Saturday, September 30
USAFA
6:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
49
vs
10
San Diego State
Falcons Defend Home Turf in 49-10 Win Over Aztecs
9/30/2023 9:57:00 PM | Football
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force fired on all cylinders under its home lights, as the Falcons outmatched the visiting San Diego State Aztecs in a 49-10 win, Saturday, Sept. 30, at Falcon Stadium.
The victory moves Air Force to 5-0, the first such start for the Falcons since 2003. Air Force also improves to 3-0 in Mountain West play for the first time since 2010. The Falcons have now won 10 consecutive games dating back to last season, the fifth-longest active streak in the FBS.
Quarterback Zac Larrier set new career-highs in completions (6), passing yards (189), passing touchdowns (2) and rushing yards (103) in the win. Larrier's 41-yard run during the Falcons' opening drive also marks a new career-best.
Larrier's 292 yards of total offense are the most by an Air Force player since Donald Hammond managed 368 yards versus New Mexico in 2019. The senior quarterback is also the first Air Force signal-caller to rush and pass for 100+ yards since Haaziq Daniels did so in the Falcons season-opening win over Northern Iowa in 2022.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Aztecs took the early lead on a 21-yard completion from Jalen Mayden to Josh Nicholson early in the second quarter. The Falcons ran just six plays in the first quarter.
Air Force tied the game on a Cade Harris seven-yard run and then, after a three-and-out by the defense, the Falcons took the lead. Emmanuel Michel scored on a two-yard run for a 14-7 lead with 4:21 left in the second quarter. Another defensive stop led to another Falcon touchdown as Michel scored from three yards out for a 21-7 lead with 43 seconds left in the half. As the half ended, SDSU's Jake Browning hit a 61-yard field goal, the longest ever in Falcon Stadium and longest in Mountain West history.
In the third quarter, Larrier hit Cade Harris (54 yards) and Jared Roznos (53 yards) for a pair of long touchdowns and a 35-10 Falcon lead.
Defensive back Trey Taylor produced Air Force's third touchdown of the third quarter, snagging his second interception in as many games. Taylor picked off San Diego State's Jalen Mayden at the Aztecs 30-yard line before scampering into the endzone for a pick-six. Taylor's interception return for a touchdown represents Air Force's first defensive score since Zane Lewis' 99-yard touchdown at Colorado State in 2019.
Taylor also provided three tackles and two pass breakups.
Fullback Emmanuel Michel rushed 18 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Michel leads Air Force with eight touchdowns, all taking place in the Falcons' last three contests.
Cade Harris totaled 110 yards of total offense, finding the endzone twice. The junior wideout crossed the goal line in the second quarter following a 7-yard rushing TD before streaking up the seam for a 54-yard receiving touchdown to end Air Force's opening drive of the second half. Harris' receptions (2) and receiving yards (82) were all career-firsts.
Air Force improves to 21-18 all-time versus San Diego State, including a 12-7 mark at home. The Falcons snapped a four-game home losing streak
to the Aztecs, defeating San Diego State at Falcon Stadium for the first since 2009. Air Force has also now won back-to-back games against San Diego State for the first time since 2008-09. The Falcons record at home now stands at 75-24 under head coach Troy Calhoun.
Next, Air Force will enter a bye week before hosting conference foe Wyoming on Saturday, October 14. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 pm MT.
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The victory moves Air Force to 5-0, the first such start for the Falcons since 2003. Air Force also improves to 3-0 in Mountain West play for the first time since 2010. The Falcons have now won 10 consecutive games dating back to last season, the fifth-longest active streak in the FBS.
Quarterback Zac Larrier set new career-highs in completions (6), passing yards (189), passing touchdowns (2) and rushing yards (103) in the win. Larrier's 41-yard run during the Falcons' opening drive also marks a new career-best.
Larrier's 292 yards of total offense are the most by an Air Force player since Donald Hammond managed 368 yards versus New Mexico in 2019. The senior quarterback is also the first Air Force signal-caller to rush and pass for 100+ yards since Haaziq Daniels did so in the Falcons season-opening win over Northern Iowa in 2022.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Aztecs took the early lead on a 21-yard completion from Jalen Mayden to Josh Nicholson early in the second quarter. The Falcons ran just six plays in the first quarter.
Air Force tied the game on a Cade Harris seven-yard run and then, after a three-and-out by the defense, the Falcons took the lead. Emmanuel Michel scored on a two-yard run for a 14-7 lead with 4:21 left in the second quarter. Another defensive stop led to another Falcon touchdown as Michel scored from three yards out for a 21-7 lead with 43 seconds left in the half. As the half ended, SDSU's Jake Browning hit a 61-yard field goal, the longest ever in Falcon Stadium and longest in Mountain West history.
In the third quarter, Larrier hit Cade Harris (54 yards) and Jared Roznos (53 yards) for a pair of long touchdowns and a 35-10 Falcon lead.
Defensive back Trey Taylor produced Air Force's third touchdown of the third quarter, snagging his second interception in as many games. Taylor picked off San Diego State's Jalen Mayden at the Aztecs 30-yard line before scampering into the endzone for a pick-six. Taylor's interception return for a touchdown represents Air Force's first defensive score since Zane Lewis' 99-yard touchdown at Colorado State in 2019.
Taylor also provided three tackles and two pass breakups.
Fullback Emmanuel Michel rushed 18 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Michel leads Air Force with eight touchdowns, all taking place in the Falcons' last three contests.
Cade Harris totaled 110 yards of total offense, finding the endzone twice. The junior wideout crossed the goal line in the second quarter following a 7-yard rushing TD before streaking up the seam for a 54-yard receiving touchdown to end Air Force's opening drive of the second half. Harris' receptions (2) and receiving yards (82) were all career-firsts.
Air Force improves to 21-18 all-time versus San Diego State, including a 12-7 mark at home. The Falcons snapped a four-game home losing streak
to the Aztecs, defeating San Diego State at Falcon Stadium for the first since 2009. Air Force has also now won back-to-back games against San Diego State for the first time since 2008-09. The Falcons record at home now stands at 75-24 under head coach Troy Calhoun.
Next, Air Force will enter a bye week before hosting conference foe Wyoming on Saturday, October 14. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 pm MT.
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Players Mentioned
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