LAS VEGAS — With an old-time car show featured in downtown Las Vegas, the Air Force Falcons put on an old-time running show Saturday night outside of town and stole the show in Sam Boyd Stadium.
With their backs to the wall and trailing UNLV 28-26, freshman quarterback Tim Jefferson took the Falcons 91 yards in 17 plays to a 19-yard field goal by Ryan Harrison. The three points with less than three minutes to go lifted the Falcons to a dramatic 29-28 victory before 21,055 fans.
With the Rebels facing fourth-and-10 from the Air Force 47 on the ensuing drive, Falcons linebacker Justin Moore and safety Chris Thomas knocked down Omar Clayton’s pass with 57 seconds left in the game to secure the win.
The Falcons (5-2, 3-1 Mountain West) had to survive a shaky third quarter when their lead slipped away. But a 44-yard touchdown pass from Jefferson to receiver Kyle Halderman stopped the swoon.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Rebels signaled they were serious about making a move in the Mountain West Conference race. After having a quiet game until then, Rebels tailback Frank Summers bolted 45 yards for a 28-20 lead.
The turn of events, woke up Air Force’s offense and the Falcons scored in three plays when Halderman caught the 44-yard play-action pass from Jefferson. The Falcons failed on a two-point conversion and trailed 28-26 in the first minute of the fourth period.
