Cougars maul Falcons

  • Published
  • By Maj. Brett Ashworth
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) --  Brigham Young University topped Air Force 33-14 in a battle for first place in the Mountain West Conference in front of 35,521 fans at Falcon Stadium Oct. 28. The result dropped Air Force to 3-4 on the season and 3-2 in the conference. BYU improved to 6-2 on the season and 4-0 in Mountain West Conference play. 

The Falcons could not keep up with the high-powered Cougars offense, which amassed 411 yards total offense. Quarterback John Beck picked apart the Air Force defense with 258 yards passing and three touchdowns.
 
Air Force Head Coach Fisher DeBerry pointed to Air Force turnovers and time of possession as keys to the game. "The (outcome of the game) is disappointing, and it certainly cost us some good position in the conference." 

However, DeBerry was not disappointed in his team's effort. "I am very proud of the fact our guys did not quit," he said. 

BYU took advantage of Air Force mistakes in the first half to take a 21-0 halftime lead.  The Cougars forced two Falcon turnovers on Air Force's first two possessions and took advantage of a 21-yard Air Force punt to score on three of its four first-half possessions.
 
BYU marched 81 yards in 14 plays on the game's opening drive, culminating on a Fui Vakapuna 6-yard touchdown run. The drive consumed 7:07 on the clock. 

"We couldn't come up with a play we needed to get off the field," said cornerback Chris Sutton. 

Air Force looked to respond on their first drive, but sputtered when Jacobe Kendrick fumbled on a fourth down attempt at the BYU 29 after a 51-yard drive.
 
BYU linebacker Bryan Kehl set up the Cougars' next score when he hit Falcon quarterback Shaun Carney as he was throwing, resulting in an interception at the Air Force 44-yard line. 

BYU's five-play drive ended with an eight-yard touchdown pass from Beck to Michael Reed giving BYU a 14-0 lead with 10:12 left in the first half. 

The Cougars took advantage of a 21-yard Air Force punt to extend its lead to 21-0 with 58 seconds left in the first half. Beck connected with Jonny Harline on a one-yard touchdown pass to end a 12-play, 64-yard drive. 

Air Force took the second half kickoff and was forced to punt from its own end zone following an illegal block penalty and a sack. BYU took over at the Air Force 42-yard line following a 29-yard Nathan Meikle punt return and took little time adding to its lead on a 53-yard Jared McLaughlin field goal.
 
Air Force got on the board with a one-yard quarterback sneak by Carney with 3:54 left in the third quarter. The 15-play, 80-yard drive consumed 7:09 of the game clock.
 
Momentum seemed to be on Air Force's side when the subsequent kickoff was misplayed by the Cougars, pinning them on their own 5-yard line. However, the momentum was short-lived as BYU drove 94 yards to add another touchdown on a 4-yard Beck touchdown pass to Vakapuna. The Falcons blocked the extra point, making the score 30-7.
 
The game was put into perspective when it was interrupted by a 20-minute delay as Falcon defensive back Carson Bird was immobilized and taken from the field on a stretcher following a head-to-head collision with fellow Falcon defensive back Chris Thomas midway through the fourth quarter.
 
Following the delay, BYU resumed its assault and added another field goal as McLaughlin tacked on a 27-yard field goal. 

The Falcons made the score respectable with a touchdown with 27 seconds left in the game as Beau Suder drove his way into the end zone from three-yards out. 

Carney summed up the day by saying "we had opportunities, we didn't make plays."
Backup quarterback Jim Ollis, who relieved Carney in the fourth quarter, led the Falcons in passing with 23 yards while Kendrick led in rushing with 58 yards on 14 carries.
 
The Falcons have a short week to get ready for their next game, Friday night at interservice rival, Army.
 
"We'll be ready," promised Sutton.