Saturday, September 11
Annapolis, MD
1:30 pm MT
Air Force Academy
2-0
23
at
3
Navy
0-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Air Force
0
7
7
9
23
Navy
0
3
0
0
3
Air Force Earns 23-3 Road Win At Navy
9/11/2021 5:44:00 PM | Football
Aided by a historic defensive performance and key special teams plays, Air Force football (2-0) overtook Navy (0-2), 23-3, in the opening leg of the 50th Commander-In-Chief's trophy competition Saturday afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. The game was played on the 20th anniversary of 9/11/2001.
The Air Force defense held Navy to 68 yards of total offense, which is the second lowest in program history. The Falcons allowed Navy's option attack to run for just 36 yards on 34 carries, for a 1.1 average.
The Midshipmen took a 3-0 lead early, taking advantage of a short punt to score on a short field. A field goal Bijan Nichols from 23 yards had Navy up by three at the 10:36 mark in the second quarter.
The Air Force offense, which ended up with 225 yards on the day, started slow but gained momentum midway through the second quarter. After punts on its first five drives and a missed field goal, the Falcons put together a nine-play 43 yard drive, capped by a three-yard touchdown run by running back Brad Roberts to go up 7-3.
While the defense kept Navy from scoring, the Falcons scored its second touchdown in the third quarter. Quarterback Haaziq Daniels scored in a 28-yard keeper to make it 14-3 Air Force with 32 second left in the third.
The Falcons extended its lead to 16-3 after Navy snapped a punt through the back of its own end zone for a safety. The Falcons tacked on an insurance touchdown in the fourth quarter as Roberts capped a seven-play 58 yard drive with a two yard plunge into the end zone.
Roberts led Air Force with 97 yards rushing on a career-high 29 carries. Daniels added 49 yards passing through the air, to go with 51 yards rushing. Tight end Kyle Patterson led the Falcons with two catches for 22 yards receiving.
Linebacker TD Blackmon led the defense with a career-high 11 tackles. Fellow linebacker Demonte Meeks added nine tackles and two sacks. Defensive back Vince Sanford and linebacker Ethan Erickson also have five tackles each.
Air Force held Navy to just six first downs, which is the fifth-lowest ever. The Falcons forced eight three-and-outs out of 11 Navy drives. The Midshipmen did not complete its first pass until the fourth quarter. Navy quarterback Xavier Arline led the team with 31 yards rushing.
Air Force improved to 32-22 all-time vs. Navy and have won two in a row over the Mids for the first time since 2010-11.
Air Force returns to action next Saturday, Sept. 18, hosting Utah State. Kick off is set for 5:30 pm MT and the game will be televised by FS2.
The Air Force defense held Navy to 68 yards of total offense, which is the second lowest in program history. The Falcons allowed Navy's option attack to run for just 36 yards on 34 carries, for a 1.1 average.
The Midshipmen took a 3-0 lead early, taking advantage of a short punt to score on a short field. A field goal Bijan Nichols from 23 yards had Navy up by three at the 10:36 mark in the second quarter.
The Air Force offense, which ended up with 225 yards on the day, started slow but gained momentum midway through the second quarter. After punts on its first five drives and a missed field goal, the Falcons put together a nine-play 43 yard drive, capped by a three-yard touchdown run by running back Brad Roberts to go up 7-3.
While the defense kept Navy from scoring, the Falcons scored its second touchdown in the third quarter. Quarterback Haaziq Daniels scored in a 28-yard keeper to make it 14-3 Air Force with 32 second left in the third.
The Falcons extended its lead to 16-3 after Navy snapped a punt through the back of its own end zone for a safety. The Falcons tacked on an insurance touchdown in the fourth quarter as Roberts capped a seven-play 58 yard drive with a two yard plunge into the end zone.
Roberts led Air Force with 97 yards rushing on a career-high 29 carries. Daniels added 49 yards passing through the air, to go with 51 yards rushing. Tight end Kyle Patterson led the Falcons with two catches for 22 yards receiving.
Linebacker TD Blackmon led the defense with a career-high 11 tackles. Fellow linebacker Demonte Meeks added nine tackles and two sacks. Defensive back Vince Sanford and linebacker Ethan Erickson also have five tackles each.
Air Force held Navy to just six first downs, which is the fifth-lowest ever. The Falcons forced eight three-and-outs out of 11 Navy drives. The Midshipmen did not complete its first pass until the fourth quarter. Navy quarterback Xavier Arline led the team with 31 yards rushing.
Air Force improved to 32-22 all-time vs. Navy and have won two in a row over the Mids for the first time since 2010-11.
Air Force returns to action next Saturday, Sept. 18, hosting Utah State. Kick off is set for 5:30 pm MT and the game will be televised by FS2.
Team Stats
AF
NAVY
Total Yards
225
68
Pass Yards
49
32
Rushing Yards
176
36
Penalty Yards
38
27
1st Downs
14
6
3rd Downs
7
1
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
36:48
23:12
2nd Quarter
AF 0, NAVY 3
NAVY - NICHOLS, Bijan 23 yd field goal 7 plays, 32 yards, TOP 3:32
AF 7, NAVY 3
AF - Roberts,Brad 3 yd run (Dapore,Matthew kick), 9 plays, 43 yards, TOP 3:26
3rd Quarter
AF 14, NAVY 3
AF - Daniels,Haaziq 28 yd run (Dapore,Matthew kick), 9 plays, 54 yards, TOP 4:09
4th Quarter
AF 16, NAVY 3
AF - TEAM 23 yd safety
AF 23, NAVY 3
AF - Roberts,Brad 2 yd run (Dapore,Matthew kick), 7 plays, 58 yards, TOP 4:20
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
3
TD
0
YDS
49
INT
0
Players Mentioned
ILB
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FS
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ILB
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TE
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OLB
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