Falcons defeat Running Rebels, 48-21; Defense limits UNLV to 33 yards rushing

  • Published
  • By John Van Winkle
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Air Force rolled to its seventh win of the season over the UNLV Running Rebels 48-21 Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.

The Rebels gave the Falcons an early scare by taking the game's first possession 75 yards to pay dirt, putting Air Force down 7-0, but it was all Air Force for the rest of the first half. The Falcons scored on the next five possessions to go up 31-14. 

Defensively, the Falcons owned the ground, limiting UNLV to 33 yards rushing in 30 attempts. The passing game is where UNLV kept the ball moving in a perpetual chase of the Falcons' lead, with quarterback Blake Decker leading UNLV passers connecting on 18 of 32 attempts for 263 yards, with  114 yards caught by wide receiver Devante Davis.

"I think one of the things we try to do is make it where it wasn't a multidimensional job. That's easier said than done. They threw for 306 yards," said Falcons head football coach Troy Calhoun.  "We did miss a chance, early in the game, to get off the field on third and long in the first half. There were a few third-and-seven pluses where we've got to get off the field. I thought we played really, really well in the second half."

Falcons quarterback Kale Pearson proved to be a triple-threat against UNLV.  Pearson was sparing with his passing, going five of six for 115 yards and one touchdown, and carrying the ball 15 times for 67 yards and another touchdown.  But it was a toss back from Pearson to wide receiver Colton Huntsman that surprised UNLV.

Huntsman, s high school and college quarterback, took the pass and tossed the ball back to an uncovered Pearson, who took the reception 41 yards into UNLV territory.

"The offensive staff wanted to do that. Give credit to those guys for coming up with it and being able to execute it, too," said Calhoun.

Despite Pearson's triple-threat, it was running back Jacobi Owens who owned the day.  Owens was the Falcons' leading rusher, carrying the ball 18 times for 135 yards and one touchdown, all while playing in front of his hometown for the first time at the college level. Owens is now just 12 yards shy of 1,000 yard season.

The Falcons' offensive prowess carried over into other parts of the game, as kicker/punter Will Conant saw no punting action until the third quarter, and the Falcons only punted twice in the game.

Combined, the Falcons offensive and stingy defense gave Air Force a 48-21 conference win. 

Next up for the 7-3 Falcons is a home game versus Nevada Wolf Pack (6-3) Saturday. Both teams hit Falcon Stadium with a three-game winning streak for what could be a frigid battle scheduled to kickoff at noon. 

Fans can follow the action on KVOR 740-AM in Colorado Springs, The Fan 104.3 FM in Denver, or online via Gametracker at www.goairforcefalcons.com