Falcons corral Cowboys in conference opener

  • Published
  • By Wayne Amann
  • U. S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) --  The Falcons ran their triple-option offense to near perfection Sept. 23, rushing for 327 yards and three touchdowns en route to a convincing 31-24 win over the Wyoming Cowboys in the Mountain West Conference opener for both schools in Laramie.  The win evened Air Force's record at 1-1 on the season. 

It also was the 300th victory in academy history. The Falcons are 300-254-13 since the football program was established in 1956.

Air Force junior quarterback Shaun Carney triggered the Falcons running attack, rushing for 131 yards and two touchdowns, while junior halfback Chad Hall ran for 122 more and a score. The yardage totals were career highs for both players.

"If we're going to 'Return to Dominance,' we have to take chances and make plays," Air Force head coach Fisher DeBerry said, referring to the team's motto. "We went on fourth down, made it and scored early. We sent a message about our team."

The message seemingly reached DeBerry's counterpart on the Wyoming sideline.

"That was as good a triple-option clinic as I've ever seen," Wyoming head coach Joe Glenn said. "Their offense was just spectacular. They were very special today."

The bluesuiters put together scoring drives of 11, 18, 11 and 17 plays that enabled them to dominate the time of possession 40:25 to 19:35.

With the ground game clicking on all cylinders, Carney went to the air sparingly. When he did, he hit Laramie native Beau Suder for a 20-yard touchdown strike that gave the Falcons a 21-7 halftime lead. Carney's two other completions, in just seven attempts, went for key first downs to wide receivers Spencer Armstrong and Victor Thompson to keep drives alive. All 10 of Carney's completions this season have gone for first downs or a touchdown.

"We took care of the ball and executed our offense," Carney said. "They really didn't stop us. We've got a bunch of guys who want the ball in their hands when it's time to make a play. We'll get the job done no matter what we have to do."

Four times after Air Force scores the Cowboys would answer in kind, but the Falcon defense refused to surrender the lead.

Air Force defensive end Jake Paulsen ended a potential game-tying Cowboy comeback by recovering a Devin Moore fumble at the Cowboy 25-yard line with :29 left in the game.

"We knew it was going to be a fight down to the wire," Falcon defensive end Josh Clayton said. "Our mindset was no matter what adversity came our way, we would keep battling."

The key challenge came in the third quarter when Cowboy safety John Wendling scooped up a Carney fumble and raced 54 yards for a touchdown that whittled the Air Force lead to 21-14. Carney redeemed himself with :24 seconds left in the period by dashing for his second rushing touchdown from four yards out. It was the eventual game-winner.

Other Falcon statistics of note included a 24-14 first down edge, converting 12 of 18 third down situations, scoring all four times they had the ball in the Red Zone (inside the Wyoming 20-yard line) and sacking Cowboy quarterback Jacob Doss four times for 15 yards in losses.

With the win Air Force holds a 22-20-3 lead in the all-time series with Wyoming, and is now 7-11-2 all-time in Laramie.

The Falcons played without pre-season all-conference defensive end Gilberto Perez who suffered a knee injury in practice earlier in the week. His status for Air Force's home opener Sept. 30 against MWC rival New Mexico is uncertain.

Due to a schedule quirk giving the Falcons two bye weeks in the first three weeks of the college football season, Air Force is one of only four Division I schools which has yet to play at home this season.

"We're so glad to be coming home," DeBerry said. "Our guys are fun to watch. I'll be disappointed if it's not a sellout crowd. This team is for real."