Falcons score 21 unanswered to defeat Colorado State 24-21

  • Published
  • By Wayne Amann
  • U. S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) --  Fueled by quarterback Shaun Carney's two touchdown passes and fullback Jacobe Kendrick's first rushing touchdown of the season, the Air Force Academy Falcons rallied from a 21-3 halftime deficit to stun the neighboring Colorado State Rams 24-21 before 30,008 loyalty-divided fans Oct. 12 at Falcon Stadium.

The win gives Air Force (3-2, 3-0 Mountain West Conference) sole possession of first place in the MWC.

What triggered the dramatic turnaround?

"I challenged them," Air Force head coach Fisher DeBerry said. "I told them at halftime the key word was composure. I said I didn't want them going back on the field if they didn't believe they could win the game. I felt good about our offense in the first half except we were our own worst enemies."

Air Force racked up 232 yards in total offense before the intermission but lost two fumbles to negate potential scoring drives.

The turnovers opened the door for CSU (4-2, 1-1 MWC) to build an 18-point first half cushion engineered by Rams quarterback Caleb Hanie who was 10-for-14 passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns before the break. His 83-yard bomb to Damon Morton with :43 left in the half set up his own 3-yard touchdown run.

DeBerry wasn't the only vocal Falcon in the Air Force locker room at halftime.

"We can't be pointing fingers," implored senior defensive end Gilberto Perez who returned to action after missing three games with an injury. "When we come together as a team we can do great things."

His teammates took the words to heart and then played with heart.

After Kendrick capped a 10-play, 48-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown run around left end to pull Air Force within 21-10 in the third quarter, the Falcon defense seized momentum.

With Perez and his fellow defensive line mates pressuring Hanie, the prolific passer rushed a throw that was intercepted by Air Force safety Bobby Giannini, who returned it 16 yards to the CSU 14.

Two plays later Carney hit wide receiver Spencer Armstrong for a 14-yard scoring strike, the first of Armstrong's career, to shave the deficit to 21-17 after three quarters.

The Falcon defense stymied the ensuing Colorado State drive giving Carney's offense another shot.

The junior signal caller took full advantage, finding wide receiver Victor Thompson alone in the end zone on a 19-yard touchdown toss to complete the comeback.

"Everyone was saying it was time for me to step up as a leader," Carney said. "I had great help from the guys around me. People made plays when they had the opportunity."

The opportunity presented itself to Air Force cornerback Chris Sutton.

CSU took possession with 4:07 left in regulation. On a first and 10 situation at the Ram 38 yard line, and 2:08 to play, Hanie went for the go-ahead touchdown.  Sutton, who was playing off the receiver, picked off Hanie's bomb at the Falcon 20 yard line to clinch the victory.

The win snapped a seven-game losing streak on Thursday nights for Air Force dating back to 1998. It was DeBerry's 100th conference victory. 

The next game for the Falcons is against the San Diego State Aztecs in San Diego Oct. 21.