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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) -- When Air Force and Colorado
State meet, fans have come to expect riveting, high-scoring games.
|  | | Air Force fullback Scott Becker scored for the Falcons, whose running back tandem of Becker and Nate Beard combined for 221 yards. |
Even bitterly cold temperatures and occasionally blinding snow
couldn't slow them down Saturday.
Fullback Nate Beard rushed for 149 yards and three touchdowns,
and Air Force held off the Rams (No. 20 ESPN/USA Today) for a 44-40 triumph.
Referring to his team's overtime loss to Notre Dame on Oct. 28,
Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry said, "I think we have kept America
pretty well entertained two of the last three weeks. America had to
love the game tonight."
With the victory, the Falcons (7-3, 4-2) became the Mountain
West's second bowl-eligible team. The Falcons required a seventh
victory because one of their wins was over Division I-AA Cal
State-Northridge.
Colorado State (8-2, 5-1) already has clinched a share of the
conference title and needs a win Thursday over Wyoming to claim the
crown outright along with a Liberty Bowl berth.
At kickoff, the temperature was 17 degrees with a wind-chill
factor of minus-25. Light snow fell throughout the game but
intensified late in the first half, obliterating the yard markers
for the remainder of the game.
"Both quarterbacks threw the ball extremely well under adverse
conditions," DeBerry said.
Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick agreed, saying, "You would
certainly have expected the game to be tighter defensively,
considering the weather. Both teams had some great catches.
Receivers were catching the ball like it was a dry day."
Air Force's wishbone generated 400 yards on the ground and 530
total, compared to Colorado State's 512 total yards. Air Force had
a huge advantage in time of possession, 41:39 to 18:21.
"They've shown they can move the ball," Lubick said of the
Falcons, "and they showed it again tonight. We came into the game
feeling we'd have to play extra well defensively and get some
stops, and that didn't happen."
Mike Thiessen's 25-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Fleming gave Air
Force a seemingly comfortable 31-14 lead with 8:13 left in the
third quarter.
But Matt Newton, who threw a career-high five touchdown passes,
hit Jose Ochoa and Pete Rebstock on 7- and 14-yard TD passes as the
Rams cut the deficit to 31-26 late in the period.
Air Force then marched to the CSU 7, but Scott Becker fumbled
and CSU recovered at the 5. Two plays later, Cecil Sapp bolted 89
yards up the middle for the longest run from scrimmage in Colorado
State history, giving the Rams their only lead, 34-31, with 13
minutes left.
The Falcons responded with a touchdown and two field goals on
their next three possessions, making it 44-34. Thiessen's 33-yard
run set up Beard's third score, on a 9-yard run off the left side
with 10:19 left.
Freshman Dexter Wynn fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Dave Adams
kicked a 30-yard field goal into a stiff wind. Moments later,
Travis Logsdon's interception set up another 30-yarder by Adams
with 2:35 remaining.
"Obviously, the fumble recovery and interception were big,"
DeBerry said. "Fortunately, our offense was able to turn them into
points."
Newton and Rebstock hooked up on an 11-yard TD pass with 1:08
left, but the extra-point attempt was blocked and Air Force
recovered the Rams' subsequent onside kick.
Newton completed 22 of 41 passes for 334 yards, and Rebstock had
nine catches for 168 yards. Sapp carried 10 times for 158 yards.
In the first half, Beard ran for two scores to help Air Force
take a 24-7 lead.
With time expiring in the half and snowfall increasing, Newton
completed four passes to drive the Rams to the AFA 3, but Sapp was
stopped on fourth-and-1 by cornerback Wes Crawley.
"We came up just a few inches short," Lubick said. "That
would have made a huge difference in the game."
The Rams also had two extra points blocked and failed on a
2-point conversion try. Beard finished with 25 carries, and he and Becker combined to
give the Falcons 221 yards rushing from the fullback position.
"We were able to cut back on them because they were
overpursuing so much," Beard said.
DeBerry said Beard, the strongest player on the team, "made a
bunch of second-effort yardage on pure strength and guts and
determination."
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ALSO SEE
College Football Scoreboard
Colorado State Clubhouse
Air Force Clubhouse
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