Air Force Upended In 51-48 Shootout At UNLV

In a game that featured 1,200 combined yards of total offense, Air Force football lost a 51-48 shootout at UNLV (6-0, 2-0 MW) Saturday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Falcons were unable to come away with a win despite 603 yards of total offense, including 428 on the ground.

In a back-and-forth game that saw 10 lead changes, it was UNLV's offense that put the last points up. Rebels quarterback Anthony Colandrea scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 19-yard run with 36 seconds left to go.

Air Force mounted its last rally on the ensuing drive, getting the ball to the UNLV 23 with two seconds left in regulation. The Falcons attempt to tie the game fell short as the field goal attempt sailed wide-right as time expired.

Senior fullback Owen Allen rushed for a career-high 192 yards and sophomore quarterback Liam Szarka added 136 yards on the ground. Allen, Szarka and senior wide receiver Cade Harris all scored two rushing TD's. Harris talled 91 total yards on offense, rushing for 45 yards and hauling in four catches for 46 yards.

Szarka threw for 175 yards on 10-of-17 passing. He tossed one touchdown to senior tight end Bruin Fleischmann. Fleishmann finished with two catches for 35 yards. It was his fourth straight game with a receiving TD. Sophomore Jonah Dawson also caught three passes for a team-high 79 yards.

UNLV racked up 597 yards of offense. Colandrea threw for 368 yards. Receiver Daejon Reynolds had 139 yards receiving on four catches, including an 86-yard touchdown reception.

UNLV opened the game with a touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead. A Harris rushing touchdown tied the game up, before a UNLV field goal had the Rebels back up 10-7. Air Force scored the next two touchdowns, both by Allen, to go up 21-10. UNLV scored on a field goal to make it a 21-13 Air Force lead at the half.

UNLV scored two touchdowns two minutes into the second half to go up 26-21. The teams would trade the lead eight more times the rest of the game.

Junior linebacker Blake Fletcher led the Falcons with 10 tackles. It was his fourth time leading the Falcons in tackles this season.

Air Force returns to action next Saturday, Oct. 18, hosting Wyoming. Kickoff is 1:30 pm MT. The game will be televised by CBS Sports Network.

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Team Stats

Liam Szarka

Players Mentioned

Owen Allen

Jonah Dawson

Bruin Fleischmann

Blake Fletcher

Cade Harris

Liam Szarka

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