#19 Air Force With Gritty 30-13 Win At Colorado State

Nineteenth-ranked Air Force football defeated Colorado State, 30-13, on Saturday night at a cold and snow-covered Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins. The Falcons improve to 8-0 on the season and 5-0 in Mountain West play.

The 8-0 start is the best since the 1985 team opened 10-0 and is tied with the 1970 team as the third best start in program history. Air Force improved its winning streak to 13 games dating back to last season, which is the fourth-longest active streak in the FBS. The streak ties the school record of 13 shared with the 1984-85 teams.

After playing to a 13-13 tie at the half, Air Force scored 17 unanswered points. The defense held Colorado State scoreless in the second half.

Air Force got on the board first with a touchdown in the first quarter. The Falcons capped a 12-play, 54-yard drive as Zac Larrier threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dane Kinamon.

Colorado State then scored the next 10 points to go ahead 10-7. The Rams tied the game up on a 61-yard touchdown catch by Justus Ross-Simmons and then went ahead on a 40-yard field goal by Jordan Noyes with 7:15 to play in the second quarter.

Colorado State seemed to have the momentum after immediately forcing a punt after going up 10-7. But the Falcons then forced a fumble to set up a touchdown and take control of the game. Senior linebacker Bo Richter forced a fumble by CSU quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and the Falcons got the ball back at the Rams' 11 yard line. John Eldridge III then punched it in from 10 yards out to put the Falcons ahead 13-10 after the missed PAT.

Colorado State then tied the game up right before the half, as Noyes connected on a 49-yard field goal.

It was all Air Force in the second half. The Falcons started the third quarter with a touchdown drive. Quarterback Zac Larrier capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run to put Air Force up 20-13.

Kicker Matt Dapore made it a 23-13 game after connecting on a 29-yard field goal with 2:03 to play in the third. Air Force capped the scoring with a touchdown run by fullback Emmanuel Michel with 8:51 to play.

Air Force racked up 259 yards on the ground and 291 yards of total offense. Colorado State had 339 yards of offense, but was held to just 113 yards in the second half.

Michel led Air Force in rushing with 130 yards on 20 carries.

Defensively, senior safety Jalen Mergerson led the Falcons with 13 tackles and two pass breakups in his first-career start. Safety Trey Taylor added 10 tackles. PJ Ramsey added a sack and two quarterback hurries.

Air Force returns to action next Saturday, Nov. 4, hosting Army West Point at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. Kickoff is 12:30 pm and the game will be televised by CBS Sports Network.

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