Air Force defeats Navy 14-6 in ground battle

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Raymond Hoy
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  In a game filled with flyovers, it was ground pounding that dominated as the Air Force Falcons sunk the Navy Midshipmen 14-6 today at Falcon Stadium here.

The Falcons showed while they have the number one rushing offense in the country after racking up 292 yards on the ground. Their season average yards-per-game is 394.

Air Force scored its first victory against the boys from Annapolis since they beat them 48-7 in 2002 at home. The Falcons' win snapped the Mids' 15-game winning streak against the other service academies that included eight wins against the Army and seven against the Air Force.

"Everyone is really down right now," said Midshipmen quarterback Ricky Dobbs. "We've never had this feeling before, losing to a service academy and we don't know how to take it."

While the Mids' offense had a respectable game with 209 rushing yards and 312 yards of total offense, the Falcons' defense came up with the big plays that clinched the victory, including a punt block, two interceptions and six tackles for loss. Linebacker Jordan Waiwaiole led the way with 15 tackles, one sack and the interception that sealed the game for the Falcons.

"The team won the game, but the defensive part of it was super," said Falcons' head coach Troy Calhoun during a post-game press conference. "You look back over the years--I thought in past years, [Navy has] been able to take the initial drive and go down and score points, so we've always been playing a little bit of catch-up from the get-go. Today, that wasn't the case."

The Falcons held Dobbs to just 103 yards in the air, 43 yards on the ground and no touchdowns. Dobbs has had at least one rushing touchdown in all 16 of his career starts.

"[Ricky Dobbs is] a terrific player," Coach Calhoun said. "We looked at tape, and certainly just being on the field with their guys--there's a reason why he's a guy you discuss to go to New York City in December. You can see why there was discussion."

The Air Force won the toss at the start of the game and decided to defer to Navy. The Midshipmen punted the ball following a 35-yard drive giving the Falcons the ball on their own 6-yard line. After a big 29-yard run by Jared Tew, he coughed the ball up giving it back to the Mids on their own 43. But they couldn't capitalize, eventually giving the ball back to the Falcons following a missed 21-yard field goal attempt by Joe Buckley. Quarterback Tim Jefferson put the Falcons on top first with a 50-yard touchdown run to end the first quarter.

Buckley was able to put three on the board for the Mids following a 14-play, 78-yard drive to open their second quarter bringing the score 7-3. Both defenses knuckled down to take that score into the locker room at the half.

Air Force opened the second half with a quick three-and-out after a Jefferson fumble gave the Mids the ball on the Falcon 36-yard line. Navy could only muster a field goal following the turnover bringing the score to 7-6. That score held to the end of the third.

The Falcons came out strong in the fourth quarter. Freshman Jamil Cooks leaped over the Midshipmen offensive line for a key punt block which was recovered by Anthony Wooding. They followed the big play with a four-play, 15-yard drive capped by a Jefferson one-yard touchdown dive.

The Air Force defense then went into lockdown-mode keeping Navy to just 68 fourth-quarter yards and eventually putting the nail in the coffin with the Waiwaiole interception with 25 seconds left in the game for a final score of 14-6.

Ultimately, both teams fought hard in front of a sold out crowd of more than 47,000 bursting with American pride. After the game, Coach Calhoun discussed how proud he was of not only his players, but the Navy as well.

"To see both squads fight and compete the way they did--that field was sprinkled with everything that we want to serve our country and our future," he said. "These are two phenomenal schools with a purpose and with missions; you look forward to what this country may have in store down the road. They made a dedication, they've made a commitment to serve and be fine officers. Really, that's what it's all about."

This win puts Air Force in the driver's seat to determine the fate of this year's Commander-in-Chief's trophy. If the Falcons eat Army at Westpoint November 6, the trophy will come home to its high-altitude residence. If Air Force loses to Army, the annual Army versus Navy game will determine the final destination of the trophy until next year.

The win takes the Air Force record to 4-1; 2-0 in the Mountain West Conference. Air Force's next game is against a MWC rival Colorado State University Rams at home. The game can be viewed live on CBS College and heard on the air on KVOR 740 AM at 5 p.m. (MST). For those who can't watch the game, but still want to follow online, go to www.goairforcefalcons.com/gameday/ for the game tracker or listen to streaming radio at www.kvor.com.