AIR FORCE ACADEMY — It was as if the Air Force Falcons came out with dark glasses and a fake mustache Saturday for their season opening game against South Dakota.
The disguise worked for an 80-yard touchdown run on a reverse by receiver Mikel Hunter on the first play of the game. But it was a case of hidden identity because the Falcons then returned to their patented hard-charging running game to beat the Coyotes 37-20.
The victory was Air Force’s seventh straight in a home opener, and next up is No. 14 TCU in the Mountain West opening game at Falcon Stadium. TCU likely will drop in the polls after Friday night’s 50-48 loss to Baylor.
The Falcons’ opening-play trickery today caught everyone by surprise, but most importantly the South Dakota defense that was left behind to watch Hunter on his way to the end zone.
But the Falcons didn’t need much more trickery to establish the upper hand over the Football Championship Division (formerly Division I-AA) Coyotes.
It was Hunter again supplying a big play early in the third period, this time taking a pass from quarterback Tim Jefferson 55 yards to the end zone and a 37-7 lead three minutes into the second half.
Jefferson, on his way to tying a school-record 22 victories for the quarterback, ran for two more touchdowns.
The Air Force senior had a workmanlike opening game. He rushed for 69 yards on 15 carries and was 4-of-9 passing for 96 yards.
South Dakota quarterback Dante Warren provided a challenging test for Air Force’s defense. His 5-yard pass to receiver Dustin Nowotny with 1:58 played in the second quarter to cut Air Force’s lead to 14-7.
The Coyotes didn’t dent the Air Force defense again until the first minute of the fourth quarter. Running back Marcus Sims went around left end for the final four yards to pull within 37-14.
Warren scrambled his way to 61 yards and completed 15-of-26 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns.
But the Falcons defense also recorded three interceptions, including Anthony Wright’s ninth career theft at the Air Force 2-yard line early in the third quarter. Warren was sacked six times.
By halftime, the early reverse was an afterthought to Air Force’s pounding running game. With Hunter’s 82 yards leading the way and tailback Asher Clark’s game-high 97 yards, the Falcons had amassed 391 yards rushing in the game.
The early 23-point lead featured scoring drives of 72 (capped by fullback Wesley Cobb’s 1-yard run for a 14-0 lead) and 88 yards (finished with Jefferson’s 2-yard smash that put the Falcons up 24-7 with 5:14 left in the half).
Irv Moss: 303 954-1296 or imoss@denerpost.com.
