field goal by Ryan Harrison as time expired and gave the Falcons a 21-0 lead.

Air Force continued to run over the Thunderbirds to start the third quarter. Z-wide receiver, Kyle Halderman, capped the drive with the first touchdown of his Falcons career, a 48-yard run, making it 28-0. He also recovered a Falcon fumble the play before to keep the drive alive.

The Falcon defense continued to pressure SUU and recorded two fumble recoveries by linebacker Ken Lamendola and defensive end Ryan Kemp. Harrison capped each turnover with two field goals from 42 and 32 yards to make the score 34-0.

At eight minutes into the third quarter the Falcon defense had allowed a total of 28 yards by the SUU offense. However, SUU came alive and drove 80 yards, scoring on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Stone to Nick Miller.

That was the only life seen by SUU as the Falcons shut down any further drives and added seven more points as Jonathan Warzeka scored his first touchdown as a Falcon on a 14-yard run.

Next week the Air Force Falcons travel to Laramie, Wyo., to battle the Wyoming Cowboys in their conference opener, Sept. 6 at 1:30 p.m. MST.

Air Force is 8-1 all-time in Mountain West Conference openers dating back to 1999. The Air Force-Wyoming series is the oldest and one of the closest series in school history. The Falcons hold a 23-20-3 series edge, including a 14-13 mark in conference games. Air Force has won the last two games in the series, including a 31-24 victory the last time the two played in Laramie.


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