Frozen Falcons slip past Wolf Pack in OT, 45-38

  • Published
  • By John Van Winkle
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  A tipped pass and a missed pass gave the Air Force Falcons a 45-38 overtime win against the University of Nevada Wolf Pack here Nov. 15.

The teams battled frigid field conditions and light snow to a 38-38 tie at the end of regulation. 

College overtime rules gave both teams one possession at their opponent's 25-yard line, and the offense must advance the ball until the drive ends in a score, turnover or turnover on downs.

Air Force won the overtime coin toss with 14 degrees on the thermometer and took first possession.

Tailback Devin Rushing powered ahead for 11 yards and then another nine yards, before nearly losing the ball. Nevada defensive tackle Rykeem Yates forced the game's only fumble by swatting the ball out of Rushing's hands and 22 players grabbed for the icy football in a pile. Falcon right tackle Andrew Ruechel came up with the ball to save the drive.

The Falcons advanced the ball on successive plays, with fullback Shayne Davern punching it in from three yards out for the touchdown. Kicker Will Conant added the surefire extra point, putting the Falcons up 45-38. It was then Nevada's chance to match or exceed that touchdown and extra point to stay alive.

Nevada's first plays of overtime amounted to three yards gained. Wolf Pack quarterback Cody Fajardo fell back into the pocket and attempted a pass to his wide receiver Richy Turner in the flat, but Falcons defensive end Alex Hansen got into the passing lane and swatted the ball away, leaving Nevada in a do-or-die situation.
Fajardo faded back and tried to pass to Turner, but the ball was too high, sealing a 45-38 win for the Falcons.

"What a phenomenal football game - exceptionally well played," said Falcons head football coach Troy Calhoun. "As good as a college football game as you'll see. (The) truth is I don't know if you'll be a part of a better game."

The Falcons varied their approach this season to each opponent on offense and defense.  Air Force relied heavily on its fullback rushing game against the Wolf Pack, with sophomore fullback Davern rushing 21 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns, and sophomore fullback D.J. Johnson grinding out another 41 yards in traffic. 

The sophomore rushing attack continued with tailback Jacobi Owens carrying 16 times for 66 yards, bringing him up to 1,054 yards on the season. Owens is only the third sophomore in Air Force history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season.  

The Falcons ended the game with 342 yards rushing, but weren't anywhere near one-dimensional on offense.

Quarterback Kale Pearson remains a lethal double threat, passing 11 of 15 for 129 yards and three touchdowns, and rushing 16 times for 109 yards and another touchdown.

"We found a few different ways (to win) this season and that's the way at the Air Force Academy," Calhoun said.

The Nevada win makes Air Force 8-2 overall and 4-2 in the Mountain West conference. 

The Falcons hit the road to battle the San Diego State Aztecs, 5-5, Nov. 21.

Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. MST. The game will be televised by the CBS Sports Network. Falcon football fans can follow the action on KVOR 740 AM and Gametracker at www.goairforcefalcons.com.