Air Force Downed In 52-37 Shootout At New Mexico

Air Force football (1-5, 0-3 MW) dropped a 52-37 contest at New Mexico (2-4, 1-1 MW) Saturday night in Mountain West play at University Stadium in Albuquerque, NM.

The Falcons had its best offensive game on the season, racking up a season-high 474 yards of total offense, including 325 yards on the ground and 149 through the air.

Unfortunately, the New Mexico offense was also firing on all cylinders. After the Falcons forced a three-and-out on the opening possession, the Lobos scored on their next seven possessions, in addition to a punt returned for a touchdown. New Mexico finished with 434 yards of offense, including 255 on the ground.

Air Force opened by taking a 3-0 lead on a Matt Dapore field goal in the first quarter. New Mexico came back with back-to-back touchdowns--the first on a seven-yard run by quarterback Devon Dampier and the second on a 79-yard punt return by Luke Wysong--to go up 14-3.

The Falcons came back with a Cade Harris five-yard touchdown run to make it a 14-10 game. The teams then traded touchdowns to make it 21-17. The Air Force score came on a four-yard run by Tylor Latham.

New Mexico would go up 28-17 with a score right before halftime.

Air Force seemed to get momentum back on the first drive of the second half. But a 75-yard touchdown pass was called back on a penalty and the Falcons went on to turn the ball over on downs. New Mexico then scored on three-straight drives to out-score the Falcons 17-0 in the third quarter to take control of the game.

Air Force did not go away, scoring three fourth-quarter touchdowns. But the 28 point deficit after three quarters was too big a hole to climb out of.

Sophomore Quentin Hayes rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown in his first-career start at quarterback. Hayes was 4-of-7 passing for 79 yards. Sophomore Josh Johnson relieved Hayes in the fourth quarter, throwing for 70 yards and a touchdown and rushing four times for 49 yards.

Junior fullback Terrence Gist added 54 yards on the ground on 13 carries. Junior Quinn Smith led the receivers with three catches for 82 yards and one TD reception.

Senior Jamari Bellamy led the defense with nine tackles. Sophomore Lincoln Tuioti-Mariner added a career-high eight tackles.

The Falcons return to action next Saturday, Oct. 19, hosting Colorado State. The game kicks at 6 pm MT and will be televised by CBS Sports.

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