Air Force Falcons @ Army Black Knights Football Recap

The Air Force Falcons locked up their first Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy since 2002 with a 42-22 win over the Army Black Knights on Saturday at Michie Stadium.

It was Air Force’s 20 th win in the last 22 games against Army, which seemed to have its best chance in quite a while to knock off its service academy rivals and claim the coveted award.

But the Black Knights missed out on key opportunities to score.  Army was forced to settle for field goals on two promising first-quarter drives, and the Falcons took the lead for good when quarterback Tim Jefferson scored on a three-yard run on the first play of the second quarter. On Air Force’s next drive, the ground-oriented Falcons took to the air when Jefferson found Jonathan Warzeka for a 53-yard touchdown, on a throw that was actually intended for someone else, to give AFA a 14-6 lead.

Army seized momentum when Jacob Bohn ran 18 yards for a touchdown to cut the Air Force lead to one point.  On the ensuing Falcons possession, Army’s Donnie Dixon blasted Jefferson to the ground and knocked him out of the game.  Air Force was forced to punt, and the Black Knights had a chance to take the lead.

Air Force extinguished the Black Knights’ comeback and stole the momentum for good during the final minute of the first half.  Anthony Wright intercepted a Trent Steelman pass and returned it 32 yards to the Army 23.  Jefferson returned to the game, and led the Falcons to a touchdown.  Nathan Walker’s two-yard run gave Air Force a 21-13 lead with :14 left in the first half.

> Find a great selection of Air Force Falcons apparel & merchandise & check out the MWC Football Scores online through MWC-Fans.com!

Army cut it to 21-16 with an Alex Carlton field goal, but Jefferson connected with Warzeka for a 63-yard touchdown to give the Falcons a 28-16 lead with :44 left in the third quarter.  It was one of just three completions all day for Jefferson, but it came at the perfect time.

The Falcons put the game away early in the fourth quarter when Jordan Waiwaiole picked up a Jared Hassin fumble and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown to give AFA a 35-16 lead.

Statistically, the game wasn’t as one-sided as the final score indicated.  Air Force outrushed Army just 277-244.  Army had 19 first downs to the Falcons’ 18, and total yards were 401-325 Air Force.  It was just a couple of key plays – particularly the Jefferson-to-Warzeka touchdown strikes – that gave the Falcons the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy and spoiled Army’s final home game of 2010.

By: James Lambert
DFN Sports Staff Writer