Air Force Falcons @ Colorado State Rams Football Recap

Air Force 45, Colorado State 21

It took a relentlessly consistent and markedly successful football program a little too long to qualify for a bowl game this season, but then again, the alternative could have been far worse: At least, in the end, the Air Force Falcons will indeed play in college football’s postseason. Had they not won their regular-season finale this past Saturday, they would have sat home for the holidays, wondering where their lost season went. Now, at the very least, the gridiron representatives of the United States Air Force Academy can travel to an out-of-town location in late December, sustaining a pattern that is a point of pride in Colorado Springs.

Air Force used a monster second quarter to bury the miserable Colorado State Rams and qualify for its fifth-straight bowl game, one for each of Troy Calhoun’s years at the helm of the Falcons. In a year when service academy football suffered a noticeable drop-off, with Army and Navy failing to make bowl games after playing in the 2010 postseason, Air Force – the winner of the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy – was able to carry the banner for military football by locking up a winning season against an in-state rival.

After Colorado State claimed a first quarter lead when Garrett Grayson threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Byron Steele, Tim Jefferson and tight end Zack Kauth nixed the option game and bombed the Rams through the air. Air Force opened the second quarter when Jefferson hit Kauth on a 33-yard touchdown pass. With Colorado State sputtering on several three-and-outs, Jefferson found Kauth again for a 40-yard score. After sandwiching in a field goal, Jefferson and Kauth went even longer for a 50-yard touchdown pass. Then, Grayson fumbled it back to Air Force two plays later, leading to a Cody Getz 12-yard touchdown run. The Falcons posted a 31-point quarter and the second half was a foregone conclusion.

Jefferson finished throwing 9-12 for 221 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Asher Clark rushed for 111 yards to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards for the second-straight season for the Falcons, who finish the season 7-5 and wait for bowls to start issuing invitations. Chris Nwoke had another huge game in a loss for the Rams, running 29 times for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Colorado State is 3-8 after losing seven straight, and will host Wyoming (7-4) in next week’s “Border War” for the Bronze Boot trophy.

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By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer