FORT WORTH, Texas — Change and redemption worked like magic Monday for California as the Bears rallied for a 42-36 victory over Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl.
The tide turned early in the second quarter when Cal coach Jeff Tedford inserted freshman quarterback Kevin Riley, whose entrance coincided with the first action for wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Robert Jordan, whom the coach had benched for violating team rules.
Riley, facing little pass-rush pressure from Air Force’s defense, completed 16-of-19 attempts for 269 yards and three touchdowns in rallying the Bears (7-6) from a 21-0 deficit before 40,905 fans.
While the planned quarterback change triggered Cal’s uprising, an unplanned change crippled the Falcons (9-4). Senior quarterback Shaun Carney, a four-year starter for Air Force, suffered a knee injury with 3:04 left in the third quarter and the Falcons leading 24-21.
Carney was matching Cal’s offense play for play, with his 20-yard pass to tight end Travis Dekker gaining a first down at the Bears’ 5. But on third down from the 1-yard line, Carney ran to his right and was smashed to the ground for no gain, his right knee buckling. The Falcons settled for a 19-yard field goal from Ryan Harrison and a 27-21 lead after Carney was carried off, but their spark was gone.
“The wind went out of our sails a little bit when Shaun was hurt because we’ve never seen him go down in four years,” said senior cornerback Carson Bird.
Carney, who scored the game’s first touchdown, led Air Force in rushing with 108 yards on 15 carries.
“We didn’t just come to a bowl, we wanted to win it,” said Carney, who also threw a touchdown pass against the Bears. “It’s frustrating and disheartening. I left my teammates on the field. If we could have been able to pull it off, (my injury) would have been a little more bearable.”
Cal took a 28-27 lead into the fourth quarter and finished the game with 507 total yards. Carney’s replacement, junior Shea Smith, completed only 4-of-12 passes for 45 yards.
“In Shaun’s heart, he was going to find a way to go back out there,” said Troy Calhoun, who completed his first season as Air Force’s coach. “But it wasn’t going to happen. I don’t think our chances ended when Shaun was hurt. We moved the ball reasonably well after that.”
Calhoun said Carney likely tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee.
“The speed of the game slowed down a little bit when Carney went out,” said Cal safety Thomas DeCoud. “Their backup wasn’t as tuned into the option offense.”
Cal’s quarterback change, on the other hand, was nearly flawless.
“We had planned all along to play Kevin some,” Tedford said of his decision to replace starter Nate Longshore. “He had the hot hand, so we just left him in.”
Riley’s first touchdown pass was a 40-yard strike to Jackson that got the Bears on the scoreboard after Air Force’s early domination.
“They told me I’d get a few series,” Riley said. “We got a roll going and they stayed with me. It was important getting Jackson and Jordan into the game because they are playmakers. My protection was unbelievable. I think I was hit once and that was on a personal-foul penalty (on Air Force).”
Cal’s Justin Forsett rushed for a game-high 140 yards and two touchdowns. Jordan caught six passes for 148 yards and a touchdown, and Jackson had five receptions for 81 yards.
“It almost was like they were just warming up before those three players came into the game,” Bird said.
Air Force senior linebacker Drew Fowler saluted Cal’s speed. “They’re the fastest offense I’ve faced besides TCU last year,” Fowler said.
A late Cal turnover led to an Air Force touchdown, but Cal covered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
Afterward, an emotional Calhoun praised his players for stopping a three-year stretch of losing seasons.
“We fired every piece of ammunition we had,” Calhoun said. “We played with big hearts today and all year long.”
The Grades | By Irv Moss
OFFENSE
B The Falcons set an Armed Forces Bowl record with 312 yards rushing, but they also had to settle for three field goals when touchdowns were required to beat the explosive Bears.
DEFENSE
D California gained 507 total yards, including 269 yards passing from backup quarterback Kevin Riley. The Bears punted once.
SPECIAL TEAMS
A Ryan Harrison made all three of his field-goal attempts, from 29, 19 and 47 yards, and the Falcons’ kickoff coverage team recovered a California fumble that led to a touchdown.
OVERALL
C The Falcons played well and held their own most of the game against a team that was ranked No. 2 nationally after a 5-0 start.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
