Air Force Academy – After waiting 28 years for its song to be played last at Falcon Stadium, it was understandable that Army celebrated by getting in the last word.
The Black Knights put on a postgame celebration that might have been worth the wait Saturday after putting a world of hurt on Air Force in a 27-24 classic.
With a 13-game losing streak in Falcon Stadium on the line, Army held a precarious lead throughout most of the second half. The three-point cushion proved enough only when Air Force halfback Chad Hall fumbled at the Army 48-yard line with 55 seconds remaining in the game.
In the tradition of service academy games, the winning team’s hymn is played last in the postgame salute. Army’s last win at the Academy was 31-6 in 1977.
“It looks like we’re hung up on three-point losses,” Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry said. “The last four losses to our sister academies have been by three points. Our seniors haven’t lost to Army until today, and my heart bleeds for them.”
Air Force’s last three losses to Navy have been by three points, and the loss to Army made it four.
It was only the second victory in eight games for the Black Knights. But the celebration was well underway as quarterback Zac Dahman took two snaps to run out the clock.
“I can’t describe it. That’s the best win I’ve had in my life,” Army strong safety Caleb Campbell said.
Besides Hall’s fumble, Falcons quarterback Shaun Carney fumbled late in the first quarter. Also, a blocked punt on Air Force’s first drive led to Army taking a 3-0 lead on Justin Koenig’s 39-yard field goal with 8:34 remaining in the first.
“We hung on, but this was a heck of a football game,” Army coach Bobby Ross said. “The biggest story of the game might have been the turnovers. We didn’t turn the ball over and they did, twice.”
With Dahman completing 13-of-23 passes for 143 yards and running back Carlton Jones going 146 yards on 33 carries, Army’s offense had just enough. Air Force outgained Army 433 yards to 360.
The Black Knights drove 60 yards in 14 plays to take a 20-14 lead on Scott Wesley’s 16-yard touchdown run with 4:20 remaining in the third. Army led the rest of the way despite Carney’s rally attempts. After replacing starter Adam Fitch on the third series, Carney rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns and completed 16-of-21 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown.
Besides the turnovers, the Falcons were hurt by penalties late in the third quarter that took away a touchdown. The Falcons had to settle for a 25-yard field goal by Scott Eberle.
Trailing 20-14, Carney engineered a nine-play, 74-yard march that put the ball at the Army 1 heading into the final minute of the third.
On third down, Carney appeared to be in the end zone, but an illegal-procedure penalty negated the score. On the next play, the Falcons were called for holding, then were issued a false-start penalty for third-and-goal from the 21. Carney’s 13-yard pass to Hall wasn’t enough, and Eberle came on to kick the field goal to pull within 20-17.
Ross said the change from a touchdown to a field goal was a huge swing.
“I was second-guessing myself when I took the penalty,” Ross said. “With their offense, I thought they might be able to punch it in from the 6-yard line.”
AFA sidelines
UNSUNG HERO
Sophomore linebacker Drew Fowler did everything he could to give Air Force seniors a winning sendoff in their last game at Falcon Stadium. Fowler led the defense with 14 tackles, including one for a loss.
KEY PLAY
With Air Force clinging to a 14-13 lead, Army faced a fourth-and-1 at the Falcons’ 16 midway through the third quarter. Army running back Scott Wesley not only got the first down, but ran into the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown and a 20-14 Army lead after Justin Koenig’s extra point.
TURNING POINT
After Air Force settled for a field goal instead of a nullified touchdown late in the third quarter because of 21 yards lost in penalties, Army mounted an 11-play, 75-yard drive. Wesley scored his second touchdown of the game to cap the march in what was an 11-point swing for the Black Knights.
KEY STATISTIC
2-0 – Air Force fumbled the ball away once in each half, giving Army a 2-0 advantage in turnovers.
Staff writer Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
