Air Force Academy
South Dakota
Air Force Handles South Dakota, 37-20
9/3/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 3, 2011
Notes 
| Quotes | Video: Coach Calhoun\Players & Highlights
Mikel Hunter scored on an 80-yard run on the game's first snap as Air Force defeated South Dakota, 37-20, in Falcon Stadium in the season opener for both schools.
On the game's first play, Hunter took a pitch from fellow wide receiver Jonathan Warzeka on a reverse play to the left side to put the Falcons on the board just 16 seconds into the game. Later in the first quarter, junior fullback Wes Cobb added his first-career touchdown to give the Falcons a 14-0 lead.
South Dakota got on the board with a Dante Warren five-yard pass to Dustin Nowotny to cut the lead to 14-7 early in the second. Parker Herrington answered with a 45-yard field goal, the first of his career, to extend Air Force's lead to 17-7. Tim Jefferson closed the first-half scoring with a pair of short touchdown runs to give Air Force a 30-7 lead.
The Falcons opened the second half with a Jefferson to Hunter 55-yard touchdown pass to make it 37-7 early in the third. South Dakota added two fourth-quarter touchdowns to make up the final margin.
Air Force had 487 total yards and averaged 7.0 yards per play. The Falcons were led by Asher Clark, who rushed for 97 yards. Hunter added 82 while Jefferson chipped in with 69. The defense was led by Patrick Hennessey, who had a team-best eight tackles. Anthony Wright and Chris Miller each added seven. Alex Means and Zach Payne chipped in with two sacks each.
