Air Force Academy
3-1 , 1-1
San Jose State
2-2 , 0-1
Falcons beat San Jose State, 41-24
9/27/2019 9:40:00 PM | Football
The Air Force defense had four fourth-down stops and the offense rolled up 513 total yards
POSTGAME INTERVIEWS
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The Air Force defense had four fourth-down stops and the offense rolled up 513 total yards in a 41-24 win over San Jose State in a Mountain West Conference football game, Friday, Sept. 27, at Falcon Stadium.
San Jose State (2-2 overall, 0-1 MW) took its opening drive 75 yards on 10 plays as DeJon Packer scored on a one-yard run for a 7-0 Spartan lead. Air Force answered on its next possession with a 75-yard drive of its own. Isaiah Sanders started the game at quarterback and had three carries for 23 yards before leaving the game due to injury. Donald Hammond III came in and converted a keeper on third-and-seven to keep the drive alive. Two plays later, Timothy Jackson scored on a seven-yard run to tie the game with 4:57 left in the first quarter.
The Air Force defense came up big with two fourth-down stops deep in Falcon territory, one late in the first quarter and one midway through the second. The Falcon offense took advantage after the second stop as Hammond hit Geraud Sanders for a 64-yard score and Air Force took a 14-7 lead with 8:43 left in the second.
Another big play by the defense led to a short field for the offense. Jordan Jackson's sack and forced fumble on SJSU quarterback Josh Love forced a Spartan punt. The Falcons then went 37 yards on nine plays as Taven Birdow scored on a one-yard run for a 21-7 lead with 3:13 left in the second.
Air Force opened the second half by driving 75 yards in eight plays to take a 27-10 lead. On a third-and-11, Hammond hit Waguespack for 14 yards and a first down at midfield. Two plays, later Joshua Stoner went 43 yards down the sideline to the three and then Christian Mallard scored his second career touchdown. On the ensuing kickoff, San Jose State misplayed the high kick into the wind and Grant Donaldson recovered the ball at the SJSU 20. Six plays later, Mallard scored again for a 34-10 lead with 10:10 left in the third.
In the fourth quarter, the Falcons posted its longest drive of the season, 16 plays, 88 yards, 9:19 that culminated in a three-yard touchdown run for Birdow for a 41-10 lead. Â San Jose State scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes to make up the final margin of 41-24.
Birdow led the Falcons with a career high 123 yards rushing. Â Geraud Sanders had a career high 108 yards receiving while Hammond hit 5-on-9 passing for 133 yards.
Air Force (3-1, 1-1 MW) travels to Navy for the first leg of the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, Saturday, Oct. 5, at 3:30 pm ET in Annapolis, Md.
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Team Stats
SJSU 7, AF 0
SJSU - PACKER, DeJon 1 yd run (MERCURIO, Matt kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:10
SJSU 7, AF 7
AF - JACKSON, Timoth 7 yd run (KOEHNKE, Jake kick), 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:53
SJSU 7, AF 14
AF - SANDERS, Geraud 64 yd pass from HAMMOND III, DJ (KOEHNKE, Jake kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:45
SJSU 7, AF 21
AF - BIRDOW, Taven 1 yd run (KOEHNKE, Jake kick), 9 plays, 37 yards, TOP 3:59
SJSU 10, AF 21
SJSU - MERCURIO, Matt 25 yd field goal 9 plays, 67 yards, TOP 2:25
SJSU 10, AF 27
AF - MALLARD, Christ 3 yd run (KOEHNKE, Jake kickblocked), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:55
SJSU 10, AF 34
AF - MALLARD, Christ 7 yd run (KOEHNKE, Jake kick), 6 plays, 20 yards, TOP 1:53
SJSU 10, AF 41
AF - BIRDOW, Taven 3 yd run (KOEHNKE, Jake kick), 16 plays, 88 yards, TOP 9:19
SJSU 17, AF 41
SJSU - CRUMP, Andre Jr 30 yd pass from NASH, Nick (MERCURIO, Matt kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:57
SJSU 24, AF 41
SJSU - DEESE, Derrick 6 yd pass from NASH, Nick (MERCURIO, Matt kick) 4 plays, 22 yards, TOP 0:43
