Falcons open season with 35-14 win

USAFA, Colo.- Quarterback Haaziq Daniels and wide receiver Micah Davis led Air Force to a 35-14 win over Lafayette in the opening game of the 2021 season, Saturday, Sept. 4, at Falcon Stadium.

Davis punctuated a 10-play, 59-yard opening drive with a 10-yard rushing score to put the Falcons up 7-0 midway through the first quarter. After forcing a Lafayette punt, Daniels plunged over the goal line for a seven-yard rushing touchdown, as the Falcons saw the first quarter close with a 14-0 lead.

Lafayette did respond however, as the visiting Leopards drove 83 yards on the subsequent possession, a series that ended with QB Rent Montie connecting with WR Julius Young for a 23-yard touchdown. Troy Calhoun's offense would not be deterred however, as Davis again found the end zone, a 16-yard rushing scamper. Davis' two touchdowns were the first of his Air Force career, as the sophomore also ran for 101 yards and grabbed both of his targets for 27 yards.

Having forced a Lafayette punt with 1:38 remaining in the first-half, the Falcons closed the first half with a quick seven-play, 40-yard scoring drive, as Daniels called his own number on the option keeper, extending the Falcons lead to 28-7 at the halftime break.

Air Force's three-score lead was trimmed to two when the Leopards put together a 10-play, 68-yard drive in their first possession of the second-half. The two teams proceeded to exchange punts over the next handful of minutes, though Air Force eventually put a stop to the scoring drought. Daniels' third touchdown of the afternoon, a 19-yard rushing score, came with 6:10 remaining in the final quarter. The junior quarterback ended his day with 81 yards on the ground, and was 3-5 for 50 yards through the air.

The game was eventually sealed by Corvan Taylor, as the safety picked off Montie with 4:10 left on the clock. The Falcons managed to kill the remaining four minutes on the clock on the final drive.
RB Brad Roberts finished with 111 rushing yards on 25 carries, marking the third occasion he's eclipsed 100+ yards in only five career games. As a team, Air Force rushed for 370 yards, while converting eight of 14 third down attempts. The Falcons also converted all three fourth down tries.

CB Zion Kelly led the Falcons in tackles with a career-high six, including one tackle for loss. DL Jordan Jackson and LB Caleb Humphrey were each credited with a sack, with LB Demonte Meeks and DL Kalawai'a Pescaia notching half sacks. CB Tre Bugg had two pass breakups as well as a forced fumble.

Next for the Falcons (1-0, 0-0) is an always-important matchup with the Naval Academy on September 11. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 PM MT.

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Team Stats

Haaziq Daniels

Players Mentioned

Haaziq Daniels

Micah Davis

Caleb Humphrey

Jordan Jackson

Zion Kelly

Demonte Meeks

Kalawai'a Pescaia

Brad Roberts

Corvan Taylor

Players Mentioned

Haaziq Daniels

Micah Davis

Caleb Humphrey

Jordan Jackson

Zion Kelly

Demonte Meeks

Kalawai'a Pescaia

Brad Roberts

Corvan Taylor

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