Air Force downs San Diego State to close season on four-game win streak

Air Force defeated San Diego State, 31-20, Saturday night at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, Calif. The victory closes the season for the Falcons with a 5-7 overall record and 3-4 mark in the Mountain West.

Air Force opened the game on a nine-play, 81-yard drive capped by a Dylan Carson one-yard run to take a 7-0 lead. The Aztecs answered with a Marquez Cooper seven-yard run to tie the score at 7-all with 6:00 to play. The Falcons took the lead for good when Quentin Hayes scored on a one yard run to put the Falcons in front, 14-7, with 29 seconds left in the first. Hayes score capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive. Air Force's 14 points in the first quarter marked a season high.

Matthew Dapore added a season-long 45-yard field goal with 6:31 remaining in the second quarter to push the lead to 17-7. San Diego State closed the half with a second touchdown run from Cooper to make it 17-14 at the half.

Air Force took the game over in the third quarter, scoring 14 points to take a commanding 31-14 lead. The 14 points eclipsed the team's nine points scored in the quarter all season. Hayes hit Cade Harris with a season-long 76-yard pass for the first score. The 76-yard play was the longest by the Falcons this season and the longest of each player's career.

Carson added a second touchdown with 1:00 to play in the third, capping a 10-play, 66-yard drive. Cooper added an eight-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter to make up the final margin.

Air Force finished with 404 total yards, including 276 rushing. Carson did the damage with 125 yards and a career-high two touchdowns on 24 carries. Kade Frew added 77 yards on seven carries. Hayes added 38 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. He also hit his only pass attempt, the 76-yard scoring strike.

San Diego State had 356 total yards, including 120 rushing and 236 passing. Cooper rushed for 94 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. Quarterback Danny O'Neill hit 24 of 32 passes for 230 yards and a score.

The defense was led by senior Camby Goff, who had 10 tackles. Sophomore Lincoln Tuioti-Mariner added career highs of 10 tackles and 4.0 tackles for loss. Sophomore linebacker Blake Fletcher added career highs of eight tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss.

The Falcons closed the season on a four-game winning streak, its longest since opening the 2023 season with an eight-game streak.

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