Saturday, September 14
Boulder, CO
11 a.m. MT
Air Force Academy
2-0
30
at
23
Colorado
2-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
OT
F
Air Force
6
14
0
3
7
30
Colorado
10
0
0
13
0
23
Air Force Knocks off Colorado in OT Thriller, 30-23
9/14/2019 3:01:00 PM | Football
The Falcons earned its first regular season win over an Autonomous Five team since 2007
BOULDER, Colo. – The Air Force Academy football team needed a little extra time, but in the end was able to knock off in-state rival Colorado in overtime, 30-23, Saturday afternoon, Sept. 14, at Folsom Field. It was Air Force's first regular season win over an Autonomous Five team since defeating Notre Dame in 2007. It was also AF's first win over CU in the last five tries in the first meeting between the teams since 1974.
The win gives the Falcons (2-0) its 27th all-time win over a school from the Pac-12 Conference all-time. It was also the fourth all-time win against the "A-5" Conferences in the regular season. In overtime games, AF moves to 8-6 all-time in extra stanzas. It is Air Force's first OT win since 2014, as well as the first road OT win since 1996.
As a team, Air Force outgained the Buffs (2-1) by a 444-325 margin, including a 289-105 advantage on the ground. They won the possession battle, 34:04-25:56, while also converting 7-of-12 third downs.
Leading the offense was starting quarterback junior Donald Hammond III. The signal caller finished 7-of-12 through the air for 155 yards, including two touchdown passes. He also added 22 yards on the ground with a rushing score. Leading the ground game was junior Kadin Remsberg, as he finished with 146 yards on 23 carries, as well as a score. It was the second 100-plus yard game for him in his career.
Through the air, Hammond III completed his seven passes to just three receivers. Leading the effort was senior Geraud Sanders, who had four receptions for 56 yards and a TD. Fellow senior Ben Waters was the leading wide out, as he hauled in two passes for 92 yards, which included an 81-yard TD catch, the first of his career.
On defense, senior Jeremy Fejdelem led the way with 14 tackles, including 12 solo and two for loss, which also included a sack. The 14 stops ties his career-high. Junior linebacker Lakota Wills also had a solo sack, while junior defensive back Milton Bugg III picked off his second pass in as many games. Both Wills and Bugg III finished with five tackles.
Colorado received the kick to start the game, and made the most of the first possession taking it 75 yards in 11 plays to open the scoring with a 42-yard TD pass. On the ensuing AF drive, CU forced a fumble and recovered it on the Falcon 34 to set up great field possession. The defense held tight though, holding the Buffs to a FG, keeping it 10-0 with 7:23 left in the first.
Air Force's next drive started with three solid runs from Remsberg to get the ball into CU territory. After CU's defense began to push back, forcing third and nine, Hammond went over the top to a wide open G. Sanders in the end zone for a 32-yard TD strike. The extra point banged off the goal post, keeping the score 10-6. That score held into the second quarter, which AF started with the ball.
With the ball near midfield to start the stanza, AF grounded and pounded the ball down field, eventually getting into the CU red zone. There, Hammond III took it himself on a two-yard TD run, capping the 12-play drive and giving AF the 13-10 lead early in the second quarter.
Following a second straight punt from Colorado, AF took over on its own 20. The Falcons needed just two plays this time, as Hammond III aired it out to Waters for an 81-yard touchdown pass. The first TD catch of Waters' career was the fifth-longest in program history, and extended the AF advantage to 20-10 with six and a half minutes to the break.
The Falcons earned a great opportunity on the next drive, as Bugg III picked off a crossing pattern and returned it to the CU 44, giving AF a great chance to pad the lead before the half. Air Force drove the ball down to Colorado's six yard line, but on a potential TD pass, the ball was tipped up and intercepted, ending the threat and taking the game into the half with the 20-10 score.
In the third quarter, the defenses stepped up big, as neither team got a ton of momentum and traded punts, keeping the score 20-10 with 15 minutes to play. The start of the fourth quarter saw AF drive down to the CU 29 before being stymied. Senior kicker Jake Koehnke was able to knock home a 47-yard field goal to extend the lead to 23-10 with just over 10 minutes to play. It marked his new career-long for a field goal.
That's when CU's offense came to life, as on the ensuing drive they went 75 yards in 12 plays for a TD. A blocked extra point off the hands of junior Jordan Jackson kept it a seven point game, 23-16. After an Air Force empty possession, CU got the ball back with 4:21 on the clock. They once again went on a time melting drive, scoring the tying touchdown with just 28 seconds to play. AF kneeled the ball and sent the game to OT.
On Air Force's first play from scrimmage, Remsberg took a pitch on an option all the way to pay dirt to put AF up and with a chance to win the game on defense. In CU's offensive possession, they got one first down to AF's 14 yard line, but the defense held strong, forcing an incompletion, no gain rush, negative gain pass, and finally an incomplete pass to the corner of the endzone to cap the thrilling 30-23 OT victory.
Air Force remains on the road next week when they head up to Boise to take on the Boise State Broncos, Friday, Sept. 20, in the Mountain West Conference opener. Kickoff from Albertsons Stadium is set for 7 p.m. MT.
The win gives the Falcons (2-0) its 27th all-time win over a school from the Pac-12 Conference all-time. It was also the fourth all-time win against the "A-5" Conferences in the regular season. In overtime games, AF moves to 8-6 all-time in extra stanzas. It is Air Force's first OT win since 2014, as well as the first road OT win since 1996.
As a team, Air Force outgained the Buffs (2-1) by a 444-325 margin, including a 289-105 advantage on the ground. They won the possession battle, 34:04-25:56, while also converting 7-of-12 third downs.
Leading the offense was starting quarterback junior Donald Hammond III. The signal caller finished 7-of-12 through the air for 155 yards, including two touchdown passes. He also added 22 yards on the ground with a rushing score. Leading the ground game was junior Kadin Remsberg, as he finished with 146 yards on 23 carries, as well as a score. It was the second 100-plus yard game for him in his career.
Through the air, Hammond III completed his seven passes to just three receivers. Leading the effort was senior Geraud Sanders, who had four receptions for 56 yards and a TD. Fellow senior Ben Waters was the leading wide out, as he hauled in two passes for 92 yards, which included an 81-yard TD catch, the first of his career.
On defense, senior Jeremy Fejdelem led the way with 14 tackles, including 12 solo and two for loss, which also included a sack. The 14 stops ties his career-high. Junior linebacker Lakota Wills also had a solo sack, while junior defensive back Milton Bugg III picked off his second pass in as many games. Both Wills and Bugg III finished with five tackles.
Colorado received the kick to start the game, and made the most of the first possession taking it 75 yards in 11 plays to open the scoring with a 42-yard TD pass. On the ensuing AF drive, CU forced a fumble and recovered it on the Falcon 34 to set up great field possession. The defense held tight though, holding the Buffs to a FG, keeping it 10-0 with 7:23 left in the first.
Air Force's next drive started with three solid runs from Remsberg to get the ball into CU territory. After CU's defense began to push back, forcing third and nine, Hammond went over the top to a wide open G. Sanders in the end zone for a 32-yard TD strike. The extra point banged off the goal post, keeping the score 10-6. That score held into the second quarter, which AF started with the ball.
With the ball near midfield to start the stanza, AF grounded and pounded the ball down field, eventually getting into the CU red zone. There, Hammond III took it himself on a two-yard TD run, capping the 12-play drive and giving AF the 13-10 lead early in the second quarter.
Following a second straight punt from Colorado, AF took over on its own 20. The Falcons needed just two plays this time, as Hammond III aired it out to Waters for an 81-yard touchdown pass. The first TD catch of Waters' career was the fifth-longest in program history, and extended the AF advantage to 20-10 with six and a half minutes to the break.
The Falcons earned a great opportunity on the next drive, as Bugg III picked off a crossing pattern and returned it to the CU 44, giving AF a great chance to pad the lead before the half. Air Force drove the ball down to Colorado's six yard line, but on a potential TD pass, the ball was tipped up and intercepted, ending the threat and taking the game into the half with the 20-10 score.
In the third quarter, the defenses stepped up big, as neither team got a ton of momentum and traded punts, keeping the score 20-10 with 15 minutes to play. The start of the fourth quarter saw AF drive down to the CU 29 before being stymied. Senior kicker Jake Koehnke was able to knock home a 47-yard field goal to extend the lead to 23-10 with just over 10 minutes to play. It marked his new career-long for a field goal.
That's when CU's offense came to life, as on the ensuing drive they went 75 yards in 12 plays for a TD. A blocked extra point off the hands of junior Jordan Jackson kept it a seven point game, 23-16. After an Air Force empty possession, CU got the ball back with 4:21 on the clock. They once again went on a time melting drive, scoring the tying touchdown with just 28 seconds to play. AF kneeled the ball and sent the game to OT.
On Air Force's first play from scrimmage, Remsberg took a pitch on an option all the way to pay dirt to put AF up and with a chance to win the game on defense. In CU's offensive possession, they got one first down to AF's 14 yard line, but the defense held strong, forcing an incompletion, no gain rush, negative gain pass, and finally an incomplete pass to the corner of the endzone to cap the thrilling 30-23 OT victory.
Air Force remains on the road next week when they head up to Boise to take on the Boise State Broncos, Friday, Sept. 20, in the Mountain West Conference opener. Kickoff from Albertsons Stadium is set for 7 p.m. MT.
Team Stats
AF
COLO
Total Yards
439
325
Pass Yards
155
220
Rushing Yards
284
105
Penalty Yards
30
35
1st Downs
22
19
3rd Downs
7
11
4th Downs
1
2
TOP
34:04
25:56
1st Quarter
AF 0, COLO 7
COLO - Shenault, Lavis 42 yd pass from Montez, Steven (Stefanou, James kick) 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:23
AF 0, COLO 10
COLO - Stefanou, James 36 yd field goal 5 plays, 15 yards, TOP 1:17
AF 6, COLO 10
AF - SANDERS, Geraud 32 yd pass from HAMMOND III, DJ (KOEHNKE, Jake kickfailed) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:20
2nd Quarter
AF 13, COLO 10
AF - HAMMOND III, DJ 2 yd run (KOEHNKE, Jake kick), 12 plays, 78 yards, TOP 6:05
AF 20, COLO 10
AF - WATERS, Ben 81 yd pass from HAMMOND III, DJ (KOEHNKE, Jake kick) 2 plays, 78 yards, TOP 0:44
4th Quarter
AF 23, COLO 10
AF - KOEHNKE, Jake 47 yd field goal 13 plays, 51 yards, TOP 8:35
AF 23, COLO 16
COLO - Stanley, Dimitr 13 yd pass from Montez, Steven (Stefanou, James kickblocked) 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:14
AF 23, COLO 23
COLO - Shenault, Lavis 2 yd run (Stefanou, James kick), 13 plays, 60 yards, TOP 3:53
OT Quarter
AF 30, COLO 23
AF - REMSBERG, Kadin 25 yd run (KOEHNKE, Jake kick), 1 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
7
TD
2
YDS
155
INT
1
Players Mentioned
DB
/ FootballQB
/ Football
DT
/ Football
SPC
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
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