Air Force Rumbles Past UNLV, 42-7

A big first-half lifted Air Force football (5-2, 2-2 MW) to a 42-7 win at UNLV (4-3, 2-2 MW) Saturday late night at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Senior running back Brad Roberts ran for 144 yards and four touchdowns in a record-setting performance on the ground, as the Falcons recorded its first road win of the season.

Air Force forced four UNLV turnovers, which all led to touchdowns. Three first-half turnovers by the Rebels helped the Falcons jump out to a 28-0 lead.

The Falcons recovered a fumble on UNLV's opening drive and then needed just four plays to score, highlighted by a 60-yard touchdown run by John Lee Eldridge III. Air Force got the ball right back after forcing a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. The Falcons scored just four plays later on a a five-yard touchdown run by Brad Roberts.

Air Force then forced a UNLV punt and went 64 yards on 11 plays, capped by another five-yard Roberts TD run to make it 21-0. The Falcons next forced its third fumble on a sack, forced fumble and recovery by TD Blackmon to get the ball back. Three plays later, Roberts cashed in from three yards out for his third rushing touchdown and put Air Force ahead 28-0 with 11:44 to play the second quarter.

After a UNLV touchdown right before halftime, the Falcons went right back to work to start the third quarter. Roberts carried the ball on all 11 plays of a 75 yard drive, capped by a three-yard touchdown run to make it 35-7.

The Falcons then recorded its fourth turnover on sophomore Jamari Bellamy's first-career interception. That turnover led to a one-yard touchdown run by senior Emmanuel Michel to make it a 42-7 game.

Roberts carried 29 times for the 144 yards. It was his 15th-career game over 100 yards rushing to set a new Air Force record (previously held by Beau Morgan). Roberts also moved into sixth all-time in career rushing yards with 2,666. His four rushing touchdowns is a career-high, giving him 30 for his career, which is tied for seventh all-time at Air Force.

Eldridge III ran for a career-high 116 yards on eight carries. Michel added 52 yards on 11 carries.

Air Force carved out 406 yards rushing on the ground and held the ball for over 43 minutes. The Falcon defense held UNLV to 179 total yards of offense, including just 61 yards on the ground. Junior Johnathan Youngblood led the Falcons with six tackles.

Air Force returns to action next Saturday, Oct. 22, hosting Boise State. Kickoff is 5 pm MT and the game will be broadcast on CBSSN.

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Team Stats

Haaziq Daniels

Jensen Jones

Players Mentioned

Jamari Bellamy

TD Blackmon

John Lee Eldridge III

Emmanuel Michel

Brad Roberts

Johnathan Youngblood