Falcons gain respect despite 31-30 loss to Tennessee

  • Published
  • By Wayne Amann
  • U. S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) --  The Air Force Academy football team kicked off their 2006 campaign Sept. 9 in Knoxville, Tenn., with a 31-30 last-minute loss to 11th ranked University of Tennessee Volunteers. 

Despite the loss, the Falcons served notice to the 105,466 spectators who filled orange-bathed Neyland Stadium and future opponents that this year's Air Force football team are ready to back up the team motto "Return to Dominance."

Trailing 31-17, Falcons defensive back Julian Madrid intercepted a pass with less than seven minutes to play in the fourth quarter. Twelve plays later fullback Ryan Williams, who led all runners with 98 yards on 16 carries, scored on a 4-yard touchdown run. Place kicker Zack Sasser's point-after made it 31-24. Sasser's ensuing on-side kick was recovered by the Falcons at their own 42-yard line. Six plays later, Williams returned to the end zone from 1-yard out with 1:35 to play in regulation. 

Without hesitation, Air Force opted for the 2-point conversion and the lead instead of a tie. However, the Vols defense, which the Falcons shredded for 281 rushing yards, finally had enough and stopped halfback Chad Hall behind the line of scrimmage to protect its lead.

Air Force recovered another onside kick but the Falcons were whistled for an offside penalty.

"We didn't come here to lose," Air Force head coach Fisher DeBerry said. "I told our team if we score we're going for two. We sent a message about what this team's mindset is. How can you prove the "Return to Dominance" unless you take the chance to win? Tennessee knew it was in a doggone good football game."

Air Force went toe-to-toe with the Southeastern Conference power from the opening kickoff. The Falcons had 408 yards in total offense to 412 for the vaunted Vols.

Air Force struck first when Hall, who had 81 yards on 11 carries, capped a 10-play, 72-yard opening drive with a 5-yard touchdown run with 9:32 left in the first quarter.

After the teams traded field goals, Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge threw 4- and 5-yard touchdown passes to Robert Meachem and Jayson Swain to give the home team a 17-10 halftime lead.

A 3-yard Antonio Hardesty run upped the Volunteer advantage to 24-10 before Air Force junior quarterback Shaun Carney's 1-yard touchdown run ended the third quarter scoring.

"We had an opportunity to make history," said Carney who ran for 64 yards on a team-high 17 carries and was 7-of-9 passing for 127 yards. "The positive is we came here and showed the country we're for real against one of the nation's great teams."

Another reality was the Falcons Red Zone efficiency and lack thereof. Air Force scored all five times it was inside the Tennessee 20-yard line. The Volunteers had identical success.

"We've got to improve our red zone defense," DeBerry said. "We have to interrupt our opponents' offensive consistency; stop drives by getting more pressure on the passer."

Air Force was burned for 333 yards passing but still had plenty to build on.

The Falcons averaged 5.5 yards per rushing attempt and 18.1 yards per pass completion. They did not commit a single turnover while forcing four fumbles and one interception. Air Force converted nine of 13 third down situations.

Defensively, the Falcons held Tennessee (2-0) to just 79 rushing yards on 32 attempts, a 3.2 yards per run average.

"We did some significant things tonight," DeBerry emphasized. "Our 281 yards rushing was the most they've given up in a game since 2001. They hadn't given up 100 yards rushing in the last 13 games."

Outcome aside, the Falcons season opener went a long way toward erasing the memory of back-to-back sub-.500 seasons. A win would have been the first over a ranked team since the Falcons beat then-No. 23 California, 23-21, in 2002.

"Falcons football is not about hanging in there," Air Force senior defensive tackle Gilberto Perez said. "It's about returning to dominance and getting victories."

The Falcons are idle until Sept. 23 when they face Mountain West Conference rival, the University of Wyoming Cowboys in Laramie.