Air Force Academy
Navy
Football Downs Navy, 24-18
10/6/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct 6, 2001
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) - Keith Boyea ran for a career-high 118 yards and led three long touchdown drives as Air Force beat Navy 24-18 on Saturday.
The Falcons (3-1) have won 18 of their last 20 meeting with the Midshipmen (0-4), including five straight. They also have won four consecutive games against Army.
Boyea scored on a 43-yard run in the final seconds of the first quarter, and Air Force also got touchdown runs of 23 yards from Anthony Butler and 14 yards from Leotis Butler.
Air Force finished with 293 yards rushing. The Falcons had 25 rushes of 5 yards or more, including a dozen of 9 yards or better. Fullback James Burns ran 19 times for 81 yards, and Palmer gained 65 yards on 10 carries.
The Midshipmen moved the ball well, outgaining the Falcons 412-371, but could not overcome their own mistakes. A clipping penalty nullified an apparent 72 yard touchdown run by Brian Madden in the first period, and the Mids had to settle for a field goal. A fumble inside the Air Force 25 blunted a second-quarter drive.
Navy outgained the Falcons in the first half, 261-233, but came away on the short end of an 18-9 score.
Navy wasted another opportunity on its first second-half possession. A personal foul, after Madden gave Navy a first down at the Falcons 7, pushed the Midshipmen back to the 22 and they had to settle for another field goal.
Madden connected with slot back Tony Lane for a 54-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring, but the extra-point attempt was blocked.
Navy missed a fourth-quarter conversion attempt after Madden ran 4 yards for a touchdown, the seventh consecutive game in which he has scored. The run brought the Mids within six points with 3:27 remaining. They regained possession with 2:18 left, after an Air Force punt rolled dead at the 9. Madden drove the Mids to near midfield, before a pass off the hands of a Navy receiver was intercepted by Adam Hanes at the Air Force 41.
Madden rushed for 110 yards and threw for a career-high 189, completing 13 of 20 passes. He has run for at least 100 yards in seven consecutive games, a school record.
