AIR FORCE ACADEMY — When in doubt, there’s no doubt where Air Force will find its answer.
There’s just no doubt with Chad Hall. The Falcons’ offensive machine danced around, through and under a baffled Army defense en route to a 30-10 win at Falcon Stadium to clinch winning season for the first time in four years.
Hall had 275 yards rushing, breaking the school record of 256 he set earlier this season, and 19 receiving yards for school-record 333 all-purpose yards and a touchdown. The Falcons are 7-3 record with games next week at Notre Dame and Nov. 17 at home against San Diego State.
The Army loss will keep the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy in Navy’s possession for another year. Navy beat Air Force 31-20 earlier this season.
Hall took over the game in the third quarter, picking up an Air Force offense that was sputtering. He seemed to be everywhere on the field, including a 58-yard run to the Navy 7. Three plays later Hall turned up in the middle of a pile and in the end zone for his first touchdown of the game.
Even though he had yet to score, it was the finish to a performance that finally provided some breathing room against a tough Army defense.
When it came to taking control in the first half, the Falcons turned to Hall. Their offensive leader didn’t get into the end zone, but he had 121 yards on 23 carries to gain a 17-10 lead at halftime.
With Army’s defense giving quarterback Shaun Carney and his offense all they wanted, Hall carried 12 times on a 15-play drive that provided the halftime lead. Carney capped the march with a 5-yard run with :52 left.
Carney again was inconsistent, looking good on a 48-yard touchdown pass to receiver Spencer Armstrong that put the Falcons ahead 10-3. But Carney surrendered an interception to Army linebacker Frank Scappaticci later in the quarter and Scappaticci returned it 21 yards to the AFA 3.
The Black Knights tied the score at 10 on Williams’ two-yard pass to Ernie Bernal with 5:46 left in the half.
Irv Moss: 303 954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
