Air Force Academy
Utah State
Falcons beat Utah State, 27-20, in MW opener
9/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Post Game Interviews | Highlights
LOGAN, Utah (AP) Jacobi Owens scored on a 1-yard TD run with 5:06 left in the fourth quarter and Air Force opened the Mountain West Conference season with a 27-20 win over Utah State on Saturday night.
Air Force's Haji Dunn Jr. set up Owens' score when he sacked Kent Myers, forced the fumble and recovered it at the Utah State 14. Owens capped the short drive by breaking a tackle and spinning into the end zone to make it 24-13.
The Falcons (3-0, 1-0) then forced a four-and-out to quickly take the ball back and made it a 14-point lead on Luke Strebel's field goal with 2:57 left.
The Aggies (2-2, 0-1) cut the deficit back to one score with 33 seconds left after a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. But Ryan Reffitt recovered the onside pooch kick to secure the win.
Utah State tried a fake field goal on fourth-and-goal from the 18 but on the first play of the fourth quarter but came up 6 yards short of the end zone.
THE TAKEAWAY
Air Force: The Falcons entered the game nation's leading rushing offense at 432.5 yards per game. They finished with 213 yards on the ground against the Aggies.
Utah State: The Aggies lost their first Mountain West opener in their fourth season since joining the conference. Ron'Quavion Tarver's nine catches and 143 yards receiving were both career highs.
UP NEXT
Air Force: The Falcons host undefeated Navy next Saturday for the first service academy showdown of 2016.
