Utah State outscores Air Force in MW opener

USAFA, Colo.- Opening Mountain West Conference play, the Falcons were on the wrong end of a high-octane affair, losing to the Utah State Aggies 49-45.
The Air Force offense accounted for 619 yards of total offense, including 437 rushing yards. Running backs Emmanuel Michel and Brad Roberts each eclipsed the 100+ yard plateau, as Michel ran for a career-high 133 yards, including two touchdowns, with Roberts breaking the 100-yard mark for the fourth time in seven career games.

Michel created 107 of those yards on two carries, touchdown rushes of 56 and 51 yards.

Quarterback Haaziq Daniels set a new career-high in passing with 182 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT, including 95 yards on the ground on 13 carries with a rushing touchdown as well. Micah Davis led all Falcons in receiving, hauling in four of six targets for 110 yards and a touchdown. Davis also had a five-yard rushing TD.

The Falcon offense was rolling early and often, with Davis taking a Daniels pitch from five-yards out to score the game's first points on the opening drive. Falcon kicker Matthew Dapore split the uprights for the first time in his career, a 22-yard FG on the Falcons' second drive to give Air Force an early 10-0 first quarter lead.

The Aggies were not far behind, putting together long, sustained drives to retake a 13-10 lead. Answering right back, Daniels found Davis for a 56-yard touchdown strike with 8:19 left in the second quarter, as the Falcons went back on top 17-13. The Falcon defense subsequently forced a three-and-out, where Air Force proceeded to create a nearly seven-minute drive to close the half. Dane Kinamon found the end zone for the first time in his collegiate career, a three-yard rushing TD with 56 seconds remaining in the half.

The two teams proceeded to trade touchdowns in the second half, with the lead changing hands three times. Holding a 38-34 lead entering the fourth quarter, the Falcon defense managed back-to-back defensive stops, including Corvan Taylor's second interception of the 2021 season. The Falcon ground game again showed its mettle, as Daniels called his own number on an option keeper, sprinting past defenders for a 39-yard touchdown with 10:37 left on the clock.

However, the Falcon defense was unable to keep Utah State from creating explosive plays of their own, as the Aggies managed back-to-back scoring drives, including scores of 72 and 61 yards.

Still with time remaining, Air Force was given the football at their own 25-yard line with 3:54 to go.

The drive began with promise, with Daniels finding Davis for 26-yards on 2nd & 6 as the Falcons entered Aggie territory on the Utah State 45. After another seven-yard connection to Davis, Daniels tucked and ran up the middle before cutting back to his left for a 13-yard run. As he was being tackled, Daniels was stripped of the ball by Utah State's Justin Rice, as the Aggies recovered the fumble.

The Aggies proceeded to pick up a first down on three plays before kneeling out the clock.

Next, the Falcons (2-1, 0-1) will host Florida Atlantic at Falcon Stadium on Saturday, September 25, with kickoff scheduled for 6 pm MT.

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Team Stats

Haaziq Daniels

Players Mentioned

Haaziq Daniels

Matthew Dapore

Micah Davis

Dane Kinamon

Emmanuel Michel

Brad Roberts

Corvan Taylor

Players Mentioned

Haaziq Daniels

Matthew Dapore

Micah Davis

Dane Kinamon

Emmanuel Michel

Brad Roberts

Corvan Taylor

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